Bill Bryson Dualism
A Walk in the Woods essayIn the novel A Walk in the Woods, the author Bill Bryson entertains the reader with a humorous, yet authentically personal account of his expedition along the Appalachian Trail. He carries you along through the beautiful sceneries, endless discomforts, overwhelming joys, and infinite frustrations with an honest commentary, complete only with his colorful splash of impeccable irony. The book, as well as chronicling his individual journey, also educates the reader on various topics ranging from the National Parks Service, to tales of various AT celebrities and obscurities, to the varying aggressiveness of bears according to the particular species. However, out of the many subjects that Bryson discusses, I would mainly
…show more content…
However, not all of the topics on which he talks about, does he change his stance. Another continuous theme discussed all through the book is the growing supremacy of man over nature. His irritation towards this unfortunate reality seems to stay constant, yet he expresses it some different stylistic ways. First he looks at the irony of the Forest Service, "The Forest Service is a truly extraordinary institution. A lot of people, seeing the word forest in the title, assume it has something to do with looking after trees. In fact, no -though that was the original plan" (Bryson, 66). He comments humorously on how the name of the organization has little to do with its actual doings. Second, he attacks the issue with a snarky, cynical attitude, "Everywhere you look in the eastern forests, trees are dying in colossal numbers. In the Smokies, over 90 percent of Fraser firs -a noble tree, unique to the southern Appalachian highlands- are sick or dying, from a combination of acid rain and the depredations of a moth called the balsam woolly adelgid. Ask any park official what they are doing about it and he will say, 'We are monitoring the situation closely. ' For this, read: 'We are watching them die" (Bryson, 132). His bold accusations affirm his stance on the matter. The phrases "Dying in colossal numbers", "Sick or dying", and "Watching them die", definitely set a dark tone. His last statement, "For this read: 'We are watching them die" really packs a punch because it is the only subjective comment it the entire passage. He first backs his opinion up with fact before delivering the deathblow, this gives it more power when it
However, not all of the topics on which he talks about, does he change his stance. Another continuous theme discussed all through the book is the growing supremacy of man over nature. His irritation towards this unfortunate reality seems to stay constant, yet he expresses it some different stylistic ways. First he looks at the irony of the Forest Service, "The Forest Service is a truly extraordinary institution. A lot of people, seeing the word forest in the title, assume it has something to do with looking after trees. In fact, no -though that was the original plan" (Bryson, 66). He comments humorously on how the name of the organization has little to do with its actual doings. Second, he attacks the issue with a snarky, cynical attitude, "Everywhere you look in the eastern forests, trees are dying in colossal numbers. In the Smokies, over 90 percent of Fraser firs -a noble tree, unique to the southern Appalachian highlands- are sick or dying, from a combination of acid rain and the depredations of a moth called the balsam woolly adelgid. Ask any park official what they are doing about it and he will say, 'We are monitoring the situation closely. ' For this, read: 'We are watching them die" (Bryson, 132). His bold accusations affirm his stance on the matter. The phrases "Dying in colossal numbers", "Sick or dying", and "Watching them die", definitely set a dark tone. His last statement, "For this read: 'We are watching them die" really packs a punch because it is the only subjective comment it the entire passage. He first backs his opinion up with fact before delivering the deathblow, this gives it more power when it