Surviving the Eco-Apocalypse: Losing the Natural World and the Self in Post-Apocalyptic and

44 Pages·2016·13.49 MB·English

LLoonnggwwoooodd UUnniivveerrssiittyy
DDiiggiittaall CCoommmmoonnss @@ LLoonnggwwoooodd UUnniivveerrssiittyy
Theses, Dissertations & Honors Papers
2012
SSuurrvviivviinngg tthhee EEccoo--AAppooccaallyyppssee:: LLoossiinngg tthhee NNaattuurraall WWoorrlldd aanndd tthhee
SSeellff iinn PPoosstt--AAppooccaallyyppttiicc aanndd DDyyssttooppiiaann LLiitteerraattuurree
Samantha Drake
Longwood University
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RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Drake, Samantha, "Surviving the Eco-Apocalypse: Losing the Natural World and the Self in Post-
Apocalyptic and Dystopian Literature" (2012). Theses, Dissertations & Honors Papers. 10.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/etd/10
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SurvitvhEiecn og- ApocLaolsytiphnNsegae t:uW roarlal ndtd h See ilnPf o st-yApptoaicncad l
DystoLpiitaenr ature
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EnglLiisthe rHaotnuoTrrhe'e ss is
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Eco-Apoficcatlsiytopantan ipdcafrs rto mt hmey thoalnotdgr yad oifat pioocna lyptic
ideiainst a sb seonfrc eeb iPratgahap.nol cyapttriacd iintcilaonu nedsbwe e ginonrri enstgti,an rg
ac ycleN-otrahspeeo carleyspiusanlce tl se awnosrewldhd i,Gl reet erka dciltaiwiohmnes n
humabnesc amteod oe prtahvweeiydbl ,erl e plbayacn eedrw a cCeh.r isitnicalnauisdtpeyes c ts
oft htarta daiswt eilsolin,n,N c oea ha'rfuskn ctiloinakenae dp ocacllyepatnTishccie yn cgl.e
requhiurmeastn doie tcyla inbndes e c ourged.
Apocalliytpetoriftac ht peua irsnetc lauc dleesao nfts hipeno gp ulbaetfoisroteina n rgt
aneAwp.o cafilcytpgitroionciw pnso pulaaftreWirot rWylar dI IT.h oumgohso tft hewsoer ks
feataup raer atpioacla wliyrtpohso tembo e gtihcney calgeas iunac,shA l aBsa,b yAl on,
CantfoirLc elieb oZwfo irZt azc,h aanrIdAi maL ,e gefincdt,ai coknn owlaebdsgodilenuagtt eh
statroet meedr Ognte h.Be e aecxhp lhoorawen su cleexatre rmcianlnae ttaoaidl o int eral
apocawliyntpohrs oeo,fom rr eneiwanat la,n gwiabyCl.ue l ttuhreaoPlra iVusiltr sai nldi o
SylvLeorterr ci ontighnete e r"mp uwraerd ,e"fi niiatn"s g t phsey chocloongditichtaailto n
reswuhletpnse okpnloetw h tahtle iyiv anew orwlhde trhpeeo ssifobrai blsiodtleyus tter uction
(e.ngu.c,lh eoalro ceaxui.ss.ptt.u)s.wr aebr e coamnie nst ecrnoanld iapt eiropnse,tt aoutfae l
prepaforraa btsioodlneu sttera uncfodtrp i eorns sooncaailna,cdl u ,l tduera(atBlho "1r )gT.,h e
concoefpp utwr aetr h eamte rfrgoe:t?ts hn eu cleercaaarb n es eiecnno ntemporary
envirofincmteimnoetnra,gla i bnsgod leuawttiehet nhv irocnomnesnctiaTolhu osungehss .
nuclweeaarpa olnlsop weeodtp orl eec opgunwriaezer en, v iroannmxeihneatrtsaey lp ltahcee d
feaorfn uclaetatiratn c hikem medoisfac cayrr ecseo uorvceersp,o pauntldha teth irooefna ,t
glowbaarlm Tihnaegn .x itehfutaeytl EeadrA tbhi adneTdsh omMaasl tEhsussoa'nty h e
PrincoifPp olpeuslc aotmibowinin pteuhswr aefr e aarntsdh set afokree nsv ironmental
conscigoouu psc noensssi derably.
