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Title ECOLOGICAL IMPERIALISM IN IMBOLO MBUE’S HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE

Author(s) Salma Mujahid

Abstract Imbolo Mbue, a contemporary Cameroonian American novelist addresses urgent environmental issues in her novel How Beautiful We Were. A story of environmental destruction is skillfully woven holding a mirror to the unethical actions of international oil drilling corporations wreaking destruction in the name of progress. This study emphasizes the serious consequences of this kind of ecological exploitation and argues that large-scale environmental damage and land degradation are the fault of western businesses acting in the name of development. The methodology of my research is shaped by the comprehensive research of Crosby, which offers a fundamental basis for deciphering the complex layers of environmental influence that are portrayed in Mbue's work. Furthermore, the research includes the perspectives of Serpil Opperman, Michael Watts and Kristin Shrader-Frechette, whose academic contributions enhance the theoretical framework. The primary objective of this research is to examine Mbue's novel from the perspective of ecological imperialism, a theory that examines how powerful organisations exploit the environment and rural communities. Using the conceptual framework developed by Crosby and including the theoretical insights of Watts, Opperman and ShraderFrechette, the study aims to provide a thorough comprehension of the ways in which imperialist endeavours impact the ecology of a fictional African community, as skilfully depicted in Mbue's literary work. The purpose of this research is to engender academic interest in petro fiction as a voice of resistance against environmental injustice and raise awareness of the ways in which corporations might affect marginalised societies and ecosystems. It also aims to start a crucial discussion regarding environmental concerns raised in Mbue's novel.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2024-05-29

Subject English Literature

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