70 Jeong, Seonyoung 현대영어영문학 제59권 3호 Modern Studies in English Language & Literature (2015년 8월) 69-93 http://dx.doi.org/10.17754/MESK.59.3.69 need to form a completely new and unprecedented community for us, who

are seeking an alternative to the current environmental crisis and an action

Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s plan to implement it. As we can see from the authors’ note that she got the motif of the book from a flood that battered Angangueo, Mexico, in Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism February 2010(Flight Behavior 435), the plot of Flight Behavior is similar to ‘faction,’ a mixture of facts and fictions. Her previous books like The 1 Lacuna (2009) had a documentary format, her signature book, The Jeong, Seonyoung* Poisonwood Bible (1998), is based on her own experience in Congo, (Jeonnam National University) Africa. Therefore, the faction format Kingsolver adopted for Flight Behavior is not new compared to the motives of her previous books. Jeong, Seonyoung. “Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism.” Modern Studies in English Language & Literature 59.3 (2015): 69-93. Barbara As it can be the most effective active plan from a viewpoint of Kingsolver has inquired into the various perspectives and problems of environment and society. Flight Behavior (2012) can be defined as a way of project and literary practice of ecological literature to take a motive that can trigger off a sensation to Kingsolver’s ‘Rewriting Genesis.’ The goal is the genesis of a new world through compose the plots and storylines to increase the readership, her method is metamorphosis of the ecosystem. In her novel, the importance of the son Prestone stands out, showing his role not as simply a child but more like Adam in the Bible, or takes worthy of attention, although her way can strengthen a political aspect. responsibility for creation of Heaven and Earth like Abraham. Based on the biological Because the so-called ‘ecological crisis’ has lost its novelty a long ago, it kinship, it has a rippling effect like Butterfly Effect to expand into a much greater system. The ecosystem that Kingsolver suggests is an ideal community of human and the nature is the time to shift the focus to an appropriate alternative discussion or a which moves toward the ecological inhabitation and harmony, in that it is not a habitat for problem of action. Of only two articles in domestic dealing with Flight women only but a sustainable habitation for future generations. To induce a change, it is inevitable to transform or overturn it, as Dellarobia, the desperate wife and perfect female, Behavior, Shin, Doo-ho (2015) exaggerates this novel as “a good example” did. Kingsolver wants us to show a possible way through writing a new genesis with help of of rhetoric strategy of fiction genre (129), and Kang, Yong-Ki (2013) our kinship community. (Jeonnam National University) focuses on the apriorism and scientific experience. This study aims to Key Words: Barbara Kingsolver, Flight Behavior, eco-criticism, deep ecology, climate change, review the utopia and direction that the author suggests, as it reads Flight kinship, butterfly effect Behavior from a perspective of eco-criticism. First of all, the study will look into whether this book corresponds to the viewpoint of deep ecology, I. Introduction based on the characters of the book. Through this, this study will demonstrate the necessity to discuss the book from an expanded perspective of eco-criticism beyond eco-feminism, which has been a major In her recent novel Flight Behavior (2012) with the motive on the viewpoint to interpret the author's previous works. In addition, Flight migration of a Monarch butterfly, Barbara Kingsolver (1955- ) suggests the Behavior in a narrow sense is designed as a wake-up call for climate change and environmental crisis, but in a broad sense, it is to pursue a * Ph.D. Student, G.P.F. (Global Ph.D. Fellowship Program, Ministry of Education) Fellow Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 71 72 Jeong, Seonyoung new form of habitation or a utopia for sustainable survival of humans, like tries to overturn the mainstream biological knowledge.” (2007 9). If we Turtle Island by Gary Snyder (1930-). In December 2012, Flight Behavior consider that Dayton Literary Peach Prize was given in 2011 for all of was listed as the bestseller of New York Times right after its publication. her works, it encompasses the author's view of the world. Therefore, it is Despite that, its literary value has received a harsh review due to its possible to read Flight Behavior like her previous works from a viewpoint similarity to The Poisonwood Bible. Given the fact that the novel deals of ecocriticism by focusing on the relation between humans and the nature. with a matter of human awareness under the theme of butterfly based on Actually, Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior based its motive of the novel on a natural disaster that really occurred, Kingsolver’s novel deserves high the real occurrence in a village in Mexico, which is a habitat for Monarch praise as an ecological literature in the novel field. Therefore, this study butterfly.1 Kingsolver got inspiration for her novel from the news article will assess the importance of Kingsolver as an environmental literature that this region is Monarch butterfly’s overwintering place, which was writer. Reading a novel genre is ultimately not a realistic alternative in battered by a catastrophic rainfall. relation to an environmental problem but can change the paradigm. As the Flight Behavior starts with an episode where Dellarobia, who worried purpose of writing this novel is to raise the awareness about ecology, this about the value of her own existence after marriage, went on journey in study offers an opportunity to look into the possibility and the role. despair after she had lost the meaning of life, and she reached a place where she found a flock of butterflies and had a fantastic experience. Although she had her husband and children, her life is locked inside a II. Climate Change and a Desperate Wife house like a picture in the frame.

