Within Aldo
Leopolds Thinking Like a Mountain and Annie Dillards Living Like
a Weasel there is a communal theme, which incorporates the conflict
between people and nature. Throughout Dillards piece, she uses
comparisons between the life of humans and the life of a wild
weasel while applying the theme of freedom of choice. After an
unexpected encounter with a weasel, Dillard concludes that humans
can learn from the wild freedom of weasel. She states, ...I might
learn something of mindlessness, something of the purity of living
in the physical senses and the dignity of living without bias or
motive (Dillard 8). In Aldo Leopolds writing, his overall motive
is to communicate to the reader that we humans must not destroy the
wilderness, as
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In this quote,
Dillard is supposing that humans often become engrossed in the
selfish desire to obtain more; whether it be wealth, power, or how
others perceive them. Personally, it is easy to see correlation
between the mindset I carry and Dillards perspective of her
encounter with the weasel. Life can be unquestionably overwhelming
at times, as a result of this I often picture myself in the life of
someone completely incompatible to mine. From my standpoint, their
life may be perceived as stress-free and full of freedom, but I am
unaware of the challenges that they may as well endure throughout
their existence. When Dillard made eye contact with the weasel she
experienced 60 seconds of blissful emptiness. Taking time to
reflect on your values compared to how others attain theirs is
demonstrated crucially in this piece. Dillard states, I would like
to learn, or remember, how to live. I come to Hollins Pond not so
much to learn how to live as, frankly, to forget about it (8).
According to the way I view the world, the point Dillard is
attempting to get across to the reader is that freedom can be
attained by anyone no matter the circumstance, you can be who you
want to be with no limitation. I always try to get the most out of
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After Leopold
shot the wolf, he and his friend reached the old wolf in time to
watch that fierce green fire die in her eyes (68). Leopold
continues to state, I realized then, and have known ever since,
that there was something new to me in those eyes- something known
to only her and the mountain. After killing the wolf and
explaining his theory on how fewer wolves meant more deer and that
no wolves would mean hunters paradise, Leopold is quick to
recognize his cruel error. In paragraph 7, the author says, Since
then I have lived to see state after state expirate its wolves. I
have watched the face of many a wolfless mountain, and seen the
south-facing slopes wrinkle with a maze of new deer trails. I have
seen every edible bush and seedling browsed, first to anaemic
desuetude, and then to death (Leopold 68). After coming to
realization of what he had just done, Leopold feels empty, as now
there is an important factor in the wildlife missing. The authors
experience reminds me of the way myself and others often take
situations and people for granted. I find myself taking advantage
of things; whether it be friends, sports, or opportunities, not
knowing what I had until it is
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