Psychological Avoidance, Climate Justice, and Agency in Flight Behavior

초록

This paper explores Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior as a critical examination of climate change, psychological avoidance, and climate justice. Set in a small Appalachian community, the novel uses the disrupted migration of monarch butterflies as a symbol of ecological collapse and the interconnectedness of human and non-human lives. Through the frameworks of Actor-Network Theory and material ecocriticism, the study emphasizes Kingsolver’s challenge to anthropocentric views, highlighting the agency of non-human entities in shaping ecological systems and human awareness. The novel critiques humanity’s instinctive avoidance of environmental crises, seen in societal denial, detachment, and inaction that worsen vulnerabilities. Characters like Dellarobia Turnbow and her community resist acknowledging the broader implications of the butterflies’ migration, reflecting real-world tendencies to evade environmental responsibility. These dynamics align with Rob Nixon’s concept of "slow violence," illustrating the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized human and non-human communities. By addressing systemic issues such as deforestation and plastic pollution, Kingsolver critiques ecological injustices and bridges scientific discourse with literary narrative. Through the monarch butterflies, Flight Behavior fosters emotional engagement with ecological justice, urging collective accountability and sustainable action to protect interconnected ecosystems and future generations.

키워드