Ecological Precarity and Nature Activism in Helon Habila's Oil on Water and D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers

By Barnabas Benjamin-Iorguma

Reading Time: 2 min read

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Ecological Precarity and Nature Activism in Helon Habila's Oil on Water and D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers

At The Consolidation Blog, we are committed to showcasing bold, socially-conscious scholarship that pushes boundaries and provokes thought. Today, we feature an outstanding abstract by Oyelabi Peter Olawale, the 2024 Best Graduating Student from the Department of English and Literary Studies, Federal University Lokoja.

Oyelabi is not just an academic standout but also a talented writer and advocate for social justice. His research, like his poetry, confronts the complex intersections between environment, power, and human survival. The abstract below, titled “Ecological Precarity and Nature Activism in Helon Habila's Oil on Water and D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers,” offers a compelling ecocritical lens on how fiction reflects and resists ecological collapse in both postcolonial Nigeria and industrial England.

This research contributes to the growing body of literary ecocriticism, providing a bridge between historical and contemporary environmental issues through the lens of fiction. Read the abstract below.

📄 Abstract

Ecological precarity is a major challenge in English society and post colonial society in Nigeria. This challenge stimulates nature activism and ecological consciousness. This project examines the perspectives through which English and Nigerian novelists have engaged with nature and ecological precarity during the early modern and postcolonial era. This research argues that ecological precarity in the Niger Delta instigates environmental crisis on society and people as reflected in the characters in Helon Habila's Oil on water . The depravative and despoilation due to oil spillage on the characters is a form of precarity which stimulates nature activism. Relying on ecocritical view and discursive strategy in its examination of Sons and Lovers, the research demonstrates how industrialization causes ecological precarity and depravity on the lives and existence of the working class. This study argues that D.H Lawrence and Helon Habila seek to resist how industrialization in the early modern period in England and Post colonial era in Africa treat nature as a mere resource for exploitation.

✍️ About the Author

                                                                      Oyelabi Peter Olawale

Oyelabi Peter Olawale is the 2024 Best Graduating Student of the Department of English and Literary Studies at Federal University Lokoja. A distinguished writer and advocate for social justice, Oyelabi has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, leadership qualities, and a passion for creating positive change. His research paper, “Ecological Precarity and Nature Activism in Helon Habila's Oil on Water and D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers”, and poems like “Song to Hunger” and “Blood” showcase his commitment to exploring pressing social issues and promoting environmental awareness. With his remarkable achievements, Peter is poised to make a meaningful impact in his community and beyond.

🔗 Citation & Use

This abstract is shared with permission from the author. For academic citation or reference, please credit: Oyelabi Peter Olawale, Federal University Lokoja, 2024.

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