O ANTI-HERÓI FRACASSADO O PROFETA PÓS-APOCALÍPTICO EM ORYX E CRAKE (2003), DE MARGARET ATWOOD

Abstract

This article explores the representation of the anti-hero in Margaret Atwood's novel Oryx and Crake (2003), considering it as the protagonist of dystopian narratives that reflect the complexity of the post-modern world. The focus is on the novel, analyzing the elements that characterize it as dystopian and examining the crucial role played by the antihero. The research indicates a trajectory of the antihero from its initial positive representation to an ordinary human figure, connecting it to the myth of Prometheus. Anchored in Marxist and sociological theories, the study explores dystopia as a critique of current social conditions, situating post-modernity as a period of seeking humanity amidst the absence of references. The analysis of Atwood's dystopian narrative reveals the relationship of the antihero with the Anthropocene, marked by environmental degradation. In this sense, the antihero emerges as a prophet, revealing a new world after the devastation caused by human action. The connection between their role and post-apocalyptic dystopias suggests that their trajectory of failure represents a natural sequence in the Anthropocene society, outlining the contemporary human condition in the face of global challenges and a fragmented reality.