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Frotmh tihsie,d oefaa n e co-apoecmaelrygpesse- eanbvsiorloundtmeeea wntithta hl
litttonl ope o ssiobfri elnietTwyha olui.gns h o mcea sleisTk,he Re o ahdu,m faatni ets i iendt o
theen viroanbmseondlteu,ato tefth ee nl imitnheaect oe-ss aynssdtp eamhr uemsan Tsh.ee c o­
apocaelxypplshoeur mecason n necwtiittvhhei ent vyi rownhmetenhnr ete latwiiotntshhh ei p
eco-shyasbste eeimnr revsoecvaebTrlheyded i .s ucnrietaayvt eerlsyi teeffreaclt -humanity
caonn lsyu rvwiivteah nii ns olcaytciolnfpe gr oduacntcdio onns umapnthdia nosont ,o otlos
surviitfvh ceey cilisen terTrhupepu twreaedcr .o ncuenpdte rsanc eocroe-sa poacnadl ypse
influetnhlceae nsd stchraeep lea,t wiiottnhhse ehni vpi roannmtdeh dneet t,e riorating
civilization.
Feeloifrn egssp onfosrit bheienl viitryoc nmreeanap tth ee nomtehnhaoatbns e en
popullaarble'ylg erdgeu einTl htce.u 'l tiumrparalec flte ocnbt ostl hi tearnasdtp uerned ing
habJiatssKo.in r dbiys cuars escefaesdn i,tnw hi"ccha robffospner to v.i".dp .ee rrsfo rm
environmteansstkuascal hsp lanttrietneomgs a kuepfo rt hcea robuotnop faup tl aflniegt hot
makuepfo r" enviroinnmdeinstca(rlKe itriObouyncr)su ."l thuabrsee c oemxet recmoenlsyc ious
oft hdea mageiffnegoc ftos v erexotfre enssoiuaornnwcd ae sst heafublai ntgdsu ,ia lbtot uhte
contiroitnbog u ltowbaarlm ainnpdgo llhuatfusie olnce odm palniickeaesr obfofnps rveoitd ers
thtaatr tghegitus i Sltte.pA hsemnia nh, i asr t"iGcrleGeeu niw lrti""t ienss:ot fre ealdi sgiinosu s
plagouuicrno gn scwieen nochwe a,vt eht er ansgorfel sesaivtoihwnneasg t reunnri nlge,a ving
thlei gohnfat,is l tiorn egc yacnludes ,ip nlga gsrtoiccbe argiysn stoefpa adp (eArs"m Hae) .
argtuheeasnt v ironamnexnihtearatsely p lraecleidag nxiioeuatsnya d,ne nvironmentally
enligwhotrefalncdeea dsc counfotraw bhiailtbsi e tiiynn gt erapstr heuetn esdp oikmemni nent
declfoilnleo wiirnrge spgornepserinab cltei ces.
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Ase nvironcmoennstcaiglor uosawncseu stgsee laytr oewda trhhdeus m ainm patchte,
natoufdr yes toapnpidoa snt -aptoecxdatolas ysw p etlTilhc.o udgyhs tofipcitatinro and itionally
featudriessuf nriottmhyn e a tuwroarellc do,- codnyssctioofipucistia iasnol ni ebneactaetudhs ee
enviroinasmb esnoetrdn atm asgoeic tda nnol onsgueprp noarttul ridafeu lte oh uman
influePnocset.- apptfioicccta foilloylnom wasku essoe fi solmaotviiofrnnog,ma h umoarn
cultauproacla lliyGkpeseoe rS,gt ee wEaarrtAt'bhsi daenMsda rSyh elTlheLeya 'sMsta n t,oa
moreen compaapsoscianolgfay w phsoeel ceo -syTshRteoe amFd.e, e adn,"d T hPee opolfe
SanadnS dl aarges" e itna fu tuirwneh itchhae p ocaolfay nep csoe- shyasostc ecmu rred.
