Analyzing Annie Dillard's 'Living Like Weasels'
Torie Boehm
American Literary Masterpieces/ 7th Hour
Mr. Hubbard
9/23/2010
Rewrite #6
In “Living like Weasels” Annie Dillard tells a story about how a weasel taught her how to live her life. Meeting this weasel made her think about how life would be if humans lived like animals in the wild, basing everything on instinct and being as tenacious as the weasel she came across. Maybe the most important concept Dillard learns is that it is better to live life to its fullest or someday you will regret not knowing how life could have been. Dillard learns that everyone can live a life like those animals in the wild, including the weasel, just follow instinct or gut feeling. Another lesson Dillard learns is that in life there is
not just one path to follow. She best demonstrates this when she says, “People take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - even of silence - by choice.” What she is saying is that life is a choice; the way it is lived is a choice. Life can be changed at point, so live the greatest life possible instead of a life that gives no happiness to a person. To change, all that needs to be done is hard work and awareness, and the door will open with the new path becoming clear. Another example is where she says, “The thing is to stalk your calling in a certain skilled and supple way, to locate the most tender and live spot and plug into that impulse.” She uses the verb stalk because she is trying to convey that everyone needs to go after this dream or calling in his or her life and keep going after it until it is reached. The main idea Dillard is trying to convey is to live life to the fullest. Realize that time on Earth is finite so work hard toward a perfect life. Life only comes around once, so live it!
American Literary Masterpieces/ 7th Hour
Mr. Hubbard
9/23/2010
Rewrite #6
In “Living like Weasels” Annie Dillard tells a story about how a weasel taught her how to live her life. Meeting this weasel made her think about how life would be if humans lived like animals in the wild, basing everything on instinct and being as tenacious as the weasel she came across. Maybe the most important concept Dillard learns is that it is better to live life to its fullest or someday you will regret not knowing how life could have been. Dillard learns that everyone can live a life like those animals in the wild, including the weasel, just follow instinct or gut feeling. Another lesson Dillard learns is that in life there is
not just one path to follow. She best demonstrates this when she says, “People take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - even of silence - by choice.” What she is saying is that life is a choice; the way it is lived is a choice. Life can be changed at point, so live the greatest life possible instead of a life that gives no happiness to a person. To change, all that needs to be done is hard work and awareness, and the door will open with the new path becoming clear. Another example is where she says, “The thing is to stalk your calling in a certain skilled and supple way, to locate the most tender and live spot and plug into that impulse.” She uses the verb stalk because she is trying to convey that everyone needs to go after this dream or calling in his or her life and keep going after it until it is reached. The main idea Dillard is trying to convey is to live life to the fullest. Realize that time on Earth is finite so work hard toward a perfect life. Life only comes around once, so live it!