CONFLICT BETWEEN EURO-AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARDS NATURE: AN ECOCRITICAL STUDY OF TRACKS AND LOVE MEDICINE BY LOUISE ERDRICH

Abstract

Euro-American and Native American approaches to Nature are conflicting: the former consists in competition with Nature whereas the latter is characterized by harmony with it. Unlike the Whites, the Natives realize their dreams of culture and society in Nature, not against it. Contrarily, the whites realize themselves in controlling Nature which is only euphemism for destroying it. Nature in the Euro-American literature finds its place only as a background, rather than the central feature as the canonical American works bear witness. Even Wordsworth, the representative white poet of Nature, only utilizes Nature for his pantheistic ideas; Nature in itself does not carry significant position in his works. In Hemingway, Nature is predominant but only as a facilitator for the realization of sublime self of the code hero. So it is in Eugene O’Neill and Emerson and Whitman. But, for Native Americans Nature is an animate being, as living as they themselves are and sometimes it becomes even more significant when it gets religious sanctity. Bear, eagle and its feathers, the sun, and even water are a source of life to be depended and worshipped and requested to in all moments of crises and celebration. This article explores the shift of attitude towards Nature which actually reflects shift in man’s position in the universe.