Ecocritical Re-Visions: Postmodernism and Nature in John Steinbeck's To a God Unknown
Sr No:
Page No:
49-54
Language:
English
Authors:
Mrs. K. Pamme Nesakumari*, Dr. M. Nagalakshmi
Received:
2026-03-15
Accepted:
2026-04-17
Published Date:
2026-04-30
Abstract:
This study examines John Steinbeck’s Approach To a God Unknown within an ecocritical framework, including postmodern viewpoints on the interplay between the environment and mankind. Steinbeck’s story challenges anthropocentric perspectives
by depicting nature as a vibrant, independent entity that surpasses human dominion, intertwining the holy and the secular. This study
analyses how the novel's use of myth and spirituality illustrates the connectivity between humanity and the natural environment, along
with postmodernism's dismissal of distinct borders and hierarchical frameworks. The research contends that To a God Unknown
presages modern ecological discourse by promoting a re-evaluation of nature that recognizes its complexity, unpredictability, and
inherent worth independent of human needs. By emphasizing these issues, this study establishes Steinbeck’s work as a forerunner in
contemporary ecocritical discourse, making it relevant to current dialogues on environmental ethics and sustainability.
Keywords:
Ecocriticism, Postmodernism, Nature, Myth and spirituality, Environmental consciousness, Ecological discourse, Sustainability.