Table of contents:-
Personal Information
Assignment Details
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Ecocriticism
climate fiction
Conclusion
References
Personal Information:-
Name:- Divya Bharatbhai Jadav
Batch :- M.A.sem 3 ( 2024- 2025)
Email Address:- divyajadav5563@gmail. com
Roll number:- 7
Assignment Details:-
Topic:- Climate Change in Literature: Ecocritical Perspectives on the Unthinkable in Climate Fiction
Paper:- 204: Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies
Subject code:- 22409
Submitted to:- Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar
Date of Submission:- 20 November
2024
Abstract:
The genre known as "cli-fi," or climate fiction, has gained prominence as a means of artistically addressing the complex realities of environmental degradation and climate change. This ecocritical study looks at how climate fiction explores the potential for resilience and adaptation, the interconnectedness of ecosystems, the ethical ramifications of human choices, and the catastrophic effects of climate change. These stories force readers to confront the unimaginable consequences of inaction and to consider the psychological and emotional aspects of the climate catastrophe. The analysis, viewed through a critical lens, demonstrates how cli-fi emphasises the moral responsibilities of individuals, critiques anthropocentrism, and imagines hopeful futures amid despair. Furthermore, the genre promotes empathy and understanding by amplifying diverse voices, especially those of marginalised communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change. In the end, climate fiction is a potent tool for igniting social change and raising awareness of our shared responsibility for creating a sustainable future.
Keywords:
climate fiction, cli-fi, ecocriticism, climate change, environmental degradation.
Introduction :
Particularly in light of the current environmental crisis, the critical approach of ecocriticism-which explores the relationship between literature and the natural world has grown in importance within the area of literary studies. Ecocriticism, which has its roots in the growing awareness of humankind's environmental impact, aims to investigate how literature represents, challenges, and shapes our understanding of the natural world and ecological issues. It focusses on the representation of ecosystems, landscapes, environmental ethics, and, more lately, climate change in literature.
Literary narratives have used climate change as a primary theme, which is undoubtedly the most pressing issue of our day. Literature has been a potent tool for expressing the fears, moral quandaries, and emotional reactions that come with the environmental issue, from early warnings of environmental degradation to dystopian visions of a future devastated by climate change. As the field of ecocriticism grows, it explores more deeply how literary works particularly those written in English address the unimaginable effects of climate change, like increasing sea levels, mass extinctions, and environmental collapse.
The literary analysis of climate change, commonly referred to as "cli-fi" (climate fiction), serves to both increase readers' awareness and force them to face the realities of the Anthropocene a term used to characterise the current geological era in which human activity is the primary force influencing the environment. Climate change has been woven into the writings of authors such as Margaret Atwood, Amitav Ghosh, and Ian McEwan, who combine scientific concerns with human emotions, ethics, and politics.
1 )Defining Ecocriticism and Its Evolution as a Literary Theory
A literary theory known as ecocriticism first appeared in the latter half of the 20th century and was based on research on the connection between literature and the natural world. In its broadest sense, it is the critical examination of how nature and ecological issues are portrayed in literature, with an emphasis on the interactions between people and their surroundings. By highlighting the fact that people are a part of a wider ecological system rather than existing in isolation from it, ecocriticism opposes anthropocentric worldviews.
Scholars like Harold Fromm and Cheryll Glotfelty popularised the term "ecocriticism" in the 1990s. with their collection The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology (1996). This anthology established ecocriticism as unique critical method by bringing together key writings. Nonetheless, the movement's origins may be traced back to the 1970s, when literary experts started investigating nature writing and how landscapes were portrayed in pastoral and Romantic literature. Inspired by Romantic authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Wordsworth, this early ecocriticism frequently concentrated on grieving the destruction of the natural world and praising its beauty.
2) Several branches of ecocriticism have emerged, including:
1. Deep Ecology: A viewpoint known as "Deep Ecology" opposes anthropocentrism and promotes an ecosystem's holistic viewpoint, according to which all living things are valuable in and of itself independent of human need.
2. Ecofeminism: This subfield studies how women's oppression and environmental degradation are related, with a focus on how patriarchal institutions have traditionally used both to their advantage.
3. Postcolonial Ecocriticism: This method looks at the long-term environmental effects of colonisation in formerly colonised countries, analysing how colonialism has not only exploited and transformed landscapes but also subjugated people.
4. Criticism of Climate Change: This is a relatively new field that focusses on how literature depicts the ecological disaster that is unfolding, particularly how it depicts climate change and its consequences on society, politics, and the individual's psyche.
