ECO STYLISTICS ANALYSIS OF RICHARDS POWER "OVER STORY"

environment as a place of profound complexity, where ecosystems operate on principles of cooperation and mutual support. Through the lens of the characters’ interactions with trees, Powers reveals how human actions whether destructive or protective can have a far-reaching impact on the environment (Powers 2018). Powers constructs a vision of the environment that highlights the delicate balance between nature and human intervention. The novel underscores the consequences of deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change, while simultaneously emphasizing the potential for restorative action. For instance, the environmental activism of characters such as Nicholas Hoel, who is deeply connected to the trees in his family’s land, exemplifies how individual actions can contribute to a broader environmental consciousness. Through their efforts to protect trees and advocate for sustainable practices, Powers suggests that the environment is not a passive backdrop, but an active space where human decisions can alter the course of ecological history (Powers 2018; Nixon, 2011). Furthermore, Powers integrates scientific knowledge into the narrative, demonstrating the interconnectedness of various environmental systems. The depiction of trees communicating through mycorrhizal networks serves as a powerful metaphor for the broader interconnections that define the environment. The underground fungal networks represent the invisible yet essential ties that bind all living organisms within an ecosystem. This scientific reality is woven into the narrative to challenge the human tendency to view the environment in a fragmented and isolated manner. Instead, Powers encourages readers to understand the environment as a cohesive whole, where the actions of one species whether human or non-human can reverberate across the entire ecological system (Wohlleben, 2016; Powers 2016). The novel also critiques the anthropocentric view of the environment, which positions humans as the primary agents of change within the natural world. Through its Eco-stylistic approach, The Overstory calls attention to the agency of trees and other non-human entities, suggesting that the environment is not simply a resource to be used by humans but a complex, living system with its own intrinsic value. By emphasizing the environmental roles of trees and thei