Human-centered perspectives and environmental impact: an ecocritical analysis of the Palace of Illusions

This paper explores anthropocentrism in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions through the lens of ecocriticism, drawing on the theories of Lawrence Buell, Cheryll Glotfelty, Greg Garrard, Simon C. Estok, and Ursula K. Heise. Buell’s concept of the environmental imagination reveals how the novel reflects a human-centered view of nature, positioning the Pandavas' and Kaurava’s ambitions and conflicts as paramount, often disregarding the ecological consequences. Glotfelty’s foundational ecocriticism framework highlights how the novel's portrayal of nature as a mere backdrop to human drama underscores anthropocentric narratives, emphasizing human desires and struggles over ecological concerns. Garrard’s examination of anthropocentrism and biocentrism is crucial for understanding how the novel prioritizes human agency and perspective, contributing to environmental degradation. Estok’s insights into literature's historical and cultural contexts further contextualize how the novel's representation of nature reflects broader anthropocentric attitudes. Heise’s global environmental imagination framework helps situate the novel’s depiction of nature within a larger ecological context, illustrating the impact of human actions on the environment. This ecocritical analysis uncovers how The Palace of Illusions has remarkably presented lucidly and explicitly the human-centered worldview, revealing the implications of such perspectives on the natural world.