Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake: An Ecocritical Approach

Abstract

Ecocriticism explores how culture is related to nature in the spirit of taking responsibility for the environment.This paper tries to use an approach to look at Margaret Atwood’s novel, Oryx and Crake published in 2003.It analyzes the disaster caused by human selfishness and explains Atwoods concern for the natural world.The novel deals with issues like global warming, genetic engineering, declining resources, scarce species, exploitation of sex and a decline in kindness.It also shows how human beings are not getting along which is a result of technology and ambition.The novel appeals to people to change and improve their way of living.Atwood wants to maintain not the balance between humans and nature but also the balance of human relationships and the balance of humans with themselves.She hopes that people will be aware of the importance of balancing these three aspects.When the entire ecosystem is in a state humans can exist safely and happily with complete freedom.