Ecological utopias from the perspective of deep ecology: Herland and Ecotopia

The aim of this study is to examine two American ecological utopia writers Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Herland (1915) and Ernest Callenbach's Ecotopia (1975) from the perspective of deep ecology. In this light, deep ecological theory a type of ecocritical theory developed by Arne Naess, will be used. The mentioned works are significant in terms of being the first exemplary works of the ecological utopia genre. Gilman's Herland, based on ecofeminist theory, is considered the pioneering work of feminist ecological utopia. Callenbach, giving the same name to his work, is the first author to bring the concept of "ecotopia" to literature by combining the concepts of ecology and utopia together. Therefore, both works are important in terms of being pioneer works. Although Herland reflects the characteristics of ecofeminism, Ecotopia reflects the characteristics of ecocritical theory, it has been observed that there are reflections of deep ecology theory in both ecological utopias. In both works, anthropocentric social order that harms the nature has been destroyed. Anthropocentric lifestyle has been replaced by ecocentric lifestyle. The novels are about the efforts and stages of the re-formation of ecological societies-countries that have passed from an anthropocentric lifestyle to an ecocentric lifestyle. In this process sustainability is the most crucial criteria.