Abstract:
The Heart of Redness is one of Zakes Mda’s significant novels of South African
contemporary literary production, which explores the interconnection between
present and past. Dealing with issues related to environmental and human rights,
sustainability and exploitation, the plot of the novel is built on two different
temporary level, demonstrating that historical events remain relevant to reflect
on many current issues. This thesis examines how literature can contribute in
raising awareness on contemporary environmental issues: the first chapter gives
a brief historical background of the environmental humanities, analyzing the
interconnections existing among ecocriticism, postcolonialism and
environmental history. The second chapter focuses on the analysis of The Heart
of Redness, exploring its historical context and the ecological theme. The third
chapter is concerned with the connection that exists between colonialism and
landscape and the dichotomy nature-culture, while the fourth is dedicated to the
topics of activism, ecological knowledge, ecotourism, sustainability and
environmental justice.
