How does social class impact one's view of climate change and social responsibility?

In the novel Flight Behavior, Barbara Kingsolver tells the story of Dellarobia Turnbow, a farm wife who, when seeking temporary escape from her domestic situation, discovers what appears to be a “lake of fire” on her family’s property. She later learns that this scene is a swarm of monarch butterflies, a phenomenon that ultimately serves as a symbol of climate change and environmental upheaval. Through the lens of Dellarobia’s life and interactions with other characters, Kingsolver explores how social class influences one’s perception of climate change and sense of social responsibility.

Dellarobia and her family represent the working-class perspective on climate change, where immediate, day-to-day survival concerns overshadow any engagement with environmental issues.  In the novel, people from Dellarobia’s socioeconomic background often dismiss climate change as a distant, irrelevant issue. Even after working alongside scientist Ovid Byron, Dellarobia says, “The environment got assigned to the other team. Worries like that are not for people like us. So says my husband” (Kingsolver 322). This sentiment captures the prevailing attitude in rural communities, where financial insecurity and domestic pressures take precedence over abstract concerns like global warming. Because the Turnbows, like other working-class families, are preoccupied with economic survival, climate change often seems like a far-off issue with no immediate impact on their lives. Furthermore, their limited access to education and resources makes it easier for them to dismiss the scientific evidence for climate change as difficult to understand or irrelevant to their everyday struggles.

In contrast, Ovid Byron embodies a middle-class perspective that is more informed and proactive about the environmental crisis. With a higher level of education and access to the resources necessary to understand the effects of climate change, Ovid is more aware of the ecological consequences of the environmental shifts occurring. Ovid expresses his frustration surrounding the media’s portrayal of the issue, stating, “I am very distressed…This is evidence of a disordered system. Obviously we’re looking at damage” (Kingsolver 365). This statement underscores the difference between the middle-class, who often have the privilege of focusing on long-term issues like climate change, and the working-class, who are more likely to view such concerns as secondary to their daily economic struggles. Ovid’s position allows him to recognize climate change as an urgent problem requiring immediate action, and his more privileged status also provides him with the means to advocate for such action, despite the resistance he encounters from both the public and the media.

In conclusion, Flight Behavior illuminates the stark divide in how climate change is perceived and addressed across different social classes. Through the contrasting experiences of Dellarobia and Ovid, Kingsolver shows that working-class individuals are often unable to prioritize the issue of climate change, whereas those with more resources and education are better positioned to understand and act upon it. By examining how one’s social class shapes one’s views on climate change and social responsibility, Kingsolver ultimately highlights the importance of addressing these class divides if we are to collectively confront the issue of climate change.