“KHON NAI NITHAN” (PEOPLE IN STORY): THE RELATIONSHIIP BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF ECOCRITICISM

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the relationship between humans and animals in the novel “Khon Nai Nithan” (People in story) from the perspective of ecocriticism. The research utilized qualitative methods and descriptive analysis. The results revealed that there were two forms of relationships between humans animals namely: normal and abnormal relationships. The normal relationships were: 1) labor-related relations, 2) animals were organisms that were used for human’s food, 3) animals were used as tools for human’s benefit, 4) animals created aesthetics for humans, and 5) animals created fear in human’s mind. The abnormal relationships between humans and animals was animals responding to human sexual instinct. Traditions, values, and culture in society affected human living and they were significant variables to determine the relationships between humans and animals. Traditions, values, and culture created ideas for classifications of living things by creating a system of ideas that humans were higher classes than animals, like masters and servants. This showed the human’s perspective that animals are inferior to humans which reflects ways of thinking that nature has different viewpoints from humans.