CRITICAL ANIMAL STUDIES AND NON-SPECIESIST PERCEPTION OF ANIMALS IN THOMAS HARDY'S POETRY

Year 2024, , 421 - 440, 25.06.2024

Dilek Bulut Sarıkaya

https://doi.org/10.33171/dtcfjournal.2024.64.1.17

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 perceiving 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 infliction 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 sufficiently 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 scientific understanding of the universe, replete with intelligent, socially and emotionally developed individuals who deserve respect and approbation of humans.

Keywords

Critical Animal Studies, Thomas Hardy, Poetry, Animals, Agency, Speciesism

KRİTİK HAYVAN ÇALIŞMALARI VE THOMAS HARDY'NİN ŞİİRLERİNDE TÜR-AYRIMCILIĞI KARŞITI HAYVAN ALGISI

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı Thomas Hardy’nin (1840-1928) şiirlerini, kritik hayvan çalışmalarının teorik bakış açısıyla inceleyerek, hayvanların süregelen sömürüsü ve istismarına karşı şairin göstermiş olduğu sosyal ve ekolojik duyarlılığı açığa çıkarmaktır. Kullanılıp atılan bir malzeme olarak görülen hayvanlara karşı haksız insan davranışlarına Hardy’nin verdiği şiirsel tepki ve onları öz-bilinçli, düşünebilen ve hissedebilen bireyler olarak tasvir etmesi takdire değer bir durumdur. Hayvanları şuursuz, pasif, acı duymayan otomat objeler olarak gören Viktorya dönemi antroposentrik düşüncenin tam karşısında duran Hardy, hayvan merkezli bir bakış açısı benimseyerek, okuyucularını insanların hayvanlara karşı vicdan yoksunu tutumlarıyla yüzletirmiştir. İnsanların gereksiz sebepleri yüzünden işkence uygulanan havyanlara söz hakkı veren Hardy, canlı bir bireye acı ve işkence çektirmeye müsade eden, tartışılmaz derecede mükemmel görünen insanlık prensiplerinin ve ahlaki standartlarının çözülmesini sağlamıştır. İnsanın ahlaki değerler sistemini sorgularken, Hardy, hayvanları da ahlaki değerlere sahip ve çevreleriyle anlamlı ilişki kurabilecek derecede gelişmiş topluluklar olarak resmeder. Bu nedenle, Hardy’nin şiirlerinin kritik hayvan çalışmaları yönünden incelenmesi şair tarafından benimsenen ve içinde bilinçli, sosyal ve duygusal olarak gelişmiş canlılarla dolu olan bilimsel bir evren görüşünü ortaya çıkaracaktır.

Keywords

Kritik Hayvan Çalışmaları, Thomas Hardy, Şiir, Hayvanlar, Eyleyicilik, Tür Ayrıcımcılığı

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışmanın, özgün bir çalışma olduğunu, çalışmanın hazırlık, veri toplama, analiz ve bilgilerin sunumu olmak üzere tüm aşamalarından bilimsel etik ilke ve kurallarına uygun davrandığımı, bu çalışma kapsamında elde edilmeyen tüm veri ve bilgiler için kaynak gösterdiğimi ve bu kaynaklara kaynakçada yer verdiğimi beyan ederim.

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