To Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire

We live in a world divided by two spheres: the industrialized, human world and the natural world. Today, in the twenty-first century, our lives are encapsulated by machines and industry. Generally speaking, we live in an age of cement and wires and concrete. Because this seemingly indestructible barrier, it can be difficult to see how vital it is for nature to be experienced and appreciated in our everyday lives.
Nature’s importance and purpose often goes unnoticed or unappreciated in our industrial societies. But, by looking hard enough through the glare of light reflecting off of our automobiles, buildings, and street signs, its remarkable beauty can leave your speechless.
To Edward Abbey, author of the novel “Desert Solitaire,” nature’s beauty is indescribable. Throughout the course of his story, Abbye expresses difficulty trying to depict his experience to the reader. He used enormous lists filled to the brim with visuals and sensory images about everything he sees: colors, textures, smells. At the start of the novel, Abbey expressed his desire to avoid using words that equate the natural world with our human world. …show more content…
Russell et al. mention the overall benefits of a connection with nature and how it can positively impact physical health and feelings of a sense of place and identity. Just as was done in this article, it can be greatly beneficial to look back to the past to see what has changed as we’ve become increasingly industrialized. In indigenous populations a direct connection with the land was necessary for survival. Activities to sustain the population - such as fishing, hunting, and growing crops - all revolved around nature. With the Inuit people, there was a presence of something called and ecocentric identity. This means “that identity encompasses human, animal, and material” components of