Humalnii feis m pabcytt ehldeo osfts h nea tuwroaralln dwd,i thaoneu cto -ssyesrtveaimsn g
"commsoant etlofunl cittiewo"in t h(iMnc,C a1r5tt)hh,yhe ,u manoiftt hyefu steu sroec ieties
groawmsb iguous.
Humanbietcyoi mnehse rleinnktteoltd yh e ec o-syansadtc eomm,b inoafst tiionnt ed
evolutteicohnn,o -oprmh oorlbaailpac s,re e aast oecsit ehdtaoyten sofu tn ctaisso tnr ictly
humaAn s.t ubdyJy u lWiaarnne "rO,r goanfts h Heu maBnr aCionn,s trbuytc hHteue mda n
HandT?hE:ep istoomfollnofogrym Taetcihonnoadllio sgcyau,nxs"is eectsoy n netcot ed
informtaetcihonnoS lhsoeug rym.ti esnceohsl o"ghyaa slb seoe cnh aracatsae rrtiizifientcdh i ea l,
senosfue n nataunrsdoa mle,t aistm herse at(eWnairnnSgei"rm )i.ls aormfleey te,el c hn"oilno gy,
itesx cluosfhi uomnaa cnt iovpiestnu]y[p t, h peo ssiobfaic loimtpya crraibtlwiehq iuicenh s ists
onh umaagne n(cWyarn"e rW)a.rn esrt'usds iheotswh taetc hniooslft oesgney ea nsr estrictive
tcoo mmuniacnardte iloant iaonnedsv hedinep sst,r tuotc htseie vOlenf.a s imitlharre ad,
StepThhaewnir li atbeoswu htah tec al'lgsrt eeecnh nopahnoxbiaiebaton,yua' tn otechnology,
geneetnigci neaencrdhi enmgi,ac latletlrhynie an tguw roarIllnG d e.r mian2n 0y0 "8fo,u r
unisviet.riv.eo.sl unotradretirhleeygdi ee rnt ictios shtduostw fine lsdt udciietpsiu,nb gl ic
Dra5k e
presasnutdrh seey stedmeasttircou ftc hteriieorsn e bayar ccthi ovpipsottssoge edn etically
modified o(rTghaeSniwiles)dmw.ese n"nfu tr th"ewrr,it thideni gg noifpty l ainntttsho e ir
Constistonu otp ieosnt"io crdi idseersae sseic shteamniwtco aubllesud s eodnt hecirro ps
(Theili)as.c uTlhtfeeuarr�reafs l y ntihnevtaioscnti honena tupraarlt,i tchuhelu amralny,
whircehfl eicntht eps o st-ehluemmaoenfen ctos- apoficcatliyopnt.i c
Thaep ocaolfay npe sceo -siynsetxeomir mapbaslcoytc sir eetgya,ro dfsl eelsfs­
sustaiTnhapebo islti-tchyhu.am raanic ntt heeecr os- apotceaxTlthyRsepo taiFd,ce eadn,"d T he
PeoopflS ea nadnS dl asgp"e taotk hr ei osfee n vironcmoennstcaiilont u hsceno enstosef x t
gregeuniT lhtce.h arafacctdeee rhsu maneiiztaahtsaeri reo pnl acfoerrm eelnitpg einoauanssc e,
StepAhsemna waorugloudraed ,e mons0tfrtahtei onha romftfu al mpeeffwreiictnthgs the
natural woErulrdo,pa ecvaatisnis a ttgsha eig nesnte tmiocdailofilreygd an iwsomusal sds ert.
Eco-apoficcatleiyxoppntl ihocor tweh see c o-sryesltaetmi,ao nnbdso hdiripeesflst,e h cet
dehumaenffiezocifstn esgv eriinn-gtd eetrpheern edleanttwi iotnthhsneh a itpuw roarll d.
