Human Response to Environmental Collapse in James Graham Ballard's "The Drowned World"

Abstract

This study examines human responses to environmental collapse in J. G. Ballard’s novel The Drowned World. The study aims to analyze the representation of environmental collapse and human responses to extreme environmental changes in the novel. This study employs a qualitative method using a text analysis approach and applies the concept of An Inconvenient Apocalypse, which views the apocalypse as a slow and ongoing process. Research data was obtained through an analysis of the setting, conflict, and character behavior, particularly that of the main character, Robert Kerans. The results indicate that environmental collapse is depicted through the submergence of major cities, extreme climate change, and the reemergence of prehistoric conditions. These changes not only destroy human civilization but also affect human psychology and behavior. Human responses in the novel are shown through various attitudes, such as preserving civilization, resisting change, and finally accepting and adapting to the new environment. This study concludes that the novel depicts the changing relationship between humans and nature as a result of an ongoing ecological crisis.