LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 18:9 September 2018
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
         Dr. S. Chelliah, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Human Ethicality with Nature:
A Critical Analysis of Edward Abbey’s
Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness

K. Vaideki, Research Scholar and Dr. SP. Shanthi


Abstract

This paper proposes to draw an connection between the significance of preserving the wild and achieving environmental justice for an inhabitable future in Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness (1968). This book is an expression of Abbey’s undying and indisputable love for wilderness and an intense plea against its exploitation by the oil, mining and tourism industries. It is tough to restrict to a single genre, it can be read as a travelogue, a confessional memoir, or a book on nature. In this book, Abbey contends for the cultural and psychological importance of wilderness in moulding an individual’s identity. For Abbey, wilderness is required not just as an escape from authority, but also for communing with nature. Desert Solitaire reflects an ethical concernment for the natural world. Using the parables of nuclear war, hints of a post-apocalyptic world, Abbey presents a world which is gradually coming under threat due to unchecked technological intervention.

Keywords: Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, Industrialization, Nature, Wilderness, Environmental Justice, Ethics

Edward Abbey

Edward Abbey is a representative of the modern-day environmentalism of the twentieth century and seemingly a character who does fit next to the environmental forefathers Henry Thoreau and John Muir. Abbey’s sources of inspiration are writers celebrating solitude and nature, the tradition started by Thoreau. The Thoreauvian legacy is apparent in Abbey’s anti-government attitude and various acts of civil-disobedience and also in Abbey’s patriotism. Abbey is a manifestation of Thoreau in the realities of the twentieth century.

Abbey though passionate about the American wilderness, does bring up issues of indigenous displacement caused by creation of such National Parks. With the rise of industrialization further changes are anticipated to be brought about within these National treasures. Abbey understands the need for tourism development in these lands, as it would lead to increased economic benefits, both for the government and the natives. Abbey, however, is against the use of automobiles within the parameters of the park as he feels that automobiles not only disturb the natural haven of the wild animals, but also rob the individuals of the opportunity to relish the elegance of nature.

This is only the beginning part of the ARTICLE. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

K. Vaideki
Ph.D. Research Scholar
Department of English
Annamalai University

Dr. SP. Shanthi
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Annamalai University

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