3) Historical Context and Representation of Nature in English Literature:
The way that nature is portrayed in English literature has changed dramatically over the course of Literature history, reflecting changes in how people interact with their surroundings. Nature was frequently portrayed symbolically in mediaeval and early Renaissance literature, either as the chaotic wilderness outside of human civilisation or as divine order. Natural settings were used to illustrate moral or metaphorical themes in works like Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene and Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Nonetheless, the Romantic era signalled a profound shift in how nature was portrayed. In opposition to England's swift industrialisation, poets like John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Wordsworth praised the sublime beauty of the natural environment. With human experiences entwined with the natural beauty. Romantics found inspiration, emotional rejuvenation, and spiritual contemplation in nature.
Authors like D.H. Lawrence and Thomas Hardy depicted nature more realistically in the 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasising how indifferent it is to human misery and using this as a metaphor for larger existential issues. Literature has explored environmental degradation and humanity's estrange ment from nature in response to society's rising industrialisation and urbanisation.
4) Romanticism and the Sublime in Nature Poetry:
Romanticism was a literary style that began in the late 1700s and changed the way poets wrote about the natural world by emphasising nature and the sublime. The Romantics looked to nature as a source of spiritual insight, emotional depth, and awe, rejecting the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and science.
The idea of the sublime, which is central to Romantic nature poetry, describes moments of breathtaking majesty, beauty, or strength in the outdoors that inspire both fear and wonder. Poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth explored the sublime by capturing immense vistas. untamed mountains, and raging oceans that evoked a mixture of dread and devotion. Wordsworth discusses the power of nature to arouse strong feelings and a sense of the immeasurable, beyond human comprehension, in his poem Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, for instance.
In Romantic poetry, the sublime frequently alluded to nature's ability to unite people with transcendence or greater truths in addition to its physical force. It was believed that nature was a teacher and a source of intellectual and personal revelation, representing divine or spiritual forces beyond human comprehension or control. Because of this, nature emerged as a major motif in Romantic poetry, providing both a means of self-discovery and an escape from industrialisation.
5) Victorian Literature and the Industrial Revolution:
The late 18th- and early 19th-century Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on Victorian literature, influencing the themes, characters, and settings of several works written during this time. Writers responded to the fast changes in the environment, economics, and society as England went from being an agrarian society to a major industrial one.
Victorian literature frequently captures the tension between the exhilaration of technological advancement and the fears around its social ramifications, reflecting the dual nature of industrialisation. Writers such as Charles Dickens brought to light the grim reality of urban living, highlighting the predicament of the working class and the depravity of industrial towns. Dickens described the deplorable circumstances faced by factory workers and the ethical conundrums brought about by industrial capitalism in books like Oliver Twist and Hard Times. His writings acted as a human face for poverty statistics and a social reformer.
6 )Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
Two related subgenres of speculative fiction, dystopian and post-apocalyptic literature, present bleak predictions for future society and frequently function as cautionary tales. Both take place in fictitious worlds characterised by dysfunction or disaster, but the breadth and depth of their storytelling techniques are different.
In dystopian fiction, societies that at first glance seem efficient or even perfect are usually plagued by profound defects that stem from social stratification, technological dominance, or repressive governmental control. In order to draw attention to the possible risks of unbridled authority, the erosion of individual liberties, and the violation of human rights, these works frequently exaggerate real-world problems. Classic examples are Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which examines the dangers of a hedonistic, technologically-driven future, and George Orwell's 1984, which criticises totalitarian surveillance states. Dystopias study the methodical deterioration of individual freedom, authority over information, and dehumanisation of the community.
7 ) Cli-Fi: The Emergence of Climate Fiction.
Cli-Fi (Climate Fiction) is a growing genre that explores the effects of climate change and environmental destruction on human society and the planet. As global warming, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss become pressing concerns, cli-fi engages readers with speculative narratives that examine the potential consequences of human neglect of the environment. By combining fiction with scientific realities, the genre creates a vivid and often alarming portrayal of futures shaped by environmental crises.
Environmental collapse, where ecosystems have deteriorated due to climate-induced disasters, is a common theme in science fiction. These tales paint a picture of a world where cities are submerged by rising sea levels, farmlands become deserts, and a great portion of the planet is uninhabitable due to poisonous air or water. Devastation drives human civilisation to the edge and is frequently gradual, reflecting the slow but unstoppable nature of climate change. These visions serve as a sobering reminder of what might occur if humanity does nothing.
