“Natural Objects in Youssef Ziedan’s Azazeel: An Environmental Perspective”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v5i3.926Keywords:
Ecocriticism, Natural Objects, Natural Selection, Biological Determinism, Youssef Ziedan’s AzazeelAbstract
This article provides a new reading of Youssef Ziedan’s Azazeel by examining natural objects (trees, seas, rocks, predators, birds, and landscapes respectively) and applying ecocriticism and Freudian as well as Jungian insights. The study of natural objects yields interesting results: For instance, in Azazeel, trees symbolize peace, security, natural home [oikos], surrogate good mother, and immortality. The sea, in contrast, pretends to be a good mother generating a sense of security and tranquility but is a terrible mother, deceptive, cunning, and fatal. The article explains the murders of Hypatia and Octavia, the actions of Cyril and his followers, Hypa’s reflections and actions from an environmental/ecocritical perspective. The final analysis reveals the way culture tries to separate the human from the non-human although they are supposed to be part of one harmonious ecological system and the need to stop seeing nature as dead/passive if we want to save planet earth from an environmental apocalyptic catastrophe.References
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