Trauma and Postcolonial Ecofeminism: J.M.Coetzee’s Age of Iron

This paper examines the representation of trauma in J. M. Coetzee’s Age of Iron through a postcolonial ecofeminist lens, highlighting the intersections of bodily suffering, colonial violence, and environmental degradation. It argues that trauma in the novel manifests as both physical deterioration and moral conflict, reflecting the enduring scars of apartheid and colonial oppression. Mrs. Curren’s cancer-ridden body parallels the deterioration of the land, illustrating the entanglement of human suffering and ecological devastation. Through an analysis of trauma witnessing, ethical dilemmas, and the loss of identity, this study reveals how Coetzee intertwines individual and collective trauma within a postcolonial ecofeminist framework. By foregrounding the ecological dimensions of trauma, this paper expands existing postcolonial and feminist critiques, highlighting the underexplored intersections between bodily affliction and environmental violence. It further explores the rupture caused by ecological destruction and colonial dispossession, ultimately questioning whether healing and regeneration are possible within Coetzee’s postcolonial ecofeminist vision. This study contributes to trauma studies, postcolonial criticism, and ecofeminism by elucidating Coetzee’s critique of colonial legacies and the interwoven nature of trauma and ecological crisis.