Sustainable Shakespeare

Exploring Human-Nature Interconnectedness in the Plays of William Shakespeare 

Edited by 

Prof (Dr) Seema Raizada, Professor and Head, Govt MLB Girls PG Autonomous College, Bhopal, 9827055738

Prof (Dr) Rolii Agrawal, Professor and Head, Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal, 9425148782

Email –sustainableshakespeare@gmail.com

Concept Note:

William Shakespeare's plays are replete with themes that resonate with contemporary ecological anxieties. From the imagery of nature in The Tempest to the exploration of human ambition and environmental limits in Macbeth, Shakespeare's works offer a rich terrain for ecocritical analysis. This volume seeks to uncover how Shakespeare's plays can inform our understanding of sustainability and inspire new perspectives on human-nature relationships.

Through this volume, we explore themes of sustainability in the works of William Shakespeare, and various interconnected issues and approaches where humans and their natural environment play a key role. We deep dive into environmental concerns and depiction of nature through Shakespeare’s usage of metaphors, including forests, farms, animals and weather, and how these are exploited by humans. We also investigate depictions of deforestation and the struggle to balance economic development with conservation as Shakespeare’s works reflect modern anxieties about overuse and mismanagement of natural resources and ultimately foreshadow current sustainability conversations. The collection also looks at moments in the works of Shakespeare where characters either disrupt or attempt to restore the balance in nature thereby also putting the spotlight on social and economic policies pertaining to human and the environmental ecosystems. The ultimate goal of the volume is to bring together critical readings and analyses of the works of William Shakespeare with a view to discharging the role of powerful mediators in restoring ecological harmony.  

Themes:

Contributors are invited to explore a range of themes, including:

- Human-nature interconnectedness

- Deforestation and resource exploitation

- Agriculture and land use

- Climate change and ecological imbalance

- Nature as a moral/ emotional/ empathetic/ transformative force

- Colonial and environmental exploitation

Chapter Guidelines:

- Chapters should be 3000-5000 words in length

- Chapters should include a title, author(s) name(s) and affiliation, abstract, keywords (at least 5), and full text

- MLA 9 style should be adhered to for formatting

Call for Contributions:

Please submit your chapter proposal, including a brief abstract and a short bio with contact information latest by 30th October 2025. Upon selection of abstracts, full paper submission would be expected by 20th December 2025. We look forward to receiving your contributions!