Othering Nature: A Critical Examination of the Representation of Environmental Marginalization in Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen

Abstract

The term “othering” has long been synonymous with the intricate needlepoint of human-to-human interactions within the literary domain. When literary scholars engage with the concept of “othering”, they often delve into the multifaceted ways in which it is embodied and experienced by individuals; illuminating the profound psychological and social repercussions of alienation. However, scholarly inquiry has traditionally afforded limited attention to the phenomenon of environmental “othering” within a multitude of literary works, particularly within the rich and diverse landscape of African literature. The dynamics of marginalization and the intricate nuances of the human-nature relationship remain underexplored in contemporary African literary discourse. Consequently, this paper endeavours to scrutinize the modalities of nature’s othering as articulated within African narratives, thereby charting a novel trajectory in ecocritical scholarship. The investigation will focus on the acclaimed novel The Fishermen (2015), employing a critical lens to illuminate how the text encapsulates environmental othering through the actions and utterances of its characters. This article will be confined to a thorough critical discourse analysis of Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen, elucidating the complexities of nature-othering manifested in the narrative. Moreover, it will deploy a thematic analysis to excavate the recurrent motifs and tropes that permeate the selected novel, thereby revealing the intricate interplay between the human experience and the natural world. Through this exploration, the paper aspires to contribute substantially to the field of ecocritical studies, fostering a richer understanding of the ethical implications of environmental othering in African literature.