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.  

Suggested 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

- Urban ecocriticism

- Anthropocentric consumerism

- Eco-social restoration

- Natural ecology and economic abstraction

Contributors are requested to NOT use  – The Tempest, As You Like It, and Pericles. Any other play may be taken up – some suggestions are – King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coriolanus, Titus Andronicus, Timon of Athens, Cymbeline, The Merchant of Venice.

Important Timelines

Submission of abstract, short bio with affiliation and contact information – 10th July 2026 on sustainableshakespeare@gmail.com

Notification of acceptance of abstract – 15th July 2026

Full chapter submission – 30th August 2026 – The chapter should be between 4000 – 5000 words, formatted in MLA 9 style, and should include a title, author(s) name(s) and affiliation, abstract, keywords (at least 5)