The research: Relationships between Human and Animals in E.B White’s Charlotte’s Web
Kongthap Namkham
This research aims to study and analyze the relationship between humans and animals that is governed by human/nature dualism and is dismantled through the representation of E.B White’s characters in Charlotte’s Web. The research draws on the concept of human/nature dualism given byValPlumwood. Itcanbeanalyzedthat
(relational definition), instrumentalism (objectification), and homogenisation or stereotyping. After I discussed and analyzed textual evidence found that White inhibits human/animals dualism. I also found some type of human/nature dualism that White interrupts. The first type of men/animal dualism that the researcher found is radical exclusion. White stops radical exclusion when Fern considers inferior as equal to superior. The second is instrumentalism. White expresses through Fern in the sense that she thinks that animals are animals who have life as same as humans. She doesn’t consider them as instrumental entertainment. Finally, White stops homogenisation or stereotyping in the sense that White expresses through Fern by portraying her to acknowledge the complexity and diversity of animals. She does not stereotype animals as everyone thinks, she
thinks animals can be friends and family. Keywords: Dualism, Ecofeminism, Human, Nature