ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY IN QURATULAIN HYDER’S FIREFLIES IN THE MIST

Abstract

This study explores the concept of agency through an eco-critical and postcolonial lens in Quratulain Hyder’s Fireflies in the Mist. It examines how the novel constructs “agentic spaces” that challenge oppression, marginalization, and the distorted status of locality. Central to the narrative is the emergence of female agency, particularly through the protagonist, who navigates social constraints to become an autonomous subject. The research highlights how ecological elements in the novel serve as symbolic shelters that support this transformation, culminating in the formation of an “agentic locus.” Ultimately, the study reveals how environmental and social contexts intersect to empower marginalized identities