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Ecological Stewardship: Exploring Jean Giono s The Man Who Planted Trees as a Ray of Hope in Response to Catastrophic Human-induced Actions
Literature has consistently served as an effective instrument for the enhancement and reformation of human society. It does not only educate individuals on a variety of topics that are pertinent to their daily lives but also raises awareness of all the critical elements that are associated with human life and society. In this regard, Jean Giono has employed his creative abilities to compose a short story titled The Man Who Planted Trees, which highlights a prevalent issue that is experienced by the entire world at present. By employing specific metaphors, the narrative engages in a dialogue regarding the significance of trees and communicates the message of how to restore the number of trees on Earth through the main character, Elzéard Bouffier. The primary character of this story's endeavors is explored in this paper by using ecocritical lens. Ecocriticism is a mutual framework for analyzing literature from the perspective of environment and ecological system. Hence, this paper concludes that the contemporary world is characterized by environmental issues as a consequence of tree depletion that can be resolved by the cultivation of trees. Additionally, it demonstrates the author's commitment to the environment and his sincere intentions.
Keywords: Ecocriticism, Deforestation, Environmental revival, Green literature, Plants and trees