Cli-fi examines not only environmental collapse but also the social and political ramifications of climate change. Scarcity of resources brought on by climate change frequently results in political instability, forced migration, and social unrest. Due in large part to the wealthy's greater ability to withstand or avoid the worst effects of climate disasters, economic inequality continues to grow.
8 )Ecocritical Approaches to Major English Literary Works.
Ecocriticism is a critical methodology that scrutinises the interplay between literature and the natural world, examining the ways in which texts depict nature and human interactions with it. It looks at how literary works address ecological crises, provide understanding of how humans fit into the natural world, and refute anthropocentric viewpoints. The relevance of ecocriticism has grown as environmental issues such as deforestation, climate change, and species extinction have taken centre stage in international debates. The following are some ecocritical readings of significant English literary works:
For ecocritical analysis, William Wordsworth's Romantic poetry is frequently a crucial place to start. Wordsworth's poetry, particularly in pieces like Tintern Abbey and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, is fundamentally influenced by his profound relationship with nature. These poems present nature as a wise and consoling source, celebrating the psychological and spiritual advantages of spending time in it. Ecocritics compare Wordsworth's writings to the industrialisation that was starting to alter landscapes during his lifetime and see them as advocating for a more harmonious coexistence between humans and
nature.
An early example of ecocriticism can be found in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which explores. human attempts to manipulate and control nature. The unnatural methods used by Victor Frankenstein to create life can be interpreted as a metaphor for humanity's destructive desire to rule the natural world. Ecocritical interpretations of the book draw attention to the results of this hubris, using the monster as a metaphor for the anarchy that arises when people try to subdue the forces of nature. The book by Shelley serves as a warning about the perils of disobeying the rules and limitations of nature.
A complex relationship between humans and nature is presented in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick.especially in light of Captain Ahab's fixation with subduing the whale. Ecocritics view the whale as a representation of the great power and mystery of the natural world, which Ahab is determined to control at all costs. The novel explores the exploitative relationship between humans and nature, particularly in light. of the damaging whaling industry's portrayal of majestic creatures as nothing more than commodities.
The untamed moors are portrayed in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights as an extension of the characters' inner lives and feelings. The untamed, rough terrain reflects the characters' conflicts and passions, especially those between Heathcliff and Catherine. Ecocriticism emphasises the idea that nature is a strong and unpredictable force that shapes human identity and behaviour by focussing on how the novel's natural environment defies human control.
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is often examined from an ecocritical perspective for its portrayal of the African jungle as a symbol of untamed, primal nature. The colonizers view the jungle as something to be subdued and exploited, reflecting an imperialist mindset that devalues the natural world. Ecocritics
explore how the novel critiques this attitude, showing the destructive impact of colonialism not only on indigenous peoples but also on the environment.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, ecocritical studies have the potential to deepen our understanding of the interconnectedness of human and non-human life, emphasizing the ethical responsibilities we bear toward the environment. By analyzing texts through an ecocritical lens, scholars can uncover the ways in which literature engages with ecological themes, highlights the consequences of human actions on the environment, and offers alternative visions for more sustainable futures. This approach encourages a rethinking of the anthropocentric perspectives that have traditionally dominated literary discourse, urging us With an eye towards the future, ecocritical research has a number of exciting avenues for growth.
References:
Adelin johnson Putra. “(PDF) Climate Change in Literature and Literary Studies: From Cli-Fi, Climate Change Theater and Ecopoetry to Ecocriticism and Climate Change Criticism.” Researchgate.Net, Mar. 2016, www.researchgate.net/publication/291388137_Climate_change_in_literature_and_literary_studies_From_cli-fi_climate_change_theater_and_ecopoetry_to_ecocriticism_and_climate_change_criticism. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Mishra, Sandeep Kumar. “(PDF) Ecocriticism: A Study of Environmental Issues in Literature.” Researchgate.Net, Nov. 2016, www.researchgate.net/publication/318350741_Ecocriticism_A_Study_of_Environmental_Issues_in_Literature. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024
Mounika Kandula. “Ecocriticism in the 21st Century: Environment...” IJARESM, 2024, www.ijaresm.com/ecocriticism-in-the-21st-century-environmental-narratives-in-modern-literature. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Suhasini Vincent. (PDF) an Eco-Critical Analysis of Climate Change and the Unthinkable in Amitav Ghosh’s Fiction and Non-Fiction, June 2018, www.researchgate.net/publication/334759380_An_Eco-Critical_Analysis_of_Climate_Change_and_the_Unthinkable_in_Amitav_Ghosh’s_Fiction_and_Non-Fiction. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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