The purpose of this paper is to study Mary Oliver’s animal poetry on the symbiosis with animal subjects from the perspective of posthuman. Unlike reason-centered humanism, the posthuman is deeply involved in body sensations and emotions. And it trie...
The purpose of this paper is to study Mary Oliver’s animal poetry on the symbiosis with animal subjects from the perspective of posthuman. Unlike reason-centered humanism, the posthuman is deeply involved in body sensations and emotions. And it tries to overcome the flaws of humanism by gaining new insight toward the world divided into man/woman, nature/civilization, human/animal, human/machine, race, and class etc. Oliver, who approaches the ecosystem with a new imagination, deeply sympathizes with the animal subject through her dog and bird poems, and does not regard animals as objects but as independent subjects. So, she does not use animals as literary devices such as symbols or metaphors, but focuses on their own dignity and vitality. At the same time, the wildness of animal is also important. Above all, her poetry, which aims at an ethical and sustainable life on Earth, stems from a strong poetic desire to bring about a future that protects all life on Earth.