Nature's Voices: Exploring Eco-Feminist Perspectives in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Abstract

Eco-feminism posits that the subjugation of women is intricately connected to the oppression of nature. The study focuses on the examination of the intricate relationship between women and ecology, asserting that the marginalization of women and the exploitation of nature are intertwined. Discrimination and oppression stemming from power dynamics related to class, gender, and race are directly correlated with environmental exploitation. In patriarchal societies, women and nature are commonly perceived as fertile entities capable of providing life, care, and shelter. This paper highlights the Chinua Achebe's use of characters like Ani, the earth goddess, and Ezeani, the priest of the goddess, to underscore the parallels between women and their significance in terms of fertility and production. Additionally, it aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the female characters in Things Fall Apart in relation to nature, examining the exploitation of both women and the environment depicted in the novel. The study also analyzes dominant male practices in Things Fall Apart, emphasizing how women and nature are portrayed as innocent, female, productive, and susceptible to exploitation.