20, April 2025

Nature’s Interconnected Web: An Eco-Critical Study of Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer

VOLUME-9; ISSUE-4; APR-2025

Author(s): 1.Kavitha M, 2.Dr K Prabha

Authors Affiliations:

1Research Scholar, Department of English Language and Literature, Kongu Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Erode, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Kongu Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Erode, India

DOIs:10.2017/IJRCS/202504006     |     Paper ID: IJRCS202504006


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Abstract:    In Barbara Kingsolver's novel Prodigal Summer, the story takes place in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains during a hot summer. The book tells three different stories about people who love nature and each other. The main characters are Deanna, a park ranger who cares for the forest; Lusa, a young woman who learns about farming; and Nannie, an old lady who wants to save a special tree. Through their adventures, the book shows how important it is to take care of the environment. Deanna studies coyotes and helps protect them, while Lusa decides not to grow tobacco because it is bad for people and the land. Nannie fights against using harmful chemicals on her farm. The characters learn that by working together and respecting the earth, they can create a better world. Prodigal Summer is not just a story about people; it is also a story about the beauty of nature and the need to protect it.

The book deals with important environmental issues like climate change, protecting endangered animals, and keeping farms healthy without using harmful chemicals. Through its three main characters, the story shows different ways people can help protect nature: by studying wild animals, choosing to grow healthy crops, and farming without chemicals that hurt the environment. This book encourages readers to think about how their actions affect the environment and to appreciate the wildness around them.

         
Keywords: environmental conservation, biodiversity, sustainable farming, human-nature relationship, ecological awareness  

Kavitha M, Dr K Prabha (2025); Nature’s Interconnected Web: An Eco-Critical Study of Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer, International Journal of Research Culture Society,    ISSN(O): 2456-6683,  Volume – 9,   Issue –  4,  Pp.26-29.        Available on – https://ijrcs.org/

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