In The Monkey Wrench Gang Sparknotes

The Southwest of the United States circa 1970s was largely dictated by hyper industrialism, the idea that the only important thing in society is maximizing industrial output. With a heightened