Greening the Appalachina Trail An Eco Critical Study of Selected Novels of Cormac McCarthy

Abstract

Ecocriticism is the study of representation of nature in literary works and deals newlinewith the relationship between nature and literature. The environmental literature as an newlineacademic discipline began in earnest in the 1990s, although its roots go back to the newlinelate 1970s. Cormac McCarthy is a contemporary American writer, novelist, newlineplaywright and screen play writer. The research makes an ecocritical analysis of newlineCormac McCarthy s novels, taking into consideration how McCarthy s novels set in newlinethe Appalachian Trail, serve as viable artifacts of his ecological vision. newlineChapter I-Introduction, details on Ecocriticism as a theory and movement. It newlinetraces the various phases of man- nature relationship, over the ages shaped by newlinechanging scientific thoughts, philosophies and various dimensions of earth-centred newlineapproach. The chapter discusses in detail, the background study of Appalachia and newlineposits Cormac McCarthy in the literary tradition. newlineChapter II, Appalachia and Apocalypse- Place, People and Perceptions , newlineelaborates in detail the landscape and setting portrayed in the fiction of McCarthy. It newlinealso examines the instances that identify the ecocritical aspects in The Orchard newlineKeeper, Outer Dark, Suttree, Child of God, and The Road. The intermittent scenarios newlinein the novels, including exploitation of landscape and resources in Appalachia and newlineexistence of man in a hostile and dystopian environment are discussed. newlineChapter III, Depiction of Androcentrism and Subjugation of Women in newlineAppalachia records the ecofeminist aspects in the select novels of Cormac newlineMcCarthy. The novels portray women as victimized agents and focuses on the newlineexploitation done to them. While instances from Child of God and Outer Dark present newlinethe incest and abuse of women, the chapter also analyses The Road and Suttree, newlinesuggesting changed scenario namely, the postfeminist condition and transition of newlinegender roles respectively. newlineChapter IV, The Animal Menagerie and Advocacy of Biotic Environment , newlinerepresents the non-human and the human world in McCarthy s fiction.