ABSTRACT

The field of nature writing which gave rise to eco-criticism in the first place is an avowal of the implicit organization and harmony of all things being in their respective places in the universe—the underlying point of Emerson’s quote above.

The Concubine has been so far glossed within its cultural, mythical and African traditional imports more so to the emphasis of Elechi Amadi’s ability to “create a rural world, as it has always existed…a pristine environment that is unsullied by westernization” ( Eko Ebo 1991:28). This study builds on this perspective, however, in the least extra-textual approach possible, to give credence to the depth of beauty inherent in the inter-connectedness of all things comprising the human, non-human and super-sensible worlds; the conscious preservation of the natural essences of the physical environments by its human co-habitants; an environment unspoiled by a form of indoctrination that puts same under the anthropocentric, irrational, super-imposing will of humans, which keeps the reader enthralled. The text is thus interpreted an emblem of some environmental decadents eco-criticism aims to repudiate namely, the wanton deforestation and the irrational killing or suffocation of animals.

Keywords: Existents, gods, non-human entities, inter-connectedness, deforestation

Published by The Muse: A Journal of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

No. 47

August, 2019

Pp. 30-40

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Nwokoji, Chigozie Christopher is a final year student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He edited critical writing for The Muse number 47.