Ecocriticism In Margaret Atwood's Surfacing

This paper attempts to read the novel Surfacing, written by the Booker Prize winning Canadian author, poet, critic and environmental activist Margaret Atwood, through the lens of ecocriticism. Atwood has delved not only into the changing ecological Canadian scenario as an aftereffect of what she calls ‘Americanisation’, but through her protagonist and her journey of self-exploration, Atwood portrays nature as the elemental force that makes a man realise the essence of humanity, and only in oneness with nature, with a complete surrender to the ways of nature and in fully embracing nature as opposed to the man made materialistic society, can one attain harmony both within and without, and also self-sustainability, as dawns on the protagonist in the course of the novel.
Key Words: Environment, Literary texts, Ecocriticism, Surfacing by Margaret Atwood, Changing ecology of Canada, Self exploration, Self sustainability, Oneness with nature …show more content…
The all around innovative and technical innovations and developments that have upgraded our standard of living to a great extent have simultaneously wreaked havoc on our ecology. Thus the need for sustainability assumes mammoth proportions if we are to keep the world inhabitable for our future generations. Sustainability will help achieve a balance in the ecology. In this age of ‘instant gratification’ we refuse to look beyond our needs and desires but this irresponsible attitude has contributed to the steady decline of our environment. Sustainability will provide the key to “how we might live in harmony with the natural world around us, protecting it from damage and destruction”