The Motif of Learning from Nature in Barbara Kingsolver's Novels

<p><a name="_Hlk189237659"></a><a name="_Hlk189237524"></a><span><span>Barbara Kingsolver's writings consistently portray the world as a web of interrelationships. In her fiction, the evolving perceptions of her characters take shape through their close encounter with the natural world. This paper argues that Kingsolver’s ecological vision informs all her novels, even if they are seemingly political. For Kingsolver, who believes “personal is political,” simple things such as food choices and growing a garden are acts of political resistance. This paper shows that one main topos chosen by Kingsolver to convince her readers of her ecological vision is to make her protagonists grow by learning from Nature. Her characters evolve with a growing self-awareness about their place in the world. This motif is a constant in all her writings. In fact, it can be safely stated that Kingsolver’s strongly held political beliefs may stagnate, but her treatment of Nature remains enchanting and ever-renewing. </span></span></p>