IE.co-System
Thceh araicstoelrfrasot'mti hoeenc o-siyassc teenmtt hreaiml.nae ne co-apocaasl ypse,
wealsle xploroafnt eilwoa nnsd socuatpsoeiftsd h neea tuwroarTllh die.s olationt oc ontributes
dehumansiizntachtceeih oanr ahcatvneeoor psp orttuorn eimtotivheees m sfreolmiv neosr ganic
landstcooa bpseetsrh wveoe r olbjde ctLiavwerleyBn.uc eaelr lg tuhe"astt do i srtehgfaaecr td
thhautm caunl tpurroadlui cestm iboend dtehndea tiuwnro arillts deo n tear tsaeilnve icstiiovne
thpalta hcuemsa niknaip nrde -Coperniocfca enn ptoridsatoli enitsotid tyoe ns erve" (Buell,
109T0h)iv.si soifco enn traansldui ptoeyrr ioitvyet rhn ea tuwroarilltsd h s ee tfotriFn egea dn d
Dra6k e
"ThPee ooplfSe a nadnS dl awgh,i"Tl heRe o adde monstthraeaft etre-se offfte hcitss
assumpStoicoinae.nt tyh'rso paotcteiantnteudrnd itecr awpimteahnm iten t roploalnidtsacna pe
letaoad l ienfraotmti heoenn v iroanmniedasn m ta jcoorn tritbotu hcteri eoanot fpi oosnt ­
humans.
Thaen throptorceeantotfmtr ehinnecat t uwroarilles dx pliondr eepdst ihn,tc hee
resuelntviinrgo ndmeesnttriautslch tceia otnafo lrdy eshtu manSiozcaitieintotyne'.rs a ctions
witthhs ey ntohrre etmiaci nnaitnulgra sancdla aplel ionwssii ngtthhotwe i thdfrroamtw hael
natuwroaralln drd e vetahlleos nt ge remff eocfat nst hropocDerKn.lt arBuiescn iessmc.h
commeonnwt hsah teb eliteobv eae nes r ronaetotuist ude:
Whawtec a"lnla thuarasel "w baeyesacn u ltcuornasltt hrhauetcl ttp ome eda sure
humpanr ogarnecdsi sv ilriaztaththeidaroen nn aonti en depernedaoelunmtt s ide
orb eyotnh.hdeu maFnr.ot mh piesr spescctiievdneit,si cfiocav nedr y
technoplrooggidrconea oslmts a rafk u ratlhieern fraotmti hnoean t ubruaatnl
ever-girnevaotlevireni m t(e.Bn etn e4s3c9h),.
Thaen thropoactetnidtterusidccerc iobnietbdrut tooe vse r-exotfre enssoiuaornncd e s
overpopEucloa-taipoonfic.ca tlriyeopsntp ibocynp dosr trtahdyeei tnrgi emffeenoctftta hsli s
ideoilnto hgseye totfit nhnega tuworraTllhd e.es ceo -aposcoacliyteprttetiiahenctesa tural
worpludr aesalc yo mmodainttdhy ee,ff eicests tabilntih sbeha erldra ennd sTchatepe ex.t s
demonsatnar natther oproecleanttwirioittnchhsn eha itpuw roaralln dtd,h h ea zaorfd s
priorhiutmiapznri onggor veeassr sy mbiroetliact wiointtshheh eci op- system.
Thtee chnoleonhgaincccaehldal ryai cnMt .Te .Ar nsd erFseoenvd'i set whn ea tuwroarll d
asa ne xpenrdeasbolEuear ccoheft . hc eh arachtaaes' r fese d'·iimntp hlebairnratt iehnda t
alltohwestm oi nsmteasnstoa ngaeen otwhaetrtc,eh l evainsmdia okpneu, r chaalwslie tsh in
Dra7k e
themiirn Tdhsce.h antghehisasm s a dient hmee ntaolfpi etoispeulsre f wahceTenis t ruess ponds
witbha fflemeevnetan,n gteoarl ,a ndspcaaipn"et nionIwsg a:tw h tahtew raens o o noent he
boawth,iw cahes v emno rset uapniwdda ,ks i nodfh owIfe ltth,ta htse a iwlesru epa ,n tdh e
rudwdaeswr,e lwlh,av tereru ddaerbreus,tt h ewraens o o noenb oatrlod o oaktt h heo rizon"
(Ande4r9sT)oi.nt c,ua sn finnovdta liunaep ainwtiitnhdgoi urhteu cmtma ont iivnecso rporated,
as trroenflge cotfhi isoson c iveatlyou'fees f ficiTehnseca ymi.ed ecaalbnses eewnh eTni tus'
fathaesrk" sdy:oo kun ohwo ewx pentsrieaverense e ,tx ota na ifarc to(r1y2?E5"art) h.'n sa tural
proceasrisene esf fiacniuden ndte rvaluetdop- rroedcduoucmctpe ardi bsaosonenscd o st
efficiTehnpecr ye.d omvianliaufunsnec t t iona-ifaarcn t ofruyn cmtoiroeenf sfi citehnatnl y
treLeiskB.ee nedsecshc rtihsbeoe csiu,en tdye rsntaatonundrlaseysa w atyom eashuurmea n
accomplishments.