No matter how often it is emphasized, the task of raising individuals’ The sheep in the field below, the Turnbow family land, the white frame house she had not slept outside for a single night in ten-plus years of ecological consciousness is more difficult than a large governmental project marriage: that was pretty much it. ... Apparently, today was the day she to “redirect human consciousness to a full consideration of its place” walked out of the picture. Distinguishing herself from the luckless sheep (Love 237) in the continuous discussion of Deep Ecology, in that it has to that stood down there in the mud surrounded by the deep stiletto holes of induce a change in the awareness of each member. Therefore, the road to their footprints, enduring life’s bad deals. ... Life was just one long realization through literature inevitably goes in a direction of attempting to proposition they never saw coming. Their pasture looked drowned. In the next field over, the orchard painstakingly planted by the neighbors last year enlighten the readers. Kingsolver intentionally utilizes the background of a was now dying under the rain. (Flight Behavior 2-3) book, characters and description of affairs as literary devices to overturn the awareness about the intrinsic values of the nature. On her Prodigal As if it reminds us of the stream of consciousness of ‘Araby’ in James Summer, Kang Yong-ki criticizes as “the author did not use the nature as Joyce, Dellarobia’s depression was described based on her feelings she had the subject of description and adopted those who resist a human oriented biology as the proxy of the nature. By mobilizing such proxy, the author 1 Search “News Alert: Disaster in Angangueo, Journey North” about an extreme rainfall in central Mexico, on Friday, February 5, 2010. Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 73 74 Jeong, Seonyoung on the way up the mountain. This is also projected through her empathy “the Lord’s business” (55). Cub has neither decent skills nor determination to neighboring plants and animals. She, who lived a hard life as if she and perseverance. He is totally independent from his mother, and instead would give up her life, was driven by a ball of fire or light, or a foreign of expressing his opinions and arguments, he is a kind of passive son object or a scene which she cannot describe (10-11). Later in the book, who follows his mother’s behavior patterns and opinions. The reason his the shape of a butterfly slowly reveals itself. “Without her glasses it took status and importance in the novel are less pronounced out than those of some doing to get a bead on the thing, but there it still was, drifting in Dellarobia is that he does not show a masculine image or a will and blank air above the folded terrain: an orange butterfly on a rainy day” passion to change the world. It is noteworthy that ‘Cub’ means a baby of (11). Like a thing that stands out because of an awful strangeness to that a carnivorous mammal or an ‘immature human’ in a derogative sense. situation, the fantasy or the reality she witnesses becomes a hot issue Dellarobia is the name that symbolizes her life itself. She remembers among people in Feathertown, and she becomes known as what is called that a frame of an “amalgam of pine cones and acorns glued on a “a butterfly lady” and got so famous that even a kindergarten bus driver Styrofoam core” (10) that she saw when she was little was Dellarobia. It knew her (89). Hester, her mother in law, was boasting off her spiritual reminds us of her marriage life where she looks at the world through the experience to the church people. Dellarobia, who does not get along her window of the frame in which she is locked. Her name grabs the mother in law, feels extremely uncomfortable about the situation. What is attention of Dr. Ovid Byron who visits the town to observe an abnormal worse, Cub, her husband, started to side with his mother. However, such phenomena in terms of the habitat and migration of butterflies. situations only elevate her skepticism about the church and lethargy about marriage life. The glorious vision that stopped her on her way or the … He repeated her name carefully, dividing it in two: Della Robia.2 He “unearthly beauty” (16) brightens her heart and liberates her from crinkled his brow in concentration.... “Also an artist,” he declared. “I’m pretty sure of that, an Italian Renaissance painter. DellaRobia. Maybe a loneliness (15-16). sculptor. Of the still life, I’m pretty sure. Nature junk, as you call it….” At first glance, the book looks like a feminism novel which deals with “Shut the front door! Are you kidding me?” housewives who are looking for a breakaway from their dull daily lives; “No. But I might be entirely wrong.” He laughed. You should look into however, it gradually turns into a text which calls for in-depth it, woman. It’s your name.” (Flight Behavior 105) interpretation as it becomes religious and political through the motive of butterfly and the experience of vision. The first thing that deserves The characters in Flight Behavior have meaning and personalities similar attention in this book is the characters of the book who are born as to their names. Their names have a hidden symbolic meaning. literature devices. The overall frame of the novel adopts that of Genesis and the Book of Dellarobia and Hester, are much like water and oil. They do not have 2 many things to share with each other even before marriage. Hester is della Robbia is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Luca della Robbia (1400–1481), Italian sculptor Andrea della Robbia (1435–1525), Italian sculptor, nephew of absorbed in the Christian view of history, and believes that everything is Luca Giovanni della Robbia (1469–1529), son of Andrea Girolamo della Robbia (1488–1566), son of Andrea(Source: Wikipedia (English Version), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Della_Robbia) Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 75 76 Jeong, Seonyoung the Apocalypse of St. John. The introductory part reminds us of the