Ecological Grief and Revive in Charlotte McConaghy’s Migrations

Abstract

Charlotte McConaghy’s Migrations (2020) explores the connection of personal sorrow and ecological decline through the protagonist Franny’s journey. The loss of nature and a variety of creatures mirrors the protagonist’s grief over familial loss and shattered relationships along with the emerging extinction of species, especially the Arctic terns. This paper uses Howard Clinebell’secotheraphy framework to analyse how mourning can transform into care and reconnection with the nature. The analysis highlights the novel’s emphasis on ecological mutuality, the therapeutic potential of interspecies relatioships and the capacity of ecofiction to guide readers in navigating ecological grief and cultivating determination to overcome grief in the face of environmental loss.