Efficioevnepcrry e sercvanaa ltbsieoso enei nnP auBlaoc igaslhuosprtito"' rTsyh e
PeoopflS ea nadn Sdl awgh,i"tc akhe psl aicnaew orwlidtn hor emaiencion-gs ayftsetre m
weevitletcehcnhao lllooghwyue mdat noes aa tn yitnhg--d-ieTrvhtebe.ni olMougsiarrhsatf
desctrhiabene tsh creonpatotrtiictt ouwdaterh ndeas t uwroarwllh deh nee xpltahiweno srt kh at
goeisnk teoe pail nigvo irngga nailis"vmme a:n ufacatb uarsoiirncgg a nfoiosdim qs'u si te
compClleexra.on o masifi,rl tsepreslc,ii ga(lh4 t7sT)"h.e e c osyisastm eamto tfee cro nomy­
wheinit ns o l onfigsecra plrlayc ititids co analew, a wyi tLhi.kF ee euds'oesfa ifarc totrhiee s,
biolotgwiecatakotls hh eu mbaond hya vael lofowrte hdee n virotnobm ete rnetaa stae d
functimoencahla nainwsdhm e,pn r esetrhnveai tnugwr oarillns do l onegfefirc tihesentyt o,p .
"ThPee oopflS ea nadnS dl aagl"rs eos ptooBn ednse sacrhg'usmi entn etro mfps u re
resocuorncseu mTphtleia onnd.si cn"a TphPeee oopflS ea nadnS dl apgo"r ttrhaey s
consumopfrt eisoonui rntc hseees t otfui nncgh esctkrmeiidpn iTnhgce.o mp'afusnn yctiiso n
Dra8k e
theraepfoprreo prmiiantioenp-gea r aatnii nodnut,sh traretyq uaid reesstr uicmtpioavncte th e
eco-saynspdth eyms imcaanlilpyut lheaent viinrgo Tnhmoeutnghtahe.c tpuuarlp oofSs ees sC o'
operaarteni eovndesir r eacdtdlryeB sasceidg,du elsucptrihi pebh eyss iimcpaoalnct th e
enviro"nmmiennriton:bgr o utmsb blaecadkn fo dr trhi,p pdienegip nettrho ee a rttuhrn,ii ntg
inatm ou sohft ailainrndog caskc t ihdta htel yei ftne xpopsoendwd hse tnh heiyt thw ea ter
tabolrpe i,li entdth oo usamnodu-anfoitonts coafwp aesssto ei( lB"a cig4a3El)vu.ep tnih ,e
earctrhu'issbst e imnagn ipualftaettrhee ecd o syhsabtsee emd ne strTohypeee do.ip ntlh ei s
dystowpoirhalandvs eos triEpapretrdhe 'sso utrhBcaeetns e csohm'mse nhtabaser eyn
outdateendv-itrhoenn olm oennsgtee rrav saem sa rokfh umparno gsriensecsve,et nht ee rrain
habse eanb usaenrdde shbaepyeordne dc ognition.
Com1MaccCka rtchoyn'tbsre atswstet ealnra kn goufta hgpeer esaentndht re i icmha gery
ofm emormiaektseh l ea ndssccaepsneted aso n uatm otnhgre e osftt h tee rdsiec tiinto hpneo st­
apocanloyvpTethliRe co aTdh.de i stibnecttwiteohedneni ffetroennaetls l foorwt shs ee tttoi ng
bed isplianly aendg tuhadagetep afrrotmts ht eh ipredr lsiomni otfte hrdee osftt h neo vel.
