THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN MIKE BARTLETT’S EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON

Since the main interest of ecocriticism is to focus on the strong bond between literature and Nature generally, and environment particularly; it is good to use an Ecocritic approach for analyzing Earthquakes in London by Mike Bartlett. This play that was first introduced in London in 2010 tells the story of a family that consists of four members: a father who is introduced as an environmentalist and his three daughters. Every one of them has a certain problem that spoils her ease. Their sufferings are closely related to both climatic and ecological rapid changes. Thus, this paper will try to discuss through this play how ecology expresses both natural and constructed elements. It also will discuss the representation of environment through this play showing how Bartlett manipulates both stage and language to give a full representation of ecology and makes an attractive ecological atmosphere. It also will shed ample light on the relation between Man and environment through the variant relations between the characters in this play and the environment around them. One of the most important points in this paper will be the exposure of the mutual apocalyptic influences of Man’s misuse of the environment. Finally, this paper will rely on The Future of Environmental Criticism: Environmental Crisis and Literary Imagination by Lawrence Bullas a base of standing on the ecological functions in Earthquakes in London.