vision a promise that our hope will not end up with an empty fantasy. It gives the Book of the Apocalypse of St. John, and the creation of Heaven and us a message that when we live under a new heaven and on a new earth, Earth in the form of metamorphosis, which pronounces the creation of a we can possess everything. The Bible begins with Genesis which gives new world. We can easily find out the connection between Dellarobia’s humans joy and comfort, and ends with the Apocalypse of St. John which vision and the one that Ezekiel experienced in the Book of Ezekiel, which gives us the same promise. Flight Behavior realizes the promise of a has a context similar to the Book of the Apocalypse of St. John. “Like vision in the book of the Apocalypse of St. John and dreams again of the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the Eden in Genesis, which symbolizes joy and comfort. radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory Like Chapter 16 Verse 49 of Ezekiel, “Now this was the sin of your of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:28)3,” Ezekiel experienced a vision when he was unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy,” Sodom and in despair as he was dragged to Babylon as a captive, and he regained Gomorrah is punished with fire. There is not a reasonable scientific proof hope. Ezekiel saw a dazzling light, a fast motion and a shape different of or explanation about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the from a human, which is quite similar to the experience of Dellarobia; this Bible. It is not clear whether their destruction was due to an explosion of becomes the backbone of the overall story of Flight Behavior. fire or volcano. However, we do not know exactly what led Sodom and From a religious point of view, the vision that Dellarobia saw might be Gomorrah to ashes and ruins, but it is certain ‘why’ they were destroyed. the voice of God and the mission of God, as the village people insist. Kingsolver also continues the question ‘why’ through Dellarobia. Even Though the marriage life gives despair to Dellarobia instead of hope, after Byron with the greatest scientific expertise cannot come up with an answer they experienced a mystic event of hearing a voice and seeing a light-like to that question. It is important to ask ‘why’ in that everything has its shape, the two people are convinced of hope. At the moment of cause. ‘realization,’ they regain hope in their lives. Compared to them, the vision Apart from that, the reason why Kingsolver’s version of creation theory that St. John experienced is of a more cosmic dimension than their is not considered religious is that there is a theme consciousness beyond a experiences. No matter what kind of vision a book adopts, it deserves religious interpretation. A flap of a butterfly in the beginning of the book attention that the vision and the content of the Book of the Apocalypse of disturbs the entire village and becomes a seed of contention to the family St. John implies the birth of Jesus. With the birth of Jesus on Christmas of Dellarobia. However, it enables Dellarobia, who is not well day, the surface of the oceans looked placid on the earth, but there was a communicated with family members and does not have a meaning in life, roar in the sky. From a Christian viewpoint, Christmas day does not mean to find out a new sense of purpose in life, rethink about the meaning of a mere birth of a baby. The Book of the Apocalypse of St. John gives us family and forge a relation of new layers. The story starts with a measure of a man and moves the entire system of a new community. And this can

3 The source of the references to the Bible is The Holy Bible, New International Version, be interpreted as an attempt to pursue a community with a new meaning. The Updated NIV Korean-English Study Bible, 2014. Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 77 78 Jeong, Seonyoung

Kingsolver, as a wake-up call for climate change causing a migration of biology and is an expert in the field, Byron and Josefina are the alter ego animals symbolized by butterfly in Flight Behavior, suggests a need to of Kingsolver to deliver the theme. As a scientist, Kingsolver’s deliberate on the isolation of humans in a civilization from multi-cultural consciousness toward ecological, cultural and political equality and viewpoints of religion, science, gender, social class, region and ethnicity. cohabitation, which are desirable solutions to ecological problems, is the By reviewing the religion, which is a great axis of the Western culture, setting of the plot. And it can be said that it is represented by the the author tries to look into the issues related to human civilization and combined viewpoints of the two characters. ecosystem of the earth and to reproduce them in her novel. As it is in In Flight Behavior, Kingsolver expands her position of eco-feminism that the same context with the objective and ultimate goal of the equality of she showed in her previous works and advocates an extended form of life and realization championed by Deep Ecology, Kingsolver shows an ecology. For instance, she expresses a strong connection with eco-feminism opposing aspect of men and women and a symmetric relation between by linking the land with her hometown through a story that a grandmother humans and animals or the nature. tells her granddaughter in the author’s short story ‘Homeland’. However, In Flight Behavior, the overall theme is rooted in environmental she emphasizes a multi-cultural aspect by setting up multiple conflict problems. With the appearance of a scientist Byron, the story about the compositions in Flight Behavior. Of course, she still sticks to a position to main theme of environmental problems starts to unfold. Although it takes overturn the man-oriented structure in the relationship between those who up a small portion of the book, the person who plays a linking role to govern and those who are governed, and she shows that each character bridge the crux of Kingsolver’s ecology-centered thought is no