Social and Psychological Alienation in Barnes’s Above the ether (2019)
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Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University
Abstract
This research investigates the impact of human excessive abuse of nature in Eric Barnes’s
Above the ether (2019) which is represented as a revenge of nature. In order to analyze the
vengeance of nature on society and individuals’ psychology, this study relies on Ecocriticism
and Psychoanalysis. The first chapter relies on some ecocritical concepts that examine the
relationship between nature and man. It aims to delve into the characters’ belief that nature is
a passive recipient of human’s actions. This plays a major role in bringing about the postapocalypse,
which has an effect on social life. The second chapter employs Frank Johnson’s
“Psychological Alienation: Isolation and Self-estrangement” as a framework to scrutinize the
impact of social alienation on characters’ psychological conditions. The investigation of the
issue under study has led to some findings. People’s overuse of chemicals and pollutants
caused climate change. Natural disasters have severe consequences on social and individual
relations. The post-apocalyptic environment results in social decline that causes fundamental
changes at a social level. There are six characters who are socially alienated in the novel
namely the investor, the father, the stranger, the carousel operator, the restaurant manager and
the doctor. Every character resides either alone or with one partner or family member.
Moreover, social alienation has a direct impact on the individuals’ psyche. Because some of
the characters become self-alienated as they do not wish to communicate with their family
members, friends, or other individuals.
Description
68p. ; 30cm(+CD-Rom)
Keywords
Post-apocalyptic environment, Social alienation, Psychological alienation, Ecocriticism, Psychoanalysis
Citation
Literature and Civilization