‘‘They could defecate over a whole people […] and defecate some more by tearing up the land”: Ecological (Un) consciousness and Resistance in Toni Morrison’s Selected Novels

Abstract

This paper aims to deconstruct Toni Morrison’s selected novels through the lenses of ecocriticism. It looks at her work from an ecocritical angle. Sula has traditionally been read as a story about female friendship ;Song of Solomon has been critically acclaimed for its vivid capture of African American cultural heritage ; Tar Baby is regarded as a masterpiece because of its high folkloric resonance ; Beloved is perceived as a survey of the horrors of slavery ; Paradise is regarded as the narrative of contemporary communities confronted with great social changes, while A Mercy is considered to be a story of black women slaves’ struggles to gain freedom in America in the 1600s. Historically, critics have attempted to perceive Morrison’s fiction from the socio-historical lens that has little to do with Nature. However, Nature serves as a background to Morrison's work. It not only serves as imagery but more of a living being that reacts to human exploitation. Morrison's selected novels highlight diverse aspects of this human versus nature relationship that deserves an in-depth analysis. In fact, these novels provide ample evidence that the author sees ecosensitivity and ecological consciousness as possible ways to curb environmental degradation. This paper posits the nonhuman world encoded in Morrison’s novels. It maintains that Morrison’s fiction could raise awareness about ecological wisdom which is key to understanding and solving the current environmental challenges.