Evolution of Ecocriticism: Background, Genesis and Current Perspective

Abstract The intersection of Humanity and Environment is one of the recurring themes of literature. Writers across the globe have always been fascinated by the diverse interactions between human civilization and the environment. In fact, literature not only depicts the beauty and significance of the natural world but also unearths the negative impact of human-centric approach to nature. However, in both classical Western literary tradition and Indian literary traditions, one may notice a harmonious and spiritual connection between humanity and nature. But with the coming of modernity and industrialization, anthropocentrism gained prominence and the reciprocal relationship between humanity and nature took a fatal turn, giving rise to gradual environmental degradation and global ecological crises. It is at this crucial juncture, especially as a reaction against man’s anthropocentric attitude Ecocriticism emerged as a vital field of study during the second half of 20th century. Unlike Ecofeminism which endeavored to show an obvious link between the exploitation of nature and the subjugation of women, Ecocriticism, though, born as literary theory, has traversed into other fields by the very nature of its critical inquiry into the various critical aspects of the Environment from different perspectives. In this sense it has now become an inter-disciplinary subject and tends to intersect with Environmental Science, Anthropology, Geology and other social sciences. This paper is an attempt to throw light on the evolution of Ecoctiticism.