Exploring Environmental Apocalypticism

Abstract

In the Anthropocene Era, overpopulation presents a pressing environmental challenge. As humans take center stage as ecological actors, recognizing that previously unsustainable human-nonhuman relationships fall short of safeguarding the planet for future generations becomes clear. Dystopian literature is a powerful vehicle for contextualizing the potential environmental apocalypticism that could define our future – a world shaped by irreversible catastrophes and societies grappling desperately with adaptation. This paper delves into the recurring theme of overpopulation across three dystopian short stories: Kurt Vonnegut’s “2 B R 0 2 B,” James Graham Ballard’s “Billennium,” and Carrie Vaughn’s “Amaryllis.” In contrast to the idyllic realms of utopian literature, these narratives paint a stark picture of dread and despair in humanity’s struggle against dwindling resources. Through an ecocritical analysis, this study underscores the urgency of overpopulation as a looming threat in the near future, with its portrayal in dystopian literature serving as an unmistakable warning to safeguard against the end of a sustainable Earth.

Keywords

• dystopian literature
• ecocriticism
• environmental apocalypticism