Der nicht-menschliche Held: Eine postanthropozentrische Vision des Heldentums am Beispiel des Romans Blösch (1983) von Beat Sterchi
The Non-Human Hero: A Post-Anthropocentric Vision of Heroism Based on the Example of the Novel Blösch (1983) by Beat Sterchi

Summary/Abstract: The concept of a hero has long been ingrained in people’s collective memory as a human being capable of remarkable deeds who sacrifices himself for the greater good. However, as history shows, these qualities are not exclusive to humans. The aim of this paper is to analyse the subjectivity of a cow, the titular character in Beat Sterchi’s 1983 novel Blösch, through the lenses of ecocriticism and Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory, thus identifying the characteristics of a non-human hero. The analysis leads to the conclusion that Sterchi, by portraying the cow as a fully-fledged subject in a complex network of relationships, challenges the traditional distinction between humans and animals. Furthermore, the ending of the novel, in which the cow is slaughtered, not only provokes reflection on ecological and ethical matters, but also serves as an illustration of animal heroism, characterised by sacrifice.

• Details
• Contents