Introduction
Contemporary literature has played an increasingly important role in addressing pressing environmental issues such as climate change, habitat destruction, and the biodiversity crisis. In many modern works, nature is not merely a background but an active character involved in the conflict and narrative. Contemporary writers use elements of nature as a critical tool to express concern for ecology and sustainability, while highlighting the human relationship with nature that is increasingly endangered due to exploitation and neglect.
Nature as an Ecological Platform in Literature
Ecocritical literature is an approach in writing that examines how nature is depicted in literature and how human relationships with the environment are explained in narratives. In a world faced with climate crisis and environmental damage, contemporary works often highlight elements of nature to make readers aware of ecological issues. Contemporary writers no longer see nature as a passive element that simply functions as a setting, but as an entity that has a voice and rights, just like humans.
Barbara Kingsolver in her novel “Flight Behavior” uses nature as a victim of climate change, with the monarch butterfly insect becoming a symbol of nature’s vulnerability to weather disturbances caused by human actions. In this novel, butterflies that normally migrate south appear in a mountain forest that is unsuitable for their survival, a reflection of climate change altering natural migration patterns. Kingsolver describes how the beauty of nature, which is often neglected by humans, is faced with serious threats due to human error. The main character, Dellarobia Turnbow, through his discovery of the butterfly phenomenon, begins to understand the effects of climate change not only on nature but also on his daily life. This novel is a call to the reader about the need to pay attention to the early signs of environmental destruction that are often ignored.
Similarly, in “The Overstory” by Richard Powers, nature takes the role of the protagonist in the form of trees that unite and connect the human characters around them. Powers writes with a deep awareness of the rights of trees and ecosystems, where trees are not just objects but living beings that experience and feel. The work presents the tree as an entity that stands firmly at the center of the narrative, representing the cycle of life and the interconnectedness between humans and nature. Powers conveys the message that our relationship with trees and nature is deeper than we realize, and that the destruction of trees is a sign of our own destruction. In this novel, humans are portrayed as perpetrators who are often unaware of their role in damaging the larger ecosystem, and trees become symbols of courage and resilience in the face of these challenges.
Nature as Victim and Protagonist: The Relationship between Man and Nature
Through these examples, it can be seen that contemporary writers use nature not only as a symbol of beauty but also as a victim of human exploitation. Nature in these works is often presented in an endangered state, where the damage done by humans to the environment has wide and deep consequences. Whether in the form of extreme weather, loss of biodiversity, or disruption of natural cycles, nature is portrayed as an entity affected by human actions.
In “Flight Behavior”, butterflies trapped in the wrong environment reflect a larger global crisis, where nature is increasingly unable to adapt to the drastic changes produced by humans. This is a symbol of nature’s inability to adapt quickly to man-made pressures such as global temperature increases.
“The Overstory” takes up the theme that trees are protagonists in a larger story of destruction and preservation. This work emphasizes that humans are often separated from nature, but this connection needs to be recognized and appreciated if humans are to restore the balance of the global ecosystem. The trees, through various interconnected narratives, illustrate that every human action has a great impact on the environment.
Balance Between Beauty and Ecocentric Consciousness
Contemporary writers are often faced with the challenge of balancing the beauty of nature with a critical ecocentric awareness. In writing about nature, they not only describe the beauty of the landscape, flora, and fauna, but also instill a message about the need to preserve and protect this nature. This balance is important because the literary narrative needs to be able to capture the heart of the reader through the aesthetics of nature while raising a deep awareness of how fragile nature is in the face of global threats.
For example, in “Flight Behavior”, Kingsolver not only describes the phenomenon of butterflies as something beautiful but also reflects the difficulty of nature in adapting to the effects of climate change. The reader is drawn into the ephemeral beauty, triggering the realization that immediate action must be taken to maintain the balance of nature.
Likewise, Powers in “The Overstory” takes the reader into the wonder and mystery of the forest, providing a rarely explored perspective on the vital role of trees in the survival of humans and ecosystems. However, he also did not escape from describing the tragic reality of the destruction experienced by the trees as a result of human actions.
Conclusion
In contemporary literature, nature is no longer just a backdrop but has become a strong voice in conveying messages about concern for ecology and sustainability. Through works such as “Flight Behavior” and “The Overstory”, contemporary writers show how nature can be used as a platform to describe human relationships with the environment, as well as criticize human actions that have caused various ecological crises. This writing not only brings the beauty of nature to the reader, but also emphasizes the importance of preserving this fragile ecosystem, making literature one of the important tools in the fight against climate change and environmental destruction.
Reference
- Buell, L. (1995). The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture. Harvard University Press.
- Clark, T. (2011). The Cambridge Introduction to Literature and the Environment. Cambridge University Press.
- Garrard, G. (2012). Ecocriticism (2nd ed.). Routledge.
- Glotfelty, C., & Fromm, H. (Eds.). (1996). The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology. University of Georgia Press.
- Heise, U. K. (2008). Sense of Place and Sense of Planet: The Environmental Imagination of the Global. Oxford University Press.
- Kingsolver, B. (2012). Flight Behavior. HarperCollins.
- Morton, T. (2010). The Ecological Thought. Harvard University Press.
- Nixon, R. (2011). Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor. Harvard University Press.
- Powers, R. (2018). The Overstory. W. W. Norton & Company.
- Slovic, S. (2008). Going Away to Think: Engagement, Retreat, and Ecocritical Responsibility. University of Nevada Press.
Author Biography
Dr. Haji Mohd Ali bin Haji Radin or known as H.MAR in literary writing, was born on August 5, 1968 in Brunei Darussalam. Graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Malay Literature at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He works as a Senior Language Officer at the Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam. H.MAR’s written work comprises: Poetry Collection حديقة الفلسفة / Philosophy Garden, 2022. Morroco: The Association La Vague Culturella Publisher; Collection Do Drames Jardins Du Rire, 2023. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication; A Collection of Short Pieces Garden X, 2023. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication; Una colección de cuentos KAMEO Y Las Cartas Perdidas. 2023. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication; Poetry Collection Moon Archer, 2023. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication; Novel The Lost City, 2024. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication; Raccolta di Poesie Arciere della Luna, 2024. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication; and Almajmueat alshieria قمرٌ دمويّ / Bloody Moon. 2024. Egypt: Diwan Al Arab Publication. H.MAR’s literary works have been translated into various languages in the world such as English, French, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Mexican, Colombian, Serbian, Albanian, Macedonian, Uzbek, Turkish, Greek, Nepali, Pakistani and Korean.