Uma leitura ecocrítica e ecofeminista da obra a Parábola do semeador, de Octavia Butler

Abstract

This study adopts a qualitative approach, focusing on textual and interpretative analysis, aiming to examine the dystopian narrative Parable of the Sower (1993) by Octavia Butler through the lens of Ecocriticism and ecofeminist philosophy. The novel portrays a dystopian future in which the consequences of rampant environmental exploitation manifest drastically, addressing themes such as the relationship between humans and nature, gender oppression, and social inequality. Our analysis is based on the methodology of literary analysis, considering the representation of nature through the metaphor of environmental apocalypse, a recurring element in dystopian and ecological narratives. Additionally, we examine the representation of femininity in light of Ecofeminism, a movement that identifies patriarchy as the root of the oppression of both women and non-human beings, highlighting the intersection between gender oppression and environmental degradation. To support this analysis, we draw on Ecocriticism studies by Lawrence Buell (1995), Cheryll Glotfelty (1996), Richard Kerridge (1998; 2020), and Greg Garrard (2014), as well as contributions on Ecofeminism by Greta Gaard (1993), Ivone Gebara (1997), Alicia Puleo (2011), and Afonso Murad (2021). The results demonstrate that the novel employs the metaphor of environmental apocalypse as a warning about the consequences of exploitation and excessive consumption of natural resources. Furthermore, it exposes those responsible and highlights shared wounds between humans and non-humans, emphasizing the need to build a society based on a culture of care, a recurring theme in ecofeminist philosophy.