“Every Quiet Step is Thunder to Beetle Life Underfoot”: Redefining the Misrepresentations in Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer

Abstract

Misrepresentation is providing false information about someone or something, often to deceive or gain an advantage. Fraudulent misrepresentation is one of the most serious forms of misrepresentation, which involves deliberate deceit and can result in the contract being voided and damages being sought. Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Prodigal Summer challenges traditional misrepresentations by emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living beings. With the metaphor ‘Every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot,’ Kingsolver highlights the profound impact of seemingly insignificant human actions on the ecosystem. The first discussion concerns the novel’s female characters, Deanna, Lusa, and Nannie, and how they redefine traditional farming instead of the men, who are often misrepresented as using harmful modern agricultural systems. The second discussion is about how men use the land for commercial purposes. Deanna actively protects natural wildlife, such as coyotes, and maintains domestic animals to support ecological balance. Lusa and Nannie are organic farmers who cultivate their vegetable and fruit land for the benefit of their families. Eddie used to hunt animals, especially coyotes, while Garnett preferred modern agricultural systems for economic gain. However, both actions have an impact on the environment and its beings. Kingsolver supports the natural environment and expresses this through her female characters, who resist the actions of men.