Analysis Of Annie Dillard's Essay 'Living Like Weasels'

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Modern America unfortunately consists of individuals being faithful to things that do not contribute to prolonged good feeling. In fact, the average American places more value on rapid evolution than on self awareness or personal journeys. This problematic lifestyle is the focus of Annie Dillard’s essay “Living like Weasels,” in which she address her audience of unfaithful individuals whom want to speed through the variety and not develop the time and effort for a slow expedition and reminds them that life must be evaluated and slowed to grasp the few vital things that are essential, necessary, and proper. With an array of rhetorical devices such as syntax and juxtaposition, Dillard creatively reveals her purposes: expose the audience to “live …show more content…

The shifts which occur after paragraph 2, after paragraph 7, and after paragraph serve to further her purpose by notating her journey of self awareness and appreciation of the natural world, which creates emotions of fascination and optimism in her audience. Similarly, Dillard utilizes contrast as she sets up her essay to reveal a divergent image of civilization, as they are painted to be evolving at instantaneous speeds, and the wilderness, whom leisurely takes their time to embody themselves in the native world, a juxtaposing contrast divulging the truth about modern society that most people over evaluate their dreams and wants, and do not take the time to manufacture the multitude of dreams into a reality. Within this …show more content…

One alarming simile, “The man could no way...soak him off like a stubborn label.” which compares the ferocious grip of the weasel’s teeth to a stubborn label on a package, generates startling emotions of awe in the audience as the reader is demanded to re-examine the swift connections between nature and man. To amplify her claim, Dillard employs a graphic metaphor, “he was shot...a fur pendant,” which sets up a comparison between the hanging head of a weasel from its throat, revealing that the truth Dillard wishes her audience to understand is that nature can also be noticeable and vivid like their counterparts in the world of man. Thus, Dillard's essay fulfills her purpose as to exemplifying that micro details are equally noticeable and intriguing. For today's Americans who love and appreciate the small details in life Annie Dillard's essay is excellent and intriguing to ping your mind of imagination and openness. The subjects of evolution and racing to topple the next big thing is often slathered and thrown in the fast paced, selfish society of the large urban population centers where people spend more time sprinting to evolve and excel than slow down to enjoy the sights of nature and life itself. Sadly but hopefully, we must conclude that Annie Dillard shows the average modern man or woman that there is much more to

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