An Ecocritical Analysis of Akan Proverbs in Death on Trial by Appiah-Agyei

Abstract

The natural environment has increasingly been threatened by the activities of man over the years. Due to this, both creative writers and literary critics have developed an increased commitment to raising awareness and interest in the relationship between man and the natural environment in contemporary times. This study examines the connection between humans and the natural environment in Death on Trial by Appiah-Agyei. The paper is a qualitative one as it uses ecocriticism as a literary theory to do a close reading and in-depth analysis of the play. The study reveals that some Akan proverbs constitute a set of reminders about the processes needed to sustain and stimulate a peaceful environment. These proverbs that identify with nature encapsulate both cultural values and communal environmental lifestyle of Akans. The study therefore proposes that the Ghanaian society draws lessons from its cultural values and communal environmental life so as to ensure environmental sustainability.