An ecocritical analysis of Robert Barclay's Melal: A novel of the pacific and Kiana Davenport's House of Many Gods

This study examines two contemporary fictional novels, "Melal: A Novel of The Pacific" by Robert Barclay and "House of Many Gods" by Kiana Davenport, within the framework of ecocriticism, with an emphasis on environmental injustice and the case of the 'Environmentalism of the Poor,' a key aspect of 'postcolonial environmentalism' as discussed by Timothy Clark (2019) in his book The Value of Ecocriticism. In analyzing these novels, the study employs Rob Nixon's concept of the "Slow Violence" to explore the long-term effects of pollution, nuclear testing, and radiation on communities and the environment. The concept of the "Slow Violence" is crucial in comprehending how environmental degradation unfolds gradually, affecting Indigenous people such as the Marshallese and Kanaka Maoli over extended periods. Furthermore, this study also explores the differing perspectives of human-centered /anthropocentric and ecocentric views within the framework of ecocriticism. These perspectives are crucial to understanding how the natural environment is perceived. Literature plays a significant role in raising awareness regarding the environment. Therefore, it can be argued that in both novels, the environment is a victim of destructive human actions. Also, both novels critique Anthropocentricism and emphasize the importance of an ecocentric viewpoint toward nature.