Ecocriticism

Ecocriticism is defined in our article as the study of the relationship between literary and cultural artifacts and the natural environment. When we apply this definition to Shakespeare we tend to see it as a literary device that Shakespeare cashed in on. He tends to compare man to asses, women to cows. The earth is used as a magical nexus. Flowers can provide the power to intoxicate humans making them perform acts they otherwise would not commit. This is evident in "A Midsummers Night Dream" when the fairy, Puck, who takes care of the land is sent to cast a magic spell on humans to fall in love with other people. Once the spell is cast the only way to reverse it is through a special flower. Shakespeare is calling into question the Elizabethan Societies Antropromorphism point of view. Their view is that man is the center of nature, and this view was evident by the increase of population in this era, and the onset of the enclosure policy. The enclosure policy was a policy that forced people off their lands and the land was used for sheep and cattle to graze. Homelessness and crime increased but the English economy began to flourish. With the growth of sheep wool became England's greatest commodity. England became self sufficient in all crops.
Deforestation was in high demand to make room for agricultural crops, housing, and ship building. It is a fact that nature was being destroyed for the comforts of man, and Shakespeare exposes this. In “The Tempest” a boat wreck is what causes the displacement of Prospero “the rightful Duke of Milan” (Shakespeare 3064). Prospero uses his magic to conjure up a storm to shipwreck those who usurped his power of Dukedom. Nature is the reckoning force and it seems like Shakespeare is trying show that if we continue to use nature then nature will destroy us.