Apocalyptic Visions and Ecofeminist Narratives in Three Southeast Asian Women's Fiction

ABSTRACT Apocalypse that describes ‘end‐of‐world’ scenarios have been especially prolific in the past few decades since the climate crisis has prophesied the imminent destruction of natural and human habitats. Apocalyptic literatures present insights into the various problems that beset humanity currently and extrapolate the inevitable consequences that may occur in the future. Thus, these become cautionary tales that warn about current and historical human excess. I will examine three Southeast Asian texts, a novel and two short stories, all written in English, that centre women against apocalyptic backdrops. ‘Lake’ by Lily Yulianti Farid, ‘Heartless Forest’ by Khin Mya Zin and Locust Girl: A Lovesong by Merlinda Bobis depict extreme dilemmas faced by women. This article argues that these narratives not only attest to the rapidly escalating climate crisis that has impacted Southeast Asia but also reveal the close connections that exist between social dysfunctions and natural disasters, where women are the ultimate victims. The texts demonstrate Donna Haraway's concept of ‘natureculture’.