HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COLLAPSE IN MARGARET ATWOOD'S ORYX AND CRAKE: AN ECOCRITICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Environmental degradation is a major concern in contemporary literature. Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake (2003) portrays ecological collapse as the result of human actions rather than natural causes. This article examines how the novel represents human responsibility for environmental destruction from an ecocritical perspective. Using close textual analysis, it argues that corporate capitalism, biotechnology, and anthropocentric thinking drive environmental decline. The study concludes that Atwood presents ecological collapse as both an environmental and an ethical issue, encouraging readers to reflect on humanity's responsibility toward the natural world.