Queer Narrative Ecology in Margaret Fuller's "The Magnolia of Lake Pontchartrain" and Virginia Woolf's "Kew Gardens"

This study reveals how queer narrative ecology, a lens examining non-normative identities and relationships within natural settings, manifests in Margaret Fuller's 'The Magnolia of Lake Pontchartrain' and Virginia Woolf's 'Kew Gardens'. By analyzing these texts through an ecological framework that intersects with queer theory, the research uncovers subversive narratives that challenge traditional representations of nature and identity. The approach combines close reading, historical context, and theoretical analysis to demonstrate how these works employ botanical imagery to explore fluidity, desire, and marginalized perspectives. This insight contributes to a deeper understanding of how literature can both reflect and shape ecological consciousness, particularly in relation to queer experiences.

Schrimper, M. R. (2021). Queer Narrative Ecology in Margaret Fuller’s “The Magnolia of Lake Pontchartrain” and Virginia Woolf’s “Kew Gardens”. Arizona Quarterly: A Journal of American Literature, Culture, and Theory, 77(3), 101–120. https://doi.org/10.1353/arq.2021.0012