Annie Dillard's Encounter With A Weasel

In “Living like Weasels”, Annie Dillard, through an encounter with a weasel, explores the contrast between human reason and animal instinct. In the beginning of the narrative, Dillard describes the weasel and the tenacity it has in the wild. She then moves on to describe a pond where humans and animals coexist, using imagery such as turtle eggs in motorcycle tracks. In this setting, known as Hollins Pond, Dillard unexpectedly locks eyes with a weasel, and in this intense moment feels a pull towards the mindlessness of animal instinct. She concludes the piece wanting to learn the necessity of living by instinct in the same way the weasel does: aware of the weasel’s calling, yielding to it, and living by it. As Dillard reflects on her encounter
One word that she repeats throughout her narrative is the word “necessity.” This word is most prominent when she reflects on her encounter with the weasel: “to grasp your one necessity and not let it go” and “the weasel lives in necessity and we live in choice” (Dillard, 1982, p.109-110). Dillard repeats this word to reiterate the “necessity” to live by instinct; to want one’s calling as much as a weasel wants to live. She believes that living in the now is more important than living by choice. Dillard not only repeats important words, but she also repeats themes as well. (MS3) One important theme found throughout the narrative is the theme of the “jugular area.” Dillard uses this theme whenever she’s connecting the natural and human worlds: “I should have gone for the throat. I should have lunged for that streak of white under the weasel’s chin and held on” and “obedient to instinct, he bites his prey at the neck, either splitting the jugular vein at the throat or crunching the brain” (Dillard, 1982, p.107 and 109). Dillard repeats this theme because the “jugular area” is an essential part of a weasel’s survival. If a weasel does not clamp down on this area, then the predator becomes the prey. Thus, the same tenacity should go into finding one’s passion and plugging into that
One form of tone includes the tone of desire whenever Dillard watches the weasel dash back into the underbrush: “I waited motionless, my mind suddenly full of data and my spirit with pleadings, but he didn’t return” (1982, p.109). The words “waited” and “pleading” indicate the longing she feels to have that brain connection again with the weasel. She wants to feel the mindlessness and urgency of only satisfying her physical senses; however, the weasel scampers off and does not return. (MS4) Similarly, Dillard uses the tone of inspiration to describe what she wants to learn from the weasel: “I would like to live as I should, as the weasel lives as he should. And I suspect that for me the way is like the weasels: open to time and death painlessly, noticing everything, remembering nothing” (1982, p.109). This passage describes that the weasel inspires her to want to live like him and his instinctual nature. She wants to learn to live by necessity and yearns to think simply. (MS1)
In “Living like Weasels”, Annie Dillard emphasizes, through imagery, repetition, and tone, the importance of living by instinct and pursuing one’s calling. Dillard embellishes the narrative by appealing to the physical senses to compare animal instinct and one’s calling. She also repeats words and themes to emphasize the importance of living by instinct. Most importantly, Dillard uses tone, such