Social Sciences and Humanities Open (Jan 2024)
Environmental crises and narrative consciousness in Maja Lunde's the History of Bees
Abstract
Literature plays a crucial role in raising consciousness and promoting a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between human nature and its surroundings. However, there is widespread debate in academic discourse about how contemporary narratives depict environmental crises using narrative consciousness. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the narrative consciousness of environmental crises in Lundy's novel The History of Bees through the lens of Cheryll Glotfelty's ecocritical conception, addressing the need for a deeper understanding of how literature depicts environmental issues and encourages an ethical engagement with nature. Drawing on Glotfelty's principles of heightened environmental consciousness, depiction of consequences, and ethical engagement, the study examines how Lund's novel embodies these concepts in its depiction of declining bee populations and their ecological importance. The study thus discusses how the novel raises consciousness of the interconnectedness between humans and nature, addressing the consequences of human actions on the environment, and calling for engagement and moral action to accept nature's beings. Through the narratives of three characters in different time periods, the essay highlights the interconnectedness between humans, bees, and the natural world, emphasizing the need for a more sustainable relationship with the environment. The article contributes to a deeper understanding of Lundy's novel's efforts to raise consciousness of profound environmental topics and enhance the discourse on ecocriticism and contemporary environmental literature.
