Critical Animal Studies And Non-Speciesist Perception Of Animals In Thomas Hardy's Poetry
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Date
2024
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Abstract
This study intends to foreground Thomas Hardy's (1840-1928) social and ecological
responsibility to the ongoing animal exploitation by analyzing his poems from the
perspective of a recently emerging theory of critical animal studies. Hardy's poetic
responsiveness to the unjust human treatment of animals as disposable materials to be
used and consumed is worthy of critical attention pertaining to his depiction of animals as
self-conscious, intelligent, and emotional individuals. Going against the conventional
anthropocentric assumptions of the Victorian period that perceives animals as insentient,
passive, and automated objects who cannot feel pain and suffering, Hardy adopts an
animal-oriented viewpoint and confronts his readers with the dreadful consequences of
implacable human attitude to animals. In addition to giving voice to animals who are
tortured and murdered for trivial human reasons, Hardy disentangles the indubitable
principles of humanity and its moral standards which give consent to the iniction of pain
and anguish on another living being. While questioning the morality of human values,
Hardy depicts animals as moral communities who are perfectly accomplished and
sufciently advanced to initiate meaningful interaction with their environment. An
elucidation of Hardy's poetry from the viewpoint of critical animal studies, hence, will
provide a broad insight into Hardy's scientic understanding of the universe, replete with
intelligent, socially and emotionally developed individuals who deserve the respect and
approbation of humans.
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Keywords
Critical Animal Studies, Thomas Hardy, Poetry, Animals, Agency, Speciesism