Practicing Theory and Reading Literature: Faulkner’s “The Bear” in Terms of Deep Ecology

Abstract

•The Marxist term praxis is essential for teaching critical theory and literature. By putting theory into practice, students not

only learn to read critically but also familiarize theory effectively. Theory illuminates a literary text, and vice versa. To

exemplify the dialectical relationship between theory and literature, this paper, in the spirit of praxis, applies the theory of deep

ecology to Faulkner’s “The Bear” -- one of the stories in Go Down, Moses. Typical of American nature writing, Faulkner’s “The

Bear” is characterized with the writer’s attentiveness to the land, the wilderness and the vernacular. Faulkner’s accusations of

the Southern white men’s greedy exploitation of the land and slaves correspond to deep ecologists’ criticism of capitalism in

many ways. In addition, Faulkner’s environmental consciousness is examined with regard to Bakhtin’s concept of chronotope

(i.e. time and place) -- the connectedness of temporal and spatial relationships expressed in literature. The theory of deep

ecology explicates Faulkner’s concern with the land and the others, while reciprocally the literary text gives artistic expression

to the theory, which might be abstract or esoteric otherwise. Approaching “The Bear” in terms of deep ecology and Bakhtin’s

theory, this paper highlights the significance of practice in studying/teaching critical theory and reading literature.

Keywords: Faulkner, “The Bear,” deep ecology, chronotope

Practicing Theory and Reading Literature: Faulkner’s “The Bear” in Terms of Deep Ecology

•The Marxist term praxis

Raman Selden argues: “This Marxist term has several implications. First theoretical work must always

address itself to the ‘real world,’ and not take flight into a stratospheric region beyond actual human

societies. Secondly, theories will, in any case, always possess some social and political interest or

commitment” (Practicing Theory and Reading Literature 7)

Practicing Theory and Reading Literature: Faulkner’s “The Bear” in Terms of Deep Ecology

Deep ecology:

The term “deep ecology,” in contrast to “shallow ecology,” is first used by Norwegian writer Arne Naess,

referring to philosophical and cultural thinking about man’s relationship with natural environments. The

differences between the two terms --

Fritjof Capra argues: “Shallow ecology is anthropocentric. It views humans as above or outside of nature, as the

source of all value, and ascribes only instrumental, or use value to nature. Deep ecology does not separate

humans from the natural environment, nor does it separate anything else from it. It does not see the world as a

collection of isolated objects but rather as a network of phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected and

interdependent. Deep ecology recognizes the intrinsic values of all living beings and views humans as just one

particular strand in the web of life.”

In brief, deep ecology is ecocentric and holistic, while shallow ecology is anthropocentric and utilitarian.

Practicing Theory and Reading Literature: Faulkner’s “The Bear” in Terms of Deep Ecology

I. Introduction: deep ecology and “The Bear”

II. The Ecological Themes of “The Bear”

III. Faulkner’s Environmental Consciousness: “The Bear” as a Novel of

Chronotope

IV. Conclusion: Faulkner’s Conviction in Natural Law -- “The heart already

knows.”

I. Introduction: deep ecology and “The Bear”

A. “The Bear” (1942) is one of the seven short stories of the novel Go

Down, Moses.

B. The theme of “The Bear” and deep ecology: bear hunt, human stories,

nature and the environment

C. Faulkner’s environmental consciousness in light of Bakhtin’s concept

of Chronotope

II. The Ecological Themes of “The Bear”

A. Natural law vs. patriarchal law1. the first three chapters: celebration of natural law2. the last two chapters: criticism of patriarchal law

B. Faulkner’s celebration of primitive values: the philosophy of the bear hunt1. Ike’s initiation into the wilderness, manhood and huntership2. Man humbly acknowledges himself as a mere member of nature

C. Faulkner’s attack on utilitarianism and phallogocentrism:1. Faulkner accuses the McCaslin’s family exploitation of the land and the slaves2. The debate between Ike and Emonds: the utilitarianism of McCaslin plantation assaulted by Faulkner is inevitably related to anthropocentric Christianity (the Bible) and patriarchal law (the ledger)

II. The Ecological Themes of “The Bear”

Phallogocentrism:

The term “phallogocentric” is conflated by Derrida with phallus and

logocentric. Terry Eagleton translates it as ‘cocksure,’ thus phallogocentrism

refers to certain “cocksureness, by which those who wield sexual and social

power maintain their grip” (189). In other words, phallogocentrism is the

ideology of those who appeal to authority of patriarchal and legal, logical

power to subdue feminine, unreasonable, barbaric and chaotic elements of

society.

III. Faulkner’s Environmental Consciousness: “The Bear” as a Novel of Chronotope

•

A. The importance of time and place in a literary work:Bakhtin:They [time and place] are the organizing centers for the fundamental narrative events of the novel. The chronotope is the place where the knots of narrative are tied and untied. It can be said without qualification that to them belongs the meaning that shapes narrative.

B. Place and time in “The Bear”: 1. Place: Profound awareness of the land in Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, similar to Hardy’s works

2. Time: The ledger as kind of chronological or history The complex genealogy of the McCaslin family implies the ecological premise that the world on earth is an organic web of ecosystem, and no one is outside of it.

C. Man can never be isolated from the environment (place and time/history), which includes nature, animals, and human beings of all races; all are vitally interconnected.

VI. Conclusion: Faulkner’s Conviction in Natural Law -- “The heart already knows.”

A. “The Bear” corresponds to deep ecology by virtue of Faulkner’s conviction in natural law,

biocentrism, and his denunciation of anthropocentric, patriarchal law

1. Ike’s initiation to the wilderness and his definite repudiation of the patrimony

2. Faulkner’s environmental consciousness in light of Bakhtin’s concept of chronotope

B. Faulkner’s speech upon the Nobel Prize Award: truth is known by the heart, rather than

argued by sophists; higher truth (natural law) is beyond reason or argument, but touches

the heart.

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