Representations of Plants in
The Day of the Triffids from a Posthumanist Perspective
Hui Liu, Xinyuan Zhao
ABSTRACT
The story of The Day of the Triffids is set
against the backdrop of the apocalypse and unfolds the struggle
between humans and mutated plants—the triffids. This study applies
Rosi Braidotti’s posthuman theory and Michael Marder’s plant
thinking to examine how, in the context of posthumanism, the
triffids enact their own modes of inhabitation, develop their own
survival strategies, and redefine time through the very rhythm of
vegetal life. The study shows that the triffids in the novel are not
merely background or symbols, but core actors same as humans. The
study aims to encourage humans to reflect on their relationship with
themselves and the “otherness” of triffids in the posthuman era.
Keywords: The Day of the Triffids; posthumanism; plants
