The Wood Duck Thesis

One’s view on something often changes when you look at it from more than one point of view. Morality plays a significant role in any decision making process. It is hard to justify any decision that is not moral. Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron” has many elements of nature, and of the preservation of what Sylvia holds dearly. The thought provoking short story evokes emotions of caring, loving, and fear. All of these emotions are shown by different settings and characters in the story.

From the mightiest of Redwoods to the tiniest bacterium, nature encapsulates mankind. Nature surrounds humanity as a sovereign witness to man’s most astounding triumphs, and the disgusting atrocities perpetrated by man against his fellow man. Regardless of the circumstances, nature remains unbiased in the face of all conflicts and struggles. Nature cannot deceive or mislead like humanity can. It is for this reason why nature has an ideal perspective to view history. As shown through Mark Fiege’s book The Republic of Nature: an Environmental History of the United States, the lense of nature is extremely important to both readers and historians alike due to the fact that unlike almost all other sources, nature is unbiased and honest. This is exemplified through Fiege’s exploration of the history of the the construction of the Lincoln Memorial, the Salem witch trials, and natural law.

Throughout history, humans have had a strong reliance on nature and their environment. As far back as historians can look, people have depended on elements of nature for their survival. In the past few decades, the increased advancement of technology has led to an unfortunate division between humans and nature, and this lack of respect is becoming a flaw in current day society. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv criticizes modern culture by arguing that humans increasing reliance on technology has led to their decreasing connection with nature through the use of relevant anecdotes, rhetorical questions and powerful imagery to appeal to ethos.

‘The sheer popularity’ of stimulating nature or using nature as ad space ‘demands that we acknowledge, even respect, their cultural importance,’ suggests Richtel. Culturally important, yes. But the logical extension of synthetic nature is the irrelevance of ‘true’ nature— the certainty that it’s not even worth looking at. (Louv lines 9-19)

Richard Louv writes a persuasive essay analyzing the relationship between nature and technology. His essay focuses on how technology is progressively altering the way we perceive nature. Louv believes that the more we are in contact with technology, the less in touch we are with nature. His persuasion throughout the essay uses many rhetorical devices to help the reader envision how much better “true nature” is.

The authors Lydia Huntley Sigourney, and Henry David Thoreau, both demonstrate similarities and differences in their works. While comparing both essays, it is evident that both authors share similar views on environmental issues, and at the same time demonstrate great emotional journeys in their works. The extraordinary beauty of nature appears frequently in both pieces. Both authors focus their personal experiences, however, within different subject matters. The way in which the authors express their beliefs and feelings is demonstrated through personal life endeavors. It is apparent that the authors are expressing their perception of the atrocities committed to the environment by humans.

One early saturday morning my dad (Shawn), my cousin (trey), and I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to go duck hunting. When we get out there we are one of the first people there and 4:00 comes along and we sent out to our spot. When we come to a spot that boats can't go we have to walk for about 15 minutes. As we are putting out the last of are decoys we here so more people throwing out decoys and they are pretty close. Well, we start talking to them and they are pretty nice and they ask if they can hunt with us and we said yes. Then, daylight comes and a group of ducks come in and we shot but I was the only one that killed one that we could find and it´s a drake which is a male mallard. Then, my dad shoots and we could not find his ducks.

One of the largest rodents is the Sciuridae family is the Woodchuck (Marmota Monax) or more commonly known as the Groundhog. It is a fairly common animal most heavily found in the north and north eastern parts of the United States and across most of Canada (Encyclopedia of Life, 2015). Most Woodchucks choose to live in a habitat of grasslands or along the edge of a forest. They tend to like a cooler climate, but during the heart of winter they will hibernate in burrows that they dig throughout the year. The Woodchuck is a incredibly interesting animal that creates elaborate burrows for homes and one of the true hibernators.

In January wood ducks begin to mate and breed. A male wood duck is known as a drake while the female wood ducks are known as hens.

Similar to the ideas of Evernden and Cronon that are discussed above, Hinchliffe attempts to define, or redefine, the term “nature.” The author begins by identifying and defining three possible concepts of the term: nature as an independent state; nature as a dependent colony; and as a co-production. The first idea, nature as an independent state, means nature is something that is separate and in danger. The second, nature as a dependent colony, defines nature as an idea. The final concept, nature as a co-production, describes nature and society as intertwined.

When the temperature drops, animals who hibernate disappear from the outside world and emerge once again out in the open in the spring. Biologists wonder what activity occurs in the animals’ hidden underground chambers. Semi - fossorial animals dig enough suitable space underground for hibernation and movement. Woodchucks, skunks, and cottontail rabbits are known species that would occupy a den. Small mammal species like the jumping mice, meadow voles, and white footed mice are known to roam along vegetation to conceal themselves from prey. However, what is the probability that a small mammal would take the advantage and sneak right in and occupy it during the winter is a subject that interest most researchers.

Did you know that Kilkenny Castle is 803 years old, and it one of the most popular places to visit in Ireland. Mrs.Sparr is taking a trip to Ireland with her sister and she wants me to find a wonderful place that she wants me to persuade her to go there. I think that Mrs.Sparr should go to Kilkenny castle.

Gregory Crewdson’s untitled photograph from the series “Natural Wonder” presents an eerie close-up of a scene taking place in the woods. The attention of the audience is brought to a small fox who lies on its back, dead. Surrounding the fox are an abundance of overgrown grape vines. Perched atop the fox are three birds who stare questioningly at the site around them. Behind the copious amount of leaves and grapes is a somewhat cheerful looking, white background containing buildings and smoke, a noticeable difference from the forest scene which is more apparent to the audience. Through his placement of objects, use of color, and change of scenery, Crewdson expresses the negative effects of industrialization on wildlife.

The humans got to survive in the nature anyway. When the nature tends to threaten the humans, Carter’s version of the natural world explains, through stories, how humans fight back with the nature. The narrator invokes

In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Bernard Marx discovers the vivid emotion of nature through his visit to the Savage Reservation, America’s last remnant of unadulterated wilderness and humanity in a bleak, dystopian world. Writing critically on society, Huxley comments on the degradation of morals, and the rise of a superfluous and perpetually distracted, albeit technologically advanced, world, amid the dying influence of nature. Similarly, in his 2008 book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv expresses concern over the widening divide between people and nature, in particular children and nature. Citizens in Huxley’s novel are infatuated with dazzlingly visual entertainment machines, which provide transitory pleasure; likewise, Americans today have forgone nature for equally trivial technological pursuits. Louv’s sharp critique on the bastardization of nature for short-sighted whims, and his concern about the effects of isolating children from nature, are achieved and expressed through exploring science’s relationship to nature, several subsequent illustrative examples, and ironic social commentary -- through these techniques, Louv calls for action to preserve posterity’s interest in and exposure to nature’s romantic beauty.