THE SOUND AND FURY OF ECOCRITICISM

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Authors: ADHUZE, HELEN IDOWU, PhD
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This article interrogates the efficacy and urgency of ecocriticism in the Anthropocene, drawing inspiration from Macbeth’s nihilistic soliloquy to explore the perceived disconnect between language and ecological action. With climate change intensifying and global ecosystems in peril, the essay challenges the academic insularity of environmental discourse and calls for a reinvigorated ecocriticism that translates critical insight into ethical praxis. Through interdisciplinary analysis—spanning literary theory, environmental science, and climate activism—it examines the limits and possibilities of narrative in mobilizing sustainable futures. Emphasizing the need for individual carbon reduction and systemic transformation, the article envisions ecocriticism as a dynamic agent of change that must evolve from witnessing to world-making. As the Earth itself becomes a speaker of catastrophe, the essay urges scholars, readers, and citizens alike to respond not with despair, but with decisive ecological engagement. In the face of mounting crisis, the question remains: will our critical "sound and fury" signify nothing—or everything?

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ecocriticism and Environmental Literature Environmental Philosophy and Ethics Environmental Ecological and Cultural Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Publication date
29 January 2026
Language
EN