Visions of Human Labor in Nature in 20th Century American Literature

This dissertation raises the question of how environmentalists should consider the idea of human labor in nature. This is ultimately a part of the greater question of what we consider the relationship between humanity and nature to be. Dominant 20th century American environmentalist draws a clear line between humanity and nature, thus rejecting any idea of the appropriateness of human labor in nature. This is an unhelpful position, as it effective prevents environmentalists from having any part of the conversation of how labor should proceed in nature. As such, the contention of this dissertation is that we must fashion a less dichotomous theoretical vision of this relationship. This dissertation considers a variety of 20th and 21st century American literary interpretations of human labor in nature, all of which can be helpful in structuring a more functional and complex understanding of the relationship between humanity and nature.