Человек и природа в Экологическом романе С. П. Залыгина

Abstract

The article analyzes the issue of the relationship between man and Nature based on S P. Zalygin’s ecological novel. Zalygin is one of the many Russian authors of the second half of the 20th century whose works embrace the need to care for our natural environment. The main problem tackled in the ecological novel is the fate of mankind, which according to the author is not certain. The novel places strong emphasis on the urge for man to develop a respectfull approach towards Nature and its resources, because otherwise we will be facing an ecological catastrophe no a global scale. The novel’s protagonist, Nikolaj Pietrowicz Golubiew is an example of a hero who feels responsible for Nature and does everything he can to convince the authorities that the idea to turn around the rivers in the north is wrong. He also becomes a witness of an absurd endeavor to build railroad tracks across the North Pole in case of war with the United States. Golubiew suspects that this will sooner or later lead to a huge disaster. He is not mistaken, the result of such unsound projects was the Chernobyl disaster. Zalygin’s ecological novel presents lack of hope for mankind. The author doubts that man can ever change and start treating the natural environment as part of his own existence.