Distancia de rescate: exilio y pérdida de identidad ante la contaminación rural

Abstract

This article explores Samantha Schweblin’s novel Distancia de rescate (2014) within the contexts of environmental literature and eco-horror. It analyzes the rural Pampa setting in the novel as a focal point for analyzing the impact of ecological degradation on human relationships and societal norms. The novel’s depiction of the Pampa as a Foucauldian heterotopia—a space that both mirrors and subverts idyllic rural landscapes—sets the stage for a narrative that intertwines ecological devastation with elements of horror. Central to this discussion is the novel’s portrayal of “soul migration,” analyzed as a metaphor for exile that leads to a loss of personal identity, and a breakdown of family bonds. Characters such as David and Nina are examined as embodiments of this metaphorical exile, representing broader cultural fears about ecological and existential threats. The article also examines how these figures embody abjection within the Anthropocene, mirroring fears about irreversible environmental damage. Through this lens, the present article explores how the novel critiques modernity’s dichotomy between nature and culture and presents a more integrated view of human and environmental interdependence. This article argues that Distancia de rescate not only critiques contemporary environmental issues but also serves as a commentary on the profound impacts of human actions on nature.