RETHINKING ANTHROPOCENTRISM: A DEEP ECOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF MODERN LIFE IN HANIF KUREISHI’S MAGGIE

Abstract

This study examines Hanif Kureishi’s short story Maggie (2007) through deep ecological perspective to explore how anthropocentric thinking shapes modern life and limits ecological awareness. The study employs Arne Naess, a Norwegian philosopher’s term of “deep ecology”, a philosophical and environmental movement first articulated in his seminal work “The Shallow and the Deep, Long-Range Ecology Movement (1973)” that calls for a radical shift in the way humans view their relationship with nature. Using close textual analysis, the study focuses on how the narrative presents materialism, social authority, and personal desire as dominant forces that influence human behavior and relationships. The study argues that the narrative critiques consumer culture and conventional social structures, these critiques do not fully move beyond human-centered thinking. The story reflects a tension between recognizing the problems of modern life and achieving a deeper ecological understanding. It is difficult to shift from a worldview based on control and consumption to one based on connection and balance. The study highlights the need for a shift in human values toward a more interconnected and ecologically aware way of living. It also contributes to eco-critical discussions by showing how literature can reveal both the limitations of anthropocentric thinking and the challenges involved in moving beyond it.