James Fenimore Cooper's Perception on Forest as Seen in his Novel The Pioneers
Keywords:
Cooper’s perception, forest, The PioneersAbstract
James Fenimore Cooper believes that the forest represents environmental awareness and the importance of conservation. He portrays the forest as both beautiful and abundant, as well as a resource that can be used for development and settlement. The aim of this study is to learn Cooper's perception on forests. This study employs the American Studies method, incorporating literary, historical, and sociological approaches. History and sociology are used to supplement existing literary sources. The information is primarily derived from James Fenimore Copper's novel, The Pioneers. The novel serves as a starting point for the study, describing Cooper's perception of the forest. Additional information is gleaned from his biography, historical texts, and sociological articles. In "The Pioneers," Cooper emphasizes the conflict between the desire for progress and the need to protect the natural environment. He uses the forest metaphorically for America's wild, untamed nature, which the settlers are transforming. This transformation is portrayed as a loss not only for the natural world but also for the human characters, who frequently struggle with the moral consequences of their decisions.
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