What question did this study set out to answer?

This research examines how Thomas Hardy perceives trees in 'The Woodlanders' in light of posthumanist theory.

June 4, 2026Open Access

Woodland Natures: Knowing Vegetal Nature Through Sympathy and Anthropomorphism in Thomas Hardy's The Woodlanders

THTasha Chanel HarrisUniversity of Chicago

Key Points

This research examines how Thomas Hardy perceives trees in 'The Woodlanders' in light of posthumanist theory.
Literary analysis of Thomas Hardy's 'The Woodlanders'
Exploration of anthropomorphism in the text
Discussion of posthumanist themes related to vegetal nature
Trees are depicted as subjects with their own agency and emotions.
Humans are shown to develop knowledge through empathetic interactions with trees.
The novel reflects contemporary ecological perspectives on human-vegetal relationships.

Abstract

This thesis proposes that the depictions of the trees in Thomas Hardy's novel "The Woodlanders" shares resonance with current posthumanist theory through its recognition of the trees as subjects entangled in mutual relationships with the humans and also through the humans' attempts to gain knowledge of and interact with the trees.

KI fragen

Bookmark

View Full Paper