Hi everyone! I'm doing a summer subject on fantasy literature, and one of the set texts is Little Fur. (I practically leapt at the opportunity to do my tutorial presentation on Isobelle - and had to restrain myself from blathering too much :P) I've chosen, for better or worse, to do my major essay on the following question:
“Moral judgements in The Legend of Little Fur are founded upon an absolute opposition between what's natural and what's unnatural.†Discuss.
Now, I think that this is obviously a theme in the book, but I don't believe that's what the moral judgements are founded on. but if that's not it - then what? I think it's something to do with the conflict within humans, or perhaps a mistreatement of what's natural - surely not an absolute opposition?
I will read the book again, and obviously pull my own thoughts in order, but I was just hoping for some healthy discussion on the topic! Usually I'd talk this over with my sister but she's off on holiday, so I was hoping that maybe some of you have read it and might have some sort of opinion on the matter.
If you don't want me to use your ideas, that's fine, just let me know! I'll most likely put this thread in my bibliography. At worst, it's an interesting topic for discussion, right?
Thanks for reading! x
Dreamweaver Ward
15 years ago
Dreamweaver Ward
Dreamscape Artist
I agree that it's not exactly ABSOLUTE opposition - and I like your point about mistreatment of what's natural - I think that's a very important aspect! The main moral judgements I've noticed are in relation to people being inconsiderate of the natural world, and also of people not caring for one another... The tree burners are a sign of what's unnatural - they are selfish, and don't care about nature, or rather they wish to control it. I think the discussion at the end of Little Fur about the tree burners definitely has some useful points, and the dream/vision sent to the humans... (Oh, and I believe that the greeps are also important to this topic, though it might only be mentioned in the later books... I think I recall them being morally corrupt people, or people who have been hurt and it has damaged them? :-/ Sorry, I'll check and come back to this point...)
I'll think about this topic some more and hopefully make more sense next time! ~:| It sounds like a really interesting subject though! :)
Thanks for that, Zieria! I was thinking it over, and unless "natural" is defined as what's green and growing (but somehow trolls aren't natural), that theory doesn't really work. So the theory I've come up with is that it's an opposition between the natural cycle and a desire for destruction. "unnatural" is really too broad, and I don't know how I could possibly define it, so I think for the essay I'll just narrow it down to not what's unnatural, but what's destructive. I think towards the end the tree says that humans have cut themselves from the flow of life, which would support that theory, and the tree burners do tie in well also. I just wonder if I can find enough to make a whole essay out of it!
I still have a long way to go, but this is as good a place to start as any!!
:)
