Abstract: Jude the Obscure is Thomas Hardy’s last novel in his writing career and well known as the Swan Song. This novel immediately aroused wide concerns in the world and has stood the test of time since it was published. In this work the author not only tries to deliver his fierce criticism on the decayed and backward society but also expresses the call of social progress. By illustrating the awareness of eco-ethic crisis in the novel, this thesis aims to propose that human should strive to co-exist peacefully with nature, preserve ecological environment, protect animals, and maintain ecological balance in order to avoid being such eco-refugee as Jude. Furthermore, we can have a better understanding of the author’s writing conception, literary value and realistic significance in order to alert human to maintain consciously the ecological balance, which is not only the balance of natural ecology, or the balance of social ecology, but also the balance of spiritual ecology. 

Key words: Jude the Obscure; Hardy; eco-ethic crisis; eco-refugee; ecological balance

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Hardy and his Works

1.2 Introduction to Jude the Obscure

2. A Brief Introduction to Eco-Ethics-2

3. Ecological Ethic Crisis in the Novel-3

3.1 Ruin of Natural Ecology

3.1.1 Jude and Sue’s Connection with Nature

3.1.2 The Emergence of Industrialization

3.1.3The Derivation of Human and Nature

3.2 Imbalance of Social Ecology

3.2.1 The Lost of Ecological Land

3.2.2 Eco-Refugee

3.3 Deterioration of Spiritual Ecology

3.3.1 The Depravity of Jude and Arabella

3.3.2 The Lost Values

4. Conclusion-9

Bibliography-12

Acknowledgments-13