The Narrative of Trees from a Non-Human Centered Perspective: On the Narrative Ethics and Ecological Warning of the Overstory (Published)
In the increasingly severe ecological crisis, the non-anthropocentric trend provides a key theoretical perspective for the study of ecological literature. Richard Bowers’ novel ‘The Overstory’ breaks through the traditional human centered narrative framework of literature and constructs a ‘tree narrative’ system centered around trees. This article takes non-human centrism as its theoretical foundation, combines narrative theory and ecological ethics theory, analyzes the construction strategy of the novel “tree narrative”, explores its narrative ethical core, and explores the ecological warning of human civilization behind the narrative. Research has found that novels establish the dominant position of trees through the diverse transformation of narrative perspectives, the cross scale extension of narrative time, and the symbiotic juxtaposition of narrative structures; Its narrative ethics revolves around “equality of life” and advocates for a symbiotic and awe inspiring relationship between humans and trees; At the same time, the novel takes the survival dilemma of trees as a mirror, criticizing the shortsightedness and plunder of anthropocentrism, and providing literary inspiration for contemporary ecological redemption.
Keywords: 'The Overstory', ecological warning, narrative ethics, non-human center, tree narrative