McCarwtrhiaytp eafrsro tmt hset ruglgilvoieftns hrg ee maihnuimnatgnol s o oobkj ecatti vely
thdee vasrteaatolifaind tgey s treocyoet-des yms:
Thseo bflta tcakbl lcet wh rotuhsgeth r leiesktqesu i inkud n coiallioanns gge a
flooarnt dh ceo clrde dpotwa nn tdh dea rcka meea ralntydh sec avepnagsesrisn g
dowtnhs et eceapn ywointtshh etiorr cthrseoisdl hkoyli ents hd er iaftsethdh at
clobseehdti hnedsm i leanset yleOysu o.tn t hreo atdhpsei lgsraindmkos w ann d
felolv earndd i aendtd h bel eanadks hroeuadrewtdeh nt tr unpdaltsihtnse gu n
anrde turnaegdaa istn r acaknladesu s nsr emaarstk hpeead ot fha nnya meless
sisteirntw hoaern lcdid eanrbtke yo(nMdc.C a1r8t1h)y ,
Dra9k e
Becatuhsneea rraptuilotlnhps ee rspaewcatfryio vmte hi em medsiiattueba yet xipoann tdoai ng
univpeerrssavplee t,chs teti rughgulmiaannrgpse r eseansjt uaesndto tphaeorrftt h dey ing
ecosyTshtpeei ml.g arrimeme sn tiiontn hseead m oeb jedcetsicvreai stp htpeih oyns ical
movemoeftn htwe i nadnt dh oer boifst t aTrhsip.sa sstaagkaeed si ffearpepnrtto oa ch
dismitshtseri nega tomfne antatusa rm ee asoufhr uem parno gbryge isvsti hnrege adave irssu al
tasotfhe o iwn consehquumelanintife tis ota hlue n ivlearnsdaslHc uampaaenr.sde e scraisb ed
indistinfrgoumti hesech oa-bslnyeos mtto erimem, p ortoarrn ets pofonrsi itTb.hlo eeb jective
passuangbea ltahnaecn etsh roptorceeantotmftr ehienecnt vo inrmebnyrt e vetrhsreio nalgne d
showhiunmgaa nsasp arto fn atpurroacle MscsCeasrr.te hmyot vherese adfreormts h eir
invesitntm hehenu tm lainv oefts hs et oarneydx patnhdepsie rr spteroce tvitevhameelo vement
ofm assmeasnt yi mleasrt gheEaran r otrih tl si vrienmga Tihnoesb .j eacntidim vpea ssive
landsicasan ap reg umaegnatia nnsttho rcoepntricism.
Thlea ndsicnFa epe"edT ,hP ee oopflS ea nadnS dl aagn,Td"h Reo acdo mbianneds
contirmaasgoteftss h n ea tuwroarwlli dts hy ntohrbe atrisrcee tnt Tihnlega sn.d socffaepre s
paradcooxmibcianloa ftt hioeor ngsaa nniidnc o rgtaoen xipclt ohereffe e ocfat lsi enfraotmi on
thnea tuwroaralln did tr so ilnee v endteuhaulm anTihziean tfieoernct.oi -lseby asartp ser mo cess
oft ransforfmotarhtp eir oont agtohonutighsthete ,n sbieotnwt ehenena tuarnsday ln thetic
inditchapetr eosbi lisent m h een viroannmndeo tntht ce h araNcotretrFh.rr yoperp o pionhs iess
popuAlnaart oofmC yr ittihctaihtsne ma rr"abteigviienanw so rrledp reassaen notremda l
wormlodv,ie nstt hoge r eweonr glodei,sn a tm oe tamortphheiornwse hi istc hhce o smic
resoliuastc ihoinea vnreded t,ut rnot shn eo rmwaolr l(dF"r1 y8e2,W) i.t haog urtew eonr tlod
alltohcweh aratcort eemrotsvh ee msfreolmtv heiesn orglaannidcse cnaoputegor h e folnei ctt
objectthicevh ealeryra,asc b'ti tloci htayni gssei gnifisctainflteldy.