Ecocriticism is a form of environmental activism that has been explored across various disciplines worldwide since the 1970s. Over time, this movement has gained prominence in literary studies, particularly in its engagement with representations of nature. Ecocriticism examines how different literary works depict and interact with the natural world. Elif Şafak’s latest novel, The Island of Missing Trees, exemplifies climate fiction through its postmodern narrative techniques, placing ecology at the heart of the story. This study first explores the environmental impact of the 1974 Cyprus conflict, not only on humans but also on other living beings, particularly the Fig Tree, the novel’s primary narrator. Subsequently, it examines the themes of ecological grief and mourning, intertwined with the death of Defne, one of the main characters. Finally, the study addresses climate change and ecological uncertainty as hyperobjects, analyzed through the novel’s environmental aesthetic.
Elif Shafak, The Island of Missing Trees novel, ecology, postmodern novel.