other than advocates his or her position and goes toward a desirable relationship and Josefina who is a friend of Dellarobia’s son from Mexico. She is of conclusion. The reason I cite the Bible here is that it is possible to colored race and a son of an immigrant family. Josefina told Dellarobia a approach Flight Behavior from a totally different perspective, depending on local episode about monarch butterflies. This setting is the opposite of a the religion, culture and locality of the readers, and that the book can be grandma telling a story to a granddaughter in her ‘Homeland’, and the interpreted in different ways. Especially, it is almost impossible in the relation of Dellarobia to Josefina reminds us of the relationship between a western culture to dig up the life and historical view of the time in grandmother and a granddaughter in Homelands. exclusion of the influence of the Bible, and it is prerequisite to know the Dellarobia is slowly getting out of loneliness and solitude and is getting intension of the book by learning about the vision mentioned in absorbed into stories about butterflies through Byron who pursues Apocalypse of St. John and Ezekiel and the conclusion of the books, knowledge and truth based on observation and verification, and Josefina which ends with destruction by water and fire, followed by a new start in who experienced the migration phenomenon of butterflies in a habitat near Apocalypse of St. John. For example, if focused on the hopeless life of his hometown. The two persons provide useful information, when Dellarobia, the meaninglessness of a marriage life, or Dellarobia’s Dellarobia agonizes over why and from where butterflies migrate and when relationship with Cub, it can be read as a women’s novel. On the she is trying to find out her own way. Given that the author majored in contrary, if focused on the existence and migration of butterflies, the roles Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 79 80 Jeong, Seonyoung of Byron and his researchers more than anything else, we may interpret it can’t remember the word,” she said. “When a baby dies, the thing that goes based on their discussions. Likewise, we can focus on the position of out.” She placed both hands on her chest, thumbs linked, and lifted them fluttering like a pair of wings. “It flies away from the body.” Hester, the church that leads the agitation of the village people, or the Suddenly Dellarobia understood. “The soul.” relation between Minister Bobby Ogle and Hester. And in this case, Hester “The soul,” Josefina repeated. and Ogle can be compared to Hester and Dimsdale in The Scarlet Letter, “They believe a monarch is the soul of a baby that’s died?” and you can read the phrases of a frank talk between the women-Hester The child nodded thoughtfully, and for a long time they both gazed up and Dellarobia by focusing on the part where Hester reveals that she was into the cathedral of suspended lives. After a while Josefina said, “So branded with the scarlet letter ‘A.’ many.” (Flight Behavior 358) Therefore, it is clearly revealed that the intention of the author is to The fantasy she saw at the most desperate moment of life is the milestone raise the awareness about environmental problems and human crisis, to bring passion and curiosity about ‘butterflies’ to her life, which enables regardless of the background and ideology of a reader or no matter what Dellarobia to come into contact a new world she has never known before. part of the book a reader focuses on. As the focus of the story boils Josefina is an immigrant with a foreign and indigenous sentiment unlike down to eco-centrism and humanization problems, a reader tends to come village people who have a uniform sentiment as they believe in one to a conclusion from a eco-criticism perspective. Because of that, we need religion and insist on a uniform action and belief. In that place, there is to study the ecological recovery and utopia that Kingsolver suggests in the no distinction between plants and animals and humans in sharing the book. feelings and emotions. The neighbors of Josefina have their own sentiments; they believe there exist names between them and that even lower creatures also have their own souls. Despite that, they are a III. A Perfect Female Rewrites the Ecological Genesis minority group and illegal migrants who live as poor aliens in the vast land of the United States. Dellarobia starts to show interest in migration The ecological utopia that Kingsolver pursues through Flight Behavior is and Josefina, as she learns about geological information about major revealed in the scenes where Dellarobia is asking Josefina about ecology, wondering grounds and habitats of butterflies. regional characteristics and the names of butterflies. As the novel leads to a religious and cultural context at a certain moment, it offers in a sense a space for debate over religion and science. … Dellarobia looked up too, taking their backs. Butterflies prickled all the Without sensing the movement of a change, it slowly goes toward the way up the trunk in perfect alignment, like a weathervane collection. Butterflies drooped heavily from the branches. “What do you call the end. Although autumn has passed away and winter is around the corner, bunches?” Dellarobia asked. butterflies are still struggling for survival without being able to adjust to “Racimos.” an environmental change. Byron and his team, who want to find out She repeated the word, trying to remember this time. ... (ellipsis) ... “I scientific truth through observation, decide to withdraw from the town. Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 81 82 Jeong, Seonyoung

