The Year of the Flood is a work of speculative fiction by Margaret Atwood. It is a post-apocalyptic novel that contains themes of environmentalism and explores the relationship between humans and the environment. Throughout the novel, Atwood exposes the exploitation of the environment by society, presenting a future in which a mass extinction of animals has occurred, once fertile farmland land has become barren, and entire ecosystems have been slaughtered. Endangered animal species, and the new animal splices that are created, are exploited for human gain. Pigoons are used to grow new human organs for transplant, Mo’Hairs are used to grow luxurious hair for humans, and following a honeybee die-off, the Corps even develop a new hybrid bee that is essentially a cyborg spy.
Reading this novel brings to mind all of the conservation issues that we as a planet are facing today. According to the Living Planet Report 2020, the population sizes of wildlife have dropped 68% on average since 1970. Concerning land, up to 90% of the world’s wetlands alone have been destroyed in the past three centuries. This destruction has been caused by humans – by companies exploiting the natural world for monetary gain and by governments who do not pass laws to prevent this exploitation from happening. As a result, ice sheets are melting, forests are burning, seas are rising, and extreme weather is occurring all over the world. Clearly, it is more than just the bees that need saving. Various solutions to these issues exist in the real world. The National Geographic suggests that the only way to effectively combat climate change and prevent the unravelling of ecosystems is to increase land conservation efforts so that 50% of all land is kept in a natural state. On the other hand, the World Wildlife Fund suggests that switching to a plant-based diet is one of the best actions we can take to help the planet, as the production of food alone is one of the biggest causes of habitat loss and destruction. Less land would be used to harvest crops, and fewer greenhouse gases would be emitted. Another suggested method is switching to 100% renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, and wave power. All sources agree, however, that political activism on some scale has to occur in order to incite real change. While Atwood offers a commentary on the present-day treatment of the environment through the parallels present in her story, she does not offer up a definitive solution. The Gardeners, who are vegetarian and eco-friendly, appear to be a solution at first, but they are flawed as they partake in contradictory practices and ultimately take no action to prevent the exploitation of the environment. The MaddAddams, a sect of the Gardeners, take too violent and harmful actions. This makes me wonder, is Atwood insinuating that, since humans are the problem, the best solution is to get rid of all humans, like the pandemic is intended to in the novel? Or is she suggesting that the solution to this crisis lies somewhere between the Gardeners and the MaddAddams – in being environmentally conscious and seeking change, but not doing so in a violent or destructive manner?
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AuthorHi, I'm Rhi! In these blog posts, I will be exploring and reflecting on common themes found in post-apocalyptic literature. Archives
April 2021
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