"Living like weasels"
by annie dillard
In this essay, the author, Annie Dillard, recounts an encounter that she once had with a weasel when she was immersed in nature. At the beginning of the essay, she talks about her surroundings and the animals that are surrounding her, but then a weasel pops up. The author and the weasel lock eyes for an instant, but following its instincts, the weasel ran away. The author continues to elaborate on the differences between species like the weasel and humans. She states how weasels live by instinct and that humans live by choice. These differences make the author believe that humans need to put more effort into living like weasels, because humans are too burdened with the useless things that they have as their focus in life. She continues to analyze her environment, how the pond and her surroundings are beautiful, yet it is riddled by human influence, such as trash, pollution, and a highway nearby. Annie Dillard wants people to live more like weasels, as the title of the essay says, because that lifestyle is the way to open one’s mind to the true beauty and meaning of life.
“Living Like Weasels” connects deeply with the philosophies of the American Dream. Annie Dillard immerses herself in nature and experiences the natural gracefulness and functionality of the world. She notices how immaculately the other species lived without the intrusions of human life, and she realizes that the lifestyle these species had was the lifestyle that humans should strive to have. She notices the influence of humans and how it takes away from the greatness of the world. She notices how she has worries regarding her burdened life and struggles with society yet the weasel did not have to worry about those issues. That is why this essay connects with the American Dream. Annie Dillard realizes that life is better without the burdens of society, and is better spent and more meaningful when spent simply in the amazingness of the natural world.
Very similar points are brought up in another intriguing article, titled "The Compelling Spiritual Discipline of Asceticism".
“Living Like Weasels” connects deeply with the philosophies of the American Dream. Annie Dillard immerses herself in nature and experiences the natural gracefulness and functionality of the world. She notices how immaculately the other species lived without the intrusions of human life, and she realizes that the lifestyle these species had was the lifestyle that humans should strive to have. She notices the influence of humans and how it takes away from the greatness of the world. She notices how she has worries regarding her burdened life and struggles with society yet the weasel did not have to worry about those issues. That is why this essay connects with the American Dream. Annie Dillard realizes that life is better without the burdens of society, and is better spent and more meaningful when spent simply in the amazingness of the natural world.
Very similar points are brought up in another intriguing article, titled "The Compelling Spiritual Discipline of Asceticism".