Abstract
The problem of nature deterioration in the Anthropocene has become an important art concern, thus leading to analysis of ecological images in the texts of various genres. Our analysis of such imagery in a gaslight romance series is equally topical. The subject of the study is universe of the series of novels by Cindy Spencer Pape which centres around alternative nineteenth century London with highly developed steam engines and corresponding technology. Ecocritical approach is chosen as the research method of the study as the novels have powerful ecological imagery, which requires close analysis. The series covers a number of years, and so the ecological deterioration due to coal overuse can be traced through various London locales, which are described in different time frames, and the comparative reading of these descriptions provides the proof of ecological deterioration. It reveals the consistent ecological discourse within the series, its ties strengthened through steady layering of the images of nature, burdened with progressing pollution. There is social dimension to the issue, as the poorer urban residents are shown to be more effected by this problem due to their jobs, work and living conditions. The paper aims to reveal these numerous aspects of ecological imagery in the texts. The results. Close text analysis of various levels allows us to decipher the multi-layered ecological images and dwell on the message they bear. As the environment degradation takes place in the past, the series allows us to describe its results as facts and compress its progress in time and space within the span of the novels setting. This intensifies the image of the catastrophe, makes it feel more immediate and pressing, thus becoming a powerful plot tool that results in search for solutions of the problem and alleviation of the existing results of coal overuse. This research is the basis of further analysis of ecological imagery in steampunk and gaslight romance as genres, fruitful in that regard.
Highlights
The problem of nature deterioration in the Anthropocene has become an important art concern, leading to analysis of ecological images in the texts of various genres
Ecocritical approach is chosen as the research method of the study as the novels have powerful ecological imagery, which requires close analysis
The series covers a number of years, and so the ecological deterioration due to coal overuse can be traced through various London locales, which are described in different time frames, and the comparative reading of these descriptions provides the proof of ecological deterioration
Summary
VISION OF VICTORIAN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER (BASED ON THE SELECTED NOVELS BY CINDY SPENCER PAPE). There is a social layer to the issue — though the results of extensive coal use are more evident in Whopping, the presence of automated washing and drying machines is an abnormality, such amenities are generally used by the richer city residents: ‘The Wapping alleyway boasted none of the gas lamps of his Mayfair neighborhood...’, ‘Merrick was momentarily surprised that such a poor neighborhood should boast automated washing and drying machines, but he didn’t allow himself to linger over the thought’ (Pape, 2013) This underlines the strict division of London into areas according to social stratification. This polluted version depends on the images of malformation: ‘the black scrubby grass’ involves the omnipresent colour epithet and the notion of size inferiority; ‘the stunted trees’ strengthens the image with the added meaning of hindered normal development; ‘scraggly shrubs’ capitalizes on this accumulation of images of abnormal structure with the notion of faulty formation This accumulation creates the clearly defined image of abnormality of such an ecological state and stresses the nostalgic feelings of the characters towards the clean nature. It is remarkable if the comparison spans both descriptions: Features Collective natural odour The Themes
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