Eco-splritual imagination in desai's Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and calvino's The Baron in the Trees

Abstract

This research explores the eco-spiritual imagination in Kiran Desai’s Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and Italo Calvino’s The Baron in the Trees, focusing on the arboreal sanctuaries of their protagonists as spaces of transformation and transcendence. Both Sampath and Cosimo abandon societal conventions to embrace life among the trees, forging profound connections with the natural world that challenge humanity’s alienation from its environment. These narratives interweave ecological awareness with spiritual enlightenment, presenting the tree as both a literal refuge and a metaphorical bridge to higher consciousness. By examining the protagonists’ journeys, this study uncovers a critique of materialism and anthropocentrism, while advocating for reimagined relationship with nature. Ultimately, it highlights how literature can serve as a powerful medium for promoting ecological harmony and spiritual renewal in the face of modern environmental crises.