Greed and Environmental Destruction Theme Analysis

Blueback depicts many ways in which human greed harms the environment. The greed of Costello, the abalone diver with a bad reputation for being a “reef stripper,” demonstrates the dangers of overfishing. By taking too much from Longboat Bay, Costello threatens the underwater ecosystem and breaks laws that protect marine life. Abel Jackson’s passionate objection to Costello’s cruelty emphasizes how damaging and unethical overfishing is. After witnessing Costello’s vicious treatment of fish and sharks firsthand, Abel concludes that “there was nothing in nature as cruel and savage as a greedy human being,” underscoring the uniquely devastating impact that human greed has on the environment. Also, Dora Jackson faces opposition from greedy land developers who view Longboat Bay solely as a source of money for themselves. Distracted by their selfish desire for profit, the developers undervalue nature and fail to understand how important the bay is as a home and friend of the Jackson family. Additionally, pollution and climate change—global issues caused and worsened by humans’ lack of care for the environment—also endanger Longboat Bay. As the novel highlights how human greed and selfishness hurt the natural world, it warns against the exploitation and destruction of nature.