In the first chapter of Silent Spring, Carson talks about a town where “all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings”. (2) A diversity of plants was interspersed along the road; birds and people alike migrated to the town. The birds “came to feed on the berries” (3) while people “travelled from great distances to observe them.” (3) Here, life was dependent and connected to each other. However, the connection disappeared when death and destruction was brought about by the human use of pesticides. The story brings forth some of Carson’s ecological ideas such as the interconnectedness of life on earth and humans’ ignorance in trying to control nature. Throughout the book, Carson constantly draws connections between nature, mankind
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She describes the sage and grouse having a “two-way relationship” (65), where the sage “provides the staple food of the grouse” (65) and “shelters their young” (65), while the birds “help loosen the soil beneath and around the sage, aiding invasion by grasses which grow in the shelter of sagebrush.” (65) The antelope is also closely connected to the plant and bird, as it feeds on the sage and scratches away the snow on top of the sage, allowing the grouse to also feed on it. This example signifies the interdependence of living organisms for survival, which Carson refers to as “a natural system in perfect balance.” …show more content…
She reminds us that we are also part of the web of life. This brings us to my second point–– the connection between humans and nature.
The relationship between humans and nature connects Silent Spring and its readers by creating a personal significance for the reader. Carson argues that humans allowed the continuous use of pesticides because they are ignorant of this connection:
Although modern man seldom remembers the fact, he could not exist without the plants that harness the sun’s energy and manufacture the basic foodstuffs he depends upon for life. Our attitude toward plants is a singularly narrow one... If […] we find [their] presence undesirable or merely a matter of indifference, we may condemn [them] to destruction forthwith… Many others are destroyed merely because they happen to be associates of the unwanted plants.
She describes the sage and grouse having a “two-way relationship” (65), where the sage “provides the staple food of the grouse” (65) and “shelters their young” (65), while the birds “help loosen the soil beneath and around the sage, aiding invasion by grasses which grow in the shelter of sagebrush.” (65) The antelope is also closely connected to the plant and bird, as it feeds on the sage and scratches away the snow on top of the sage, allowing the grouse to also feed on it. This example signifies the interdependence of living organisms for survival, which Carson refers to as “a natural system in perfect balance.” …show more content…
She reminds us that we are also part of the web of life. This brings us to my second point–– the connection between humans and nature.
The relationship between humans and nature connects Silent Spring and its readers by creating a personal significance for the reader. Carson argues that humans allowed the continuous use of pesticides because they are ignorant of this connection:
Although modern man seldom remembers the fact, he could not exist without the plants that harness the sun’s energy and manufacture the basic foodstuffs he depends upon for life. Our attitude toward plants is a singularly narrow one... If […] we find [their] presence undesirable or merely a matter of indifference, we may condemn [them] to destruction forthwith… Many others are destroyed merely because they happen to be associates of the unwanted plants.