Desert Solitaire By Edward Abbey Summary

Many people assume deserts are just full of sand, cacti, and a dry place that lacks water. Although some of those may be true, the desert doesn't completely lack life or beauty as we observe in Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. In this excerpt by Edward Abbey, he emphasizes the connectivity of the human experience coexisting parallel with nature by attaching human experiences to animals, describing the various inhabitants and scenery, and comparing the features of the desert with those who benefit from them. First, Abbey utilizes certain words, actions, and habits in his writing that are human-like, even when referring to non-humans. He includes diction that talks about the perseverance they have and their range of emotions and feelings, “these small beings are

He intently mentions the different species of all of the inhabitants for example “four-winged dragonflies in green, blue, scarlet, and gold” and he describes the strength that certain plants have within the desert “few are too hot or too briny or too poisonous to support life” (Abbey, 1968). Listing the different species adds extra emphasis on the wealth of the desert itself as well as the background of the animals. His detail about the animals brings them to life and paints a picture of vitality. His representations of numerous plants and animals offer a vision of multiplicity inside of the desert. He romanticizes the desert by enhancing the individualism and perplexity that's held within the desert environment. This is exercised in order to provide a reason for why it's so necessary to preserve this in society and not ruin it with modern humanity. Humans and those in the desert environment can coexist but it's necessary for them to keep in mind how abundance can be separate, humans having their modern abundance and those of the vast environment can have their