Abstract
Holistic ecology considers nature and society as a whole, viewing humans and the environment as interdependent and interconnected. This article takes the lens of holistic ecology to examine the representation of human–nature relationships in Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls (2011) and explores how the novel guides the child reader to an environmental mind-set beyond overt didacticism. The article focuses on two aspects of the bond between the magical tree and the human characters in the novel: how the powerful tree empowers humans and how the human characters contribute to the tree’s expressions of power. The eternal Green Man—as the tree introduces itself—embodies this bond by being simultaneously tree-like and human-like, a complex merger of “the Green” (nature) and “the Man” (humanity). The monster-tree fulfils several powerful and empowering roles, such as monster and storyteller, destructive force and powerful healer, savage and philosopher, nightmare and escape. Importantly, it always keeps the shape of a yew tree. As such, A Monster Calls can contribute to children’s environmental education by illustrating the connection between the natural environment and humans: the eternal bond between “the Green” and “the Man.”
Highlights
The philosophy of holistic ecology advocates the interdependence and interconnectedness of all the species in the ecosystem
As defined by Jorgensen, underpins my analysis of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls (2011), which explores the characters in the complex context of nature-human interconnectedness and interdependence
Through a holistic ecology approach to a novel aimed at young readers, I acknowledge UNESCO’s statement that education for sustainable development “requires a shift from teaching to learning” (Leicht et al, 2018, p. 40)
Summary
The philosophy of holistic ecology advocates the interdependence and interconnectedness of all the species in the ecosystem. As defined by Jorgensen, underpins my analysis of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls (2011), which explores the characters in the complex context of nature-human interconnectedness and interdependence. A Monster Calls can guide the child reader to a holistic view of the interconnected and interdependent relationships between humans and the environment and by doing so contribute to children’s environmental literacy. The human characters create the premises for the tree’s powers to be revealed: the mother believes in its power to heal, the grandmother joins in the act of destruction and Conor engages with the stories By depicting this nature-human interconnectedness the novel provides an implicit holistic ecological view that humans and nature exist in conjunction
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