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413598

Branching Paths of Pain: Trauma and Ecocriticism in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees.

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Last updated: 25 Feb 2025

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Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the intersection of trauma theory and ecocriticism in Elif Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees, focusing on how human and ecological suffering are interconnected. It starts by contextualizing these two theories as a fitting approach to the discussion of the novel. The fig tree serves as a potent symbol of both environmental continuity and human trauma, being a witness to the historical and cultural displacements caused by the Cyprus conflict. By analyzing the generational trauma experienced by characters such as Ada, Kostas, and Defne, this paper demonstrates that nature becomes a vessel for memory, survival, and healing. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including that of the fig tree itself, which bears witness to their love, loss, and the trauma of conflict, war and displacement. Through the tree's unique viewpoint, Shafak emphasizes the enduring impact of war on both people and the land, highlighting the scars of intergenerational trauma.  Shafak also highlights the inseparable link between human and ecological recovery, suggesting that reconciling with the natural world is essential for healing personal and collective trauma. The paper concludes by proposing further research, on the same theoretical framework, at the level of Arabic literature, which also intertwines with the same topics of displacement, conflict, and environmental change, to enrich the discourse on trauma and ecological resilience.

DOI

10.21608/ejels.2024.413598

Keywords

trauma theory, ecocriticism, intergenerational trauma, environmental recovery, Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing trees

Authors

First Name

Abeer Mostafa Abdelrazek

Last Name

Elgamal

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Assistant Professor of English Literature Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Education, Mansoura University

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Volume

13

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

54033

Issue Date

2024-12-01

Receive Date

2025-02-22

Publish Date

2024-12-01

Page Start

37

Page End

60

Print ISSN

2735-4431

Online ISSN

2735-4830

Article File

EJELS_Volume 13_Issue 1_Pages 37-60.pdf

PDF . 415.5kB

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https://ejels.journals.ekb.eg/article_413598.html

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http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=413598

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413,598

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Scientific Articles

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1,594

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Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of English Language and Literature Studies

Publication Link

https://ejels.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Branching Paths of Pain: Trauma and Ecocriticism in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees.

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Article

Created At

25 Feb 2025