HUMAN LAW VS COSMIC LAW: OLGA TOKARCZUK'S DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD AS A CONTEMPORARY ECO-MYTH
Dr. Deepa George, Dr. Mary Sooria
Assistant Professor, St Paul's College, Kalamassery, affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala
Abstract
Olga Tokarczuk’s Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead mounts a powerful critique against anthropocentrism, drawing on ancient cosmologies. The novel, set in a remote Polish countryside, becomes a space where cosmic motifs, folklore elements and recurring archetypes contribute to a mythopoetic reading. The prophetic and spiritual insights gathered by the protagonist challenge the anthropocentric ways of life that are normal in the mythic world. The non-human world of animals assumes agency to create a just world and establish the sacredness of nature. Astrology serves as a bridge between the earthly and the celestial, facilitating a modern form of divination.
An eco-mythological lens offers a perspective on the staging of human violence and the enactment of cosmic justice as a means to counter violence. The voice of animism and ecofeminism enhances the social and symbolic meaning of the text. Ultimately, this paper identifies a reenacted myth for the Anthropocene, offering an eco-narrative that reimagines the necessity of restoring the sanctity and order of the natural world.
Keywords: Anthropocentrism, Cosmic Justice, Mythology, Interdependence, Interspecies Kinship.
Journal Name :
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EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR)
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Published on : 2025-11-29
| Vol | : | 11 |
| Issue | : | 11 |
| Month | : | November |
| Year | : | 2025 |