Literature Review: Landscape as Protagonist in Contemporary Literature

The notion of landscape as protagonist has been a recurring theme in literary studies, particularly in the context of contemporary literature. This literature review will explore the various ways in which the landscape has been conceptualized as an active agent or character within literary works, the implications of this perspective on narrative structure and thematic development, and the relevance of this concept to broader discussions in ecocriticism and spatial theory.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the role of the environment and non-human entities within literary narratives. This has been largely fueled by the emergence of ecocriticism as a distinct field of study, which seeks to examine the relationships between literature, culture, and the natural world (Garrard, 2004). One of the key ideas that has emerged from this field is the concept of "landscape as protagonist," which posits that the physical environment can take on a central and active role within a narrative, shaping the experiences, decisions, and identities of the human characters who inhabit it.

A notable example of landscape as protagonist can be found in Annie Proulx's novel The Shipping News (1993), in which the rugged coastline of Newfoundland plays a central role in the unfolding of the story. Proulx's vivid descriptions of the landscape not only serve as a backdrop to the events of the novel but also actively shape the characters' lives and emotional journeys. Similarly, in Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian (1985), the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the American Southwest becomes an integral part of the narrative, driving the characters' actions and the novel's themes of violence and survival.

The concept of landscape as protagonist also intersects with discussions in spatial theory, particularly the idea of "space as social product" as proposed by Lefebvre (1991). According to Lefebvre, the physical environment is not a passive backdrop but an active agent that both shapes and is shaped by human activity. This perspective has been applied to literary studies in various ways, including investigations of the role of landscape in shaping narrative form and the development of spatially oriented approaches to reading literature (Tally, 2013).

A number of scholars have explored the implications of landscape as protagonist for narrative structure and thematic development. For instance, Buell (1995) suggests that the presence of an active landscape can lead to a decentralization of human agency within a narrative, resulting in a more complex and interconnected understanding of the relationships between humans and their environment. Similarly, Heise (2008) argues that the concept of landscape as protagonist can contribute to the development of an "eco-narratology" that foregrounds the interconnectedness of human and non-human entities within literary narratives.

In conclusion, the idea of landscape as protagonist has emerged as an important theme in contemporary literary studies, offering new perspectives on the role of the physical environment within narrative structures and thematic development. This concept has been informed by broader discussions in ecocriticism and spatial theory and has led to a greater appreciation for the active role that landscapes can play in shaping the experiences and identities of human characters. As concerns about environmental issues continue to grow, it is likely that the concept of landscape as protagonist will become an increasingly central aspect of literary analysis and criticism.

References:

Buell, L. (1995) The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Garrard, G. (2004) Ecocriticism, London: Routledge.

Heise, U. K. (2008) 'Ecocriticism and the Transnational Turn in American Studies', American Literary History, 20(1-2), pp. 381-404. doi: 10.1093/alh/ajn005.

Lefebvre, H. (1991) The Production of Space, trans. Nicholson-Smith, D., Oxford: Blackwell.

McCarthy, C. (1985) Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West, New York: Random House.

Proulx, A. (1993) The Shipping News, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.

Tally, R. T. Jr. (2013) Spatiality, London: Routledge.