Through a dialogue with Byron, the novel reaches a conclusion that new Kingsolver offers an environmental ethic of bioregionalism, ultimately weather patterns affect everything in the migratory pathways of butterflies, suggesting that when humans begin to understand their place within an evolving biological context, their actions will move toward the sustenance of but fails to present an answer about “why now and why here” (349). The and care for their human and nonhuman communities. (214) plot of the novel unfolds based on Dellarobia and her family. The structure of a simple personal story evolves into a spiral type like The The history of humans written in the first three chapters of Genesis is butterfly effect. You can presume a theme consciousness of butterfly effect all included in the novel. First, they contain the grounds for childbirth, from the title of each chapter. In particular, a dialogue about the measure division of labor, city and civilization, and say that the history of all of humans, especially men, tries to expand a relationship that includes things in the universe started with the creation of the universe and family neighbors and those halfway around the globe. humans. In Genesis, God intervened in the human history to judge Although the novel adopted an ecology-oriented thought as the main humans. The biggest events include when Adam ate the fruit of good and theme, we need to think about the meaning of characters as well as evil, when Cain was killed, and the flood of Noah occurred. In Chapter 8 ‘lambs’ and ‘Christmas.’ The novel uses religion as a writing material that of Genesis, Noah and his family started a new life on a land that is blocks the communication and dialogues between family members. From an washed clean by a flood, almost same as in this novel. The natural eco-criticism perspective, the story expands into a cosmic dimension that disaster of ‘flood’ bears literary similarity in terms of the theme. Genesis encompasses everything, but the story is basically scattered with literature emphasizes that humans messed up everything on Earth in the beginning devices that remind us of the Bible of Christianity. On the day that of the world. In chapter 3 of Genesis, humans’ betrayal eventually led to Dellarobia discovers ‘butterflies’ for the first time, she does not identify destruction, and only Noah, his wife, their children, and daughters in law what it is as she does not wear her eyeglasses (11). In chapter 3 of survived the great flood. Genesis, the original sin of humans dates back to when the eyes of There are similarities between the novel and Chapter 3 of Genesis, humans were opened up after eating the fruit of good and evil. In other which is the most widely known content in the Bible. In Chapter 3 of words, the ‘eyes’ in the Bible is juxtaposed with the ‘eyeglasses’ in the Genesis, after Adam and Eve had committed a sin, the land was cursed, novel. Before the research on butterflies starts in earnest, it is the church and thorn forests and thistles grew from the ground, and humans were that has the greatest collective power to influence the community, and destined to death, which they had never faced before. From the phrase, there is no ground for the fact that Dellarobia refuses the power of the ‘the eyes were opened after committing a sin, humans felt ashamed of church. Because the source of the greatest spiritual power is the religion, being naked,’ you can see that ‘the eyes are opened’ can be comparable not only in the United States, but also in western countries, though to the moment when Dellarobia wears her glasses, and that there is a Kingsolver’s novels contain a theme consciousness of de-religion, de-culture clear contrast between wearing glasses and not wearing glasses in the and de-humanization, they cannot remove the culture that has ruled book. humanity. Cusick already advocated her opinion as: Therefore, Dellabrobia’s flight to become a ‘perfect female’ indicates a Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 83 84 Jeong, Seonyoung new world in which butterflies will fly toward, as shown in the last world. As she does not give up her life in despair, her concern for chapter of the book. Dellabroiba, who has a mixed feeling after saving a butterflies and a life of a lamb as well as her interest and patience save lamb, experiences the feelings of love and affection (416). As she the lamb and can ensure the survival of butterflies. Now, we need to mentions, it is a matter of interest or care. The situation that makes highlight the existence and realization of females. In the past, the best something impossible possible happens to come from a book that she read virtue of a female was regarded as productivity. As the entire summary with her son (419) as she was trying to save a lamb. In contrast, this is comes down to a “perfect female,” (411) it is acceptable to read when Byron and his research team decide to leave the town, as they think Kingsolver’s text as eco-feminism. that butterflies cannot survive. The factors that are replaced with religion, The mention of James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, a Ghanaian educator, science, exact numbers and experiences throughout the book start to reveal “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a themselves gradually. Readers should pay attention to the fact that woman you educate a family,” is in the same context with the theme of butterflies are slowly preparing for migration again, and that they survive Kingsolver. However, it seems that a new meaning of feminity has to thanks to soul or interest and care, rather than science. The most include the ability to recover from wounds suffered by hardship and important moment is now, because Noah’s Ark and better days are ahead destruction, and also the ability of adaptation and application. Both (422). As an airplane consumes half of the fuel while it takes off from butterflies which check the possibility for survival in a new land and the the ground, the moment of flight is important in determining the success will of Dellarobia to take the first step toward a new world are or failure of the next moment. This is where readers should pay the Kingsolver’s intentions to give power to positive effects and results that biggest attention while reading the book. The moment of a birth that women can produce in terms of environmental problems. Dellarobia experienced is exactly the same. The dialogue between Prestone