REPRESENTING CLIMATE ANXIETY IN MARGARET ATWOOD'S ORYX AND CRAKE: AN ECOCRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Climate anxiety has become a significant concern in contemporary environmental discourse, influencing not only scientific and political debates but also literary studies. Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake (2003) presents a dystopian future shaped by ecological degradation, corporate biotechnology, and environmental exploitation. This article examines how the novel represents climate anxiety through an ecocritical perspective. Using close textual analysis, it explores the relationship between environmental collapse, literary techniques, and ethical responsibility. The study argues that Atwood portrays climate anxiety as more than fear of ecological disaster; it is presented as a consequence of human actions and a call for environmental accountability. By combining ecological criticism with literary analysis, the article demonstrates how Oryx and Crake encourages readers to reconsider the relationship between technological progress, nature, and human responsibility.