Analysis Of Episodes And Visions Of Desert Solitaire, By Edward Abbey

Superior Essays
Throughout time man is possessed with the question, what is culture? The question results in two answers. There is one with positive feedback or one with negative feedback. Culture is dependent upon the influences of people and how they interact with each other in their said culture and others in a different said culture, by which they create societal norms for people to categorize themselves. The interpretation of what culture is or should be like differs upon each individual’s own beliefs. Some believe that culture is bad and others the opposite. One’s view is entirely dependent upon what culture is in the current circumstances and their view of an ideal culture. With one’s presupposition to what culture should be they then are able to formulate their opinion on whether or not the current culture is negative or positive.
In the chapter “Episodes and Visions” of Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness (1968) Edward Abbey defined the current culture as selfish, self-centered, and egotistic.
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We need people. Humans need other humans. This is an understood fact. When we separate ourselves typically one becomes insane or dies. There are times of some separation, but not complete separation. To escape to the wilderness is not the solution to culture. If culture is negative then it needs to be positive. The only way culture can change is if the people change. That is the key the change of people. Abbey saw the wrong in the people, but he himself too was ignorant of change. He figured a change was not going to happen so he abandoned himself from culture. He went away and was set in stone in his own thoughts and ways. He was not up for trying to change culture himself. He figured solace was the answer. Christopher McCandless thought alone was the answer, but both are

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