Another attention deserving aspect of the novel is that women play a and Dellarobia also focuses on a matter of interest or care. Dellarobia, leading role in reconciliation and dialogues. Hester reveals her scar and who now becomes a perfect female, is dreaming of flight. The new embarrassing secret that she tried to bury in her heart, and Dellarobia Diaspora starts and “here was the exodus” (433). Butterflies are poised to comes to understand why Hester shows kindness to the minister (385). fly as Dellarobia. When the habitat of butterflies is also threatened by precarious and unpredictable weather conditions, the scientist group fails to save them The sky was too bright and the ground so unreliable, she couldn’t look up despite their expertise. Instead, a non-professional woman who experiences for very long. Instead her eyes held steady on the fire bursts of wings frustrations in her life feels sympathy toward butterflies (150). In the end, reflected across water, a merging of flame and flood. Above the lake of the this sympathy is important, in that it has a very close connection with a world flanked by white mountains, they flew out to a new earth. (Flight kinship relation that overcomes the boundary between humans and the Behavior 433) nature. After all, it is a perfect female, a symbol of Dellarobia, that saves the Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 85 86 Jeong, Seonyoung

IV. New Ties of Kinship Community people with the same interest or same purpose. In Flight Behavior, the primary purpose of the kinship community is to protect the family. At this What does ‘flight’ mean in this work? For butterflies, the loss of a time, the word ‘kinship’ indicates more than a family or a group of habitat due to seasonal and temperature changes is not something that they expanded constituent members. In the novel, the kinship includes the can intend and predict. As we see in the news article about the heavy family relations between Dellarobia and Prestone by blood, relationships rainfall in Angangueo, humans or butterflies can have only two hopes in between Cub and Dellarobia and between Dellarobia and Hester by that situation; one is that the rain stops falling, and the other is to survive marriage, and neighbors; all of them have interdependence with one other. until that time. The last hope of the chosen people who experienced the It also includes the blood relationship between Dellarobia and Prestone. Diaspora is the fantasy that ‘they still have a hope.’ The butterflies that The kinship that Kingsolver tries to deliver has a different meaning visit Feathertown eventually endure the migration and arrive at a new from a social point of view. We need to remind ourselves of the meaning world (433). They succeeded in surviving in an adverse condition. of a family during primitive times or before the development of a Together with butterflies that are preparing for migration toward a new civilization. The humans that survived in Noah’s arc were a ‘family’ world, Dellarobia, who rescues her life from despair, wants to get out of forged by blood and marriage. A family is a basic unit of community and the Styrofoam frame and go her own way. As Byron attempted to divide the origin of humanity. This is what Dellarobia points out to the scientist her name into ‘Della’ and ‘Robia,’ (105) she is now prepared to be a group. Byron, who excludes social participation and remains a scientist, principal agent to carve out her own life as an Italian sculptor did. For wants to be a scientist of action but has his own difficulty as a scientist Dellarobia and butterflies, ‘flight’ means a move toward the future or a (324). Here in butterflies, the main material of the novel, a reader can preparation for a new world. realize that an experience of an ordinary woman can have an organic It is revealed in a letter to her son ‘Prestone’ that new days to unfold influence like a spiral structure spreading from every direction, beyond the from now on are not necessarily hopeful. However, there is no wondering time and space limits. From an eco-criticism perspective, it aims for that she cannot get over as she has overcome her own shortcomings. This organic wholeness, and it has interdependence because of that. is her achievement by saving a dying lamb with her instant judgment and The moment when Dellarobia realizes the kinship is when she comes to sympathy. It is also meaningful that Dellarobia's plan is announced on the know that a change occurs to her son (353). At the first glance, the focus birthday of her son. of the book might rest in the fact that a person’s vision experience can be Here, the “Kinship Systems” (330) suggested by Kingsolver is a model interpreted differently depending on the values of groups. The development of a new community. If the kinship is interpreted merely as a community of the composition is revealed through communication, dialogues and of the same clan, it fails to understand the broader meaning of the word. reconciliation between the protagonist and her neighboring characters. By The word ‘kinship’ means relatives, a blood relationship and a clan, but it the way, who is the protagonist of the novel? In regard to who is a is also used to refer to relationships formed by adoption, and a group of perfect female in light of the theme of the book, the definition has Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 87 88 Jeong, Seonyoung ambiguity and ambivalence. As you read the latter part of the novel, insertion. The behaviors and dialogues of characters other than the Kingsolver’s technique for a new start seems to adopt eco-centrism in a protagonist have butterfly effect as they have influence on the theme of broad sense or the concept of equality and realization of deep ecology, the book. Especially, as readers have to observe the endless debate and rather than sticking to eco-feminism. The overall composition starts from conflict between religion and science, it can confuse readers even more. individuals and moves toward a community and eventually a spiral But there