Women and Nature: Active Agents in Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide and Sea of Poppies

The novels The Hungry Tide (2005) and Sea of Poppies (2008) by Indian writer Amitav Ghosh, depict complex issues of voicelessness, ecofeminist concerns, and female resistance. This article examines the deep connections between women and nature within these novels, focusing specifically on the characters of Kusum and Deeti, who are deeply oppressed under patriarchy. Their struggles represent not only fictional but also historical events of Indian society, as Ghosh intertwines their oppression with occurrences such as the Morichjhãpi massacre and the Opium Trade. In our analysis, we explore how these characters are abused by the patriarchal structure that rules both their native land and colonial experience. Later on, we aim to delve into how they seek to find a voice through their understanding of nature.