Prosodi: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa dan Sastra
Vol 20, No 2: Prosodi (In-Press)

THE DISCOURSE OF ECOLOGICAL NICHE IN JON KRAKAUER’S INTO THE WILD

Jamilatul - Qomariah (Universitas Nurul Jadid)
Tirmidi - Tirmidi (Universitas Nurul Jadid)



Article Info

Publish Date
11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Abstract. This study investigates the discourse of ecological niche presented in Jon Krakaue’'s Into the Wild through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach. The objectives of this study are to identify the theme of the novel and to examine the ecological niche depicted through the relationship between the main character and the natural environment. This study employs a descriptive qualitative design combining ecocriticism, Critical Discourse Analysis, and Bill Plotkin’s Wild Mind theory. The primary data source is Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild (1997), while supporting sources are obtained from books and journal articles related to discourse analysis and ecological studies. Data were collected through close reading and documentation techniques and analyzed thematically using discourse interpretation. The findings reveal that the central theme of the novel is the search for authentic freedom and self-identity through separation from materialistic civilization. Furthermore, the ecological niche represented in the novel portrays Christopher Johnson McCandless as an individual attempts to redefine his position within nature by rejecting modern social values and seeking harmony with the wilderness. However, the study also shows that the romanticization of nature and inadequate ecological adaptation create tensions between idealism and environmental reality. Therefore, Into the Wild presents ecological niche not merely as a biological concept but as a discursive representation of human identity, ideology, and the relationship between nature and modern civilization.Abstrak. Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang wacana ceruk ekologis yang dipresentasikan dalam karya Jon Krakauer Into the Wild, melalui pendekatan Analisis Wacana Kritis (AWK). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi tema novel tersebut serta menelaah ceruk ekologis yang digambarkan melalui hubungan antara tokoh utama dan lingkungan alam. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain kualitatif deskriptif yang memadukan ekokritik, Analisis Wacana Kritis, dan teori Wild Mind karya Bill Plotkin. Sumber data utama adalah novel Into the Wild (1997) karya Jon Krakauer, sedangkan sumber pendukung diperoleh dari buku dan artikel jurnal yang berkaitan dengan analisis wacana dan studi ekologis. Data dikumpulkan melalui teknik pembacaan saksama dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis secara tematis menggunakan interpretasi wacana. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tema sentral novel ini adalah pencarian kebebasan autentik dan identitas diri melalui pemisahan diri dari peradaban materialistis. Lebih lanjut, ceruk ekologis yang dipresentasikan dalam novel menggambarkan Christopher Johnson McCandless sebagai individu yang berupaya mendefinisikan ulang posisinya di alam dengan cara menolak nilai-nilai sosial modern dan mencari harmoni dengan alam liar. Namun, penelitian ini juga menunjukkan bahwa romantisisme terhadap alam dan adaptasi ekologis yang tidak memadai menciptakan ketegangan antara idealisme dan realitas lingkungan. Dengan demikian, Into the Wild menyajikan ceruk ekologis bukan sekadar sebagai konsep biologis, melainkan sebagai representasi diskursif mengenai identitas manusia, ideologi, serta hubungan antara alam dan peradaban modern.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

prosodi

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

PROSODI: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa dan Sastra is biannual peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by the Faculty of Social and Cultural Science, University Trunojoyo Madura. The journal encourages original articles on various issues within Language and Literary Studies, which include but are not ...