seems to be no solution to the conflict between religion and structure. Dellarobia, who has a shocking experience because of butterflies, science over doctrines. confesses that she ultimately becomes healed, thanks to butterflies (384). When Kingsolver named the background town as Feathertown, borrowed Also, the butterflies can survive because of Dellarobia who comes to learn the name of a sculptor for Dellarobia who finds out herself and gets about the ecological characteristics of butterflies, thanks to the help of independence to carve out a new world, and named her son after precious Josefina. stones as he is the cornerstone for the next generation, such calculations Therefore, we must pay attention to the fact that Flight Behavior does are reflected in the names of a town and characters. The meaning of the not merely focus on the flight of Dellarobia or butterflies. The day when watch given as a Christmas gift by Peter, who visits Feathertown to the sky is opened again, sunlight shone down is the birthday of her son conduct research with Byron, becomes more clear as a connection point ‘Prestone.’ Although it is not mentioned or described in any part of the between Prestone, science watch, germ, new world and hope. book, all characters in the book as well as plants and animals live in By the way, it is hard to say that in the book, Dellarobia completely symbiosis where they help each other, as Dellarobi comes to realization. refuses religion, which is represented by the vision, and relies only on Prestone is an important character that deserves attention, as he is a gift scientific theories, and that Dr. Byron and his research team, who are of understanding for the next generation and also an Adam to be looking for scientific principles, completely fail or give up. In regard to protected. Although it can be an arbitrary interpretation, it is meaningful these issues, it is difficult for readers to side with one argument. Despite that Byron divides Dellarobia's name into two parts, giving a new meaning that, the importance of the character setting of Prestone is that a genuine to her name as a sculptor who ‘carves out his own life.’ The name meaning of ‘flight’ is completely realized on his birthday. As we remind Dellarobia can be interpreted with a new meaning. The name ‘Prestone’ is ourselves of the fact that the most importance character for the next made up of ‘Pre’ and ‘Stone,’ which has a hidden meaning of a gem. If I generation and the next world is Dellarobia's son ‘Prestone,’ we need to further induce from here, it becomes ‘precious stone.’ In the end, Prestone review the layers of this novel. However, there are some limits to this is a representative and prophet of a new world, who makes possible the work. The novel was written against the background of a heavy rainfall survival of the next generation and a sustainable existence of humanity. battering Mexico, but it is not like a faction or a reconstruction of an And precious stones are especially used for the decoration of watches. In actual occurrence, as it gives an impression that the novel adopts only the consideration of this, the ‘science watch’ that one of Byron’s researchers background in the novel. With the appearance of Byron, the novel delivers gives to Dellarobia in return for her goodwill is not a simple fun intended the ideology of religion and science, and plays a role to provide scientific Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 89 90 Jeong, Seonyoung knowledge. Although a reader can guess the nature of writing from the and the nature and with a motive of a natural disaster, Kingsolver’s will title of each chapter, the title of the novel makes the book look more like of action definitely contributes greatly to the ecological literature and a professional book and science book rather than a novel unless you know eco-criticism. And there rests the necessity of literature works for authors the plot of the story. As the title Flight Behavior has duplicate or and researchers in the field of humanities. triplicate meanings, the ambiguity of the title can hinder readers from In her novel, the author speaks with a strong voice about the need for understanding the book. humanity to wake up to reality. She suggests a new community in Flight Nevertheless, this project of Kingsolver to tackle climate change issues Behavior. However, a new world that she advocates means the work(also by adopting the migration of butterflies as a writing material feels like means ‘the work of God’ in Christianity). of a new world, which break s rewriting Genesis. Of course, there is not a single answer or solution to away from the records, memories, numbers and concepts that human an ecological problem, because of the interaction of the collective, cultural civilization and history has built up. But it is not a new world that and historical various of multiple dimensions(Kang Yong-gi, 2008 22). unconditionally abandons and refuses the past, but a metamorphosis and a Because of that, the purpose of this book is not an origin of a new new start, which encompasses the past and the present. Especially, the species but an inclusive alternative that accepts all variables. The book has at its forefront an awareness transition from a religious possibility can be found in the ‘names’ of characters, which have perspective, especially from a Christian perspective, which is the axis of implications of the past and the present. What is interesting is that as you western thought, and demands for a change in our concept about religion read the book further, you might think that the great flood of Noah's Arc and science, which are already so familiar to humans. It s tresses the need in the Bible can be a phenomenon or a record of climate change. Instead for self-reflection and reestablishment of the relation of humans and the of resulting in an instant transformation or transfiguration, it pursues nature, and also for a change of experiences and observation. But there ‘meta-morphosis’ in that a subtle incident and behavior can bring about a are