Edward Abbey And Wasteland And An Elegy - 1185 Words

Kindred and Coexisting As humans began to develop, the need to expand increased. Some of this increase causes nature to be destroyed on the very foundation in which the new buildings and complexes are built. In the two pieces of writing, The Serpents of Paradise by Edward Abbey and Wasteland: An Elegy by Mary Oliver, the authors examine their own personal experiences with nature. In order to show that humans should respect and are connected to nature, the authors narrate their story in first person, but choose different approaches to aspects such as tone and the use of pathos. In The Serpents of Paradise, Edward Abbey uses a subtle and relaxed tone until the end of the excerpt, when his tone becomes critical of people’s views on animals†¦show more content†¦In order to keep the rattlesnakes away without killing them, the author captures a gopher snake. He releases this snake inside his house and feels attached to the snake when it says, â€Å"We are compatible. From my point of view friends†(Abbey). The author shows that animals considered to be scary can be friend and not foe. By releasing a snake in his house, the author portrays the narrator’s trusting view of nature. Edward Abbey also touches on pathos by creating a sense of fulfillment, even though the snake who the author has become so accustomed to has left. The snakes leave for second time and it says, â€Å"I will not see the gopher snakes again. Nevertheless, I will feel their presence watching over me like totemic deities† (Abbey). The author causes the r eader to feel sad about the snakes leaving, but it helps to lead to his next point. He transitions from a relaxed tone to one of judgement of others when it says, â€Å" I suggest, however, that it’s a foolish, simple-minded rationalism which denies any form of emotion to all animals but man and his dog† (Abbey). By saying this, he points out that many people only care about their pet dogs, rather than the many other living species. The author also tries to portray his view of the value of life by saying that â€Å"We are obliged, therefore, to spread the news, painful and bitter as it may be for some to hear, that all living things on earth are