Political Orientation in Ecocriticism: National Allegory in Vietnamese Ecofiction by Trần Duy Phiên

Since the late 1990s, theories and practices of ecocriticism have tended to be more politically engaged than in its earliest phase, considering that “environmental problems cannot solved without addressing issues wealth poverty, overconsumption, underdevelopment, notion resource scarcity” (Heise 251-2). This paper engages with political orientation by examining presentations humans nature three Vietnamese short stories – “Kiến và người” (The Ants Man, 1990), “Mối Termite 1992), “Nhện Spider 2012) Trần Duy Phiên (born 1942). These center around conflicts between human characters insect characters, which former attempt dominate exploit latter resist take revenge on former. delves into context these is government's projects modernizing nation since time it came power 1945 particularly Reform 1986. include making modern citizens, civilizing highland, national economy, all aimed at clearing colonial legacies material mental aspects postcolonial Vietnam. The argues allegory a characteristic ecofiction, forms intellectuals’ engagement condition argument turn affirms engagements as historical situation, countries.