no grounds to believe that the book ignores the history of humanity colossal change. That is to say, it is important to know that the start of a itself or refuses a Christian culture, which constitutes the colossal metamorphosis is a simple interest of Dellarobia. Butterfly Effect is a headwaters of the Western history. perfect word to describe the case. Flight Behavior is superficially more like a feminism literature whose motive is in the depression of the protagonist due to emptiness and lethargy of a married life; or, it looks like a work with a realistic theme V. Conclusion to try to approach an environmental problem such as migration of butterfly. Actually, the book is trying to draw the theme from both For those who believe the establishment of a new value through a perspectives, and the objective of the book is based on the need for an paradigm shift must come first, as she announced an environment-themed action to overturn the past and the present. novel with a focus on the shift of awareness about the survival of humans All possible phenomena in all civilizations that can be dealt with in Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 91 92 Jeong, Seonyoung terms of environmental problems are revealed in Flight Behavior. into a much greater system. Therefore, the ecosystem that Kingsolver Specifically speaking, the subject can be a family, gender, ethnicity, suggests in her book is a community of human and the nature which science, religion, experiment, belief, humans and the nature, etc. As if it is moves toward the restoration and harmony, and which is an ideal trying to place all these factors at the center of a debate from various community, in that it is not a habitat for women only but a sustainable viewpoints, Flight Behavior includes various themes, and the themes also habitation for future generations. And the condition for participation in the advocate the equality of deep ecology and realization. community is not the separation of ‘Me’ and ‘You’ but a ‘kinship’ The previous works of Kingsolver have inquired into the problems of community that includes all members who have organic interaction. To civilization and environment. The existence of a text that allows for induce a change, it is inevitable to transform or overturn it at least one interpretation and criticism is welcomed from a viewpoint of eco-criticism, time. The first step toward a new world is not a subversive or destructive and at the same time, the rarity is a regrettable thing. This work, which method but the power of recovery, resilience and productivity, which are symbolizes the prophecy and vision in the Bible and pursues a new represented by feminity. I hope that every one of 6 billion people around ecological community. From this perspective, I would like to define this the world will open his or her mind to this realization to perform this project of Kingsolver as ‘Rewriting Genesis.’ Of course, the goal is the role, and that the “flight behavior” will be materialized in reality. Now is genesis of a new world through metamorphosis of the ecosystem rather the time to readjust our bows (turn-bow) and fly over for a new than a new origin of species or humanity, and the creatures of a new community (feather-town). world is an assembly of minorities that survived the 3.7 billion of the Earth’s ecosystem. These individuals are not the ‘works of God’ in the beginning but new creatures who find their selves through realization of Works Cited the previous lives. Or those who at least have the possibility to come to realization can deserve to be citizens of a new world. Although it can be Cusick, Christine. “Remembering Our Ecological Place: Environmental Engagement in Kingsolver’s Nonfiction.” Seeds of Change: Critical Essays on Barbara considered as an eco-feminism as it tries to realize ecological recovery Kingsolver. Ed. by Priscilla Leder. Knoxville: The UP of Tennessee, 2010. from a viewpoint of a woman, the meaning that Kingsolver intends to 213-32. Print. give to the next generation is not merely ‘feminity.’ The importance of the “Della robia.” Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org, 2 June 2013. Web. 17 Aug 2015. son ‘Prestone’ stands out in the ending part of the book, once she The Holy Bible, New International Version, The Updated NIV Korean-English Study Bible, Seoul: Bible House, 2014. Print. mentioned in Small Wonder(2002) as “... our plans might influence many Journey North, “About the Disaster in Angangueo.” n.pag. 5 February 2010. Web. future generations, we ought to choose carefully” (40), his role is not 31 Mar. 2015. simply a child, because he is more like Adam in the Bible or takes Kang, Yong-Ki. “Apriorism and Scientific Experience in Barbara Kingsolver’s responsibility for creation of heaven and earth like Abraham. Based on the Flight Behavior.” Studies in Modern Fiction 20.2 (2013): 5-24. Print. . “A Buddhist Ecology as an alternative to the Totalitarian View of biological kinship, it has a rippling effect like Butterfly Effect to expand Nature?” The Journal of East and West Comparative Literature Journal 18 Rewriting Genesis—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Ecocriticism 93

(2008): 7-27. Print. . “There Is No Solitude—Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer in Eco-criticism.” Modern Studies in English Language and Literature 51.4 (2007): 1-21. Print. Kingsolver, Barbara. Flight Behavior. International Edition. New York: Harper Collins, 2012. Print. . Small Wonder: Essays. Perennial. New York: Harper Collins, 2002. Print. Love, Glen A. “Revaluing Nature: Toward an Ecological Criticism.” The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology. Ed. Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm. Georgia: Georgia UP, 1996. 225-40. Print. Shin, Doo-ho. “An Ecocritical Study of Climate Change and Rhetoric of Fiction Genre Reconsidered-Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior.” Modern Studies in English Language & Literature 59.1 (2015): 129-57. Print.

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