Branching Paths of Pain: Trauma and Ecocriticism in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees.

Document Type : Scientific Articles

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Assistant Professor of English Literature Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Education, Mansoura University

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the intersection of trauma theory and ecocriticism in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees, focusing on how human and ecological suffering are interconnected. It starts by contextualizing these two theories as a fitting approach to the discussion of the novel. The fig tree serves as a potent symbol of both environmental continuity and human trauma, being a witness to the historical and cultural displacements caused by the Cyprus conflict. By analyzing the generational trauma experienced by characters such as Ada, Kostas, and Defne, this paper demonstrates that nature becomes a vessel for memory, survival, and healing. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including that of the fig tree itself, which bears witness to their love, loss, and the trauma of conflict, war and displacement. Through the tree’s unique viewpoint, Shafak emphasizes the enduring impact of war on both people and the land, highlighting the scars of intergenerational trauma.  Shafak also highlights the inseparable link between human and ecological recovery, suggesting that reconciling with the natural world is essential for healing personal and collective trauma. The paper concludes by proposing further research, on the same theoretical framework, at the level of Arabic literature, which also intertwines with the same topics of displacement, conflict, and environmental change, to enrich the discourse on trauma and ecological resilience.

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