“Hunger and Lead”: An Ecocritical Reading of Robert Schenkkan’s The Kentucky Cycle
Keywords:
ecocriticism, The Kentucky Cycle, EcoTheater, environmental literature, Aldo Leopold, Robert SchenkkanAbstract
This article analyzes Robert Schenkkan's 1991 play The Kentucky Cycle through an ecocritical lens, emphasizing its value as environmental literature. The paper argues that the play offers a unique historical awareness by incorporating environmental history with human history, aligning with Aldo Leopold’s notion of the land ethic and the emerging field of ecopsychology. The study examines the play's realistic Broadway production as an advantage in reaching broader audiences not already engaged with environmental issues. By establishing the concept of EcoTheater, the article demonstrates how The Kentucky Cycle challenges traditional ecological drama criticism, which often focuses on local or experimental performances. The author contends that Schenkkan’s work revises environmental history by highlighting the interdependency between capitalism and environmental crisis. Through intricate characterization and staging, the play also provides insights into human attitudes toward land, making it a significant contribution to ecocritical discourse.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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