In my paper I want to investigate the connection between mobility and ecoheroism, because I want to find out whether mental and physical mobility can be seen as a catalyst for starting an eco-journey. I want to show that Barbara Kingsolver's protagonist Dellarobia is an eco-heroine driven by her mental and physical mobility throughout the book, which is started by an environmental abnormality: the appearance of Monarch Butterflies.
I examine the realities of climate change as they are presented in "Flight Behavior" and how Dellarobia’s starting recognition
that climate change exists corresponds with her understanding of natural processes and unfair power dynamics. Dellarobia frees herself from the dualistic culture and the restrictions of motherhood, because she is realizing the truths and effects of climate change and want to create a better future for others -her kids. Her personal growth as an independent woman comes through her transformation into an environmentally aware individual.
My investigation is supposed to help readers understand the importance of mobility for eco-heroism not only as a catalyst for Dellarobia becoming an eco-heroine, but I would argue, that recognizing the protagonist´s development in "Flight Behaviour" [sic.] as a reader, helps to overcome denial of climate change, activates concern and creates awareness.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- A Changing World Requires Mobility.
- What Makes a Hero?
- Physical Mobility and Mobile Identity..
- Dellarobia's Insideness and Outsideness.
- The Butterfly Effect….......
- Climate Change Fears are Given Wings
- Eco-Heroism through Mobility
- Works Cited.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the connection between mobility and eco-heroism, particularly focusing on Barbara Kingsolver's protagonist Dellarobia in "Flight Behavior" as an example of an eco-heroine driven by both mental and physical mobility. It investigates the realities of climate change presented in the novel and how Dellarobia's journey of environmental awareness leads to her liberation from restrictive cultural structures.
- The relationship between physical and mental mobility as catalysts for eco-heroism.
- Dellarobia's transformation as an eco-heroine driven by environmental awareness.
- The role of climate change as a driver of personal growth and societal change.
- The intersection of gender roles, environmental awareness, and ecofeminist perspectives.
- The importance of understanding the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter lays out the argument that a changing world, marked by climate change, necessitates a shift in our understanding of identity and behavior. It introduces the concept of mobility, encompassing both physical displacement and mental evolution, and highlights the potential of literature to engage with environmental concerns and inspire change. Chapter two delves into the traditional definition of a hero, tracing its evolution to incorporate modern values. It then introduces the concept of an eco-heroine, differentiating it from the classical hero archetype. This chapter also examines the historical connection between women and nature and the implications of ecofeminism for understanding environmental activism.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this paper include: eco-heroism, mobility, climate change, "Flight Behavior," Barbara Kingsolver, Dellarobia, ecofeminism, dualistic culture, environmental awareness, material ecocriticism, risk perception studies, place study approach, and the hero's journey.
- Quote paper
- Felina Lehmann (Author), 2019, Fixed Identities in a Changing World? Mobility as a Catalyst for Eco-Heroism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/510672
