Abstract

With the rise of ecocriticism and environmental studies, a proliferation of research has surfaced addressing the myriad implications of the environmental crisis, ranging from the imperative for conservation to the impacts of environmental degradation on human life. In this context, ecogothic has emerged as a novel genre, presenting nature as a malevolent force that disrupts human tranquility. Ecogothic narratives foster an intricate relationship between the human and the non-human world. This paper aims to explore the effect of the physical environment on the human psyche and character formation, specifically in Krasznahorkai’s Sátántangó. The novel alludes to Hungary’s disastrous foray into enforced agricultural collectivism, and it conveys the brutal physical conditions of rural Hungary, where the land is incessantly battered by rain. This, in turn, becomes a potent symbol for the repressive political regime of the era. Sátántangó’s depiction of a haunted landscape, domineering male characters, and subjugated women contributes to its Gothic attributes. The narrative’s transgressive male figures and the decaying estate illuminate the exploitation of the land, while the portrayal of Gothic female characters symbolizes nature’s retaliation against the depredations inflicted by the inhabitants.