The Depiction of Environmental Degradation in Selected Zimbabwean Novels Written in English: Implications for the Well-Being of Humans

Abstract

This paper interrogates how selected Zimbabwean novels written in English metaphorically portray environmental degradation as a “disease” that destabilises the well-being of humans by disrupting the environment’s natural ecosystems. Through the critical analysis of Waiting for the Rain (Mungoshi 1975), Nervous Conditions (Dangarembga 1988), Harvest of Thorns (Chinodya 1989), Under the Tongue (Vera 2001), and The Uncertainty of Hope (Tagwira 2006), the study explores the forms of environmental disturbances and the implications of reckless environmental degradation. Guided by the eco-critical theory, the study reveals how these African fictive works exploit different language devices like metaphors and symbolism to analytically review the detrimental effects of environmental degradation, like poor development, the spread of resultant diseases, and subsequent loss of lives. The study employed a qualitative methodology, utilising an interpretive textual analysis. The critical textual analysis demonstrates the propensity of fictive literary works to raise awareness about the catastrophic consequences of environmental injustices and degradation in the real world. The research findings reveal that environmental degradation causes and exacerbates public health problems by promoting the proliferation of psychological, physical, and metaphorical diseases in Zimbabwe and beyond. The literal diseases like cholera and malaria may be worsened by metaphorical diseases such as misgovernance, drought, and poverty due to climate change. By framing environmental degradation as a “disease,” the study underscores the integration between governance and human wellness, offering health pluralistic insights for fostering environmental preservation policies and practices. This unique approach bridges the knowledge gap by bringing in a nuanced interdisciplinary study that contributes to a blend of enriched literary criticism, public health awareness, eco-feminism, and environmental conservation by highlighting the multiple roles of literature as an important study across various fields. An awareness of environmental degradation issues inspires societal change and ensures sustainable use of natural resources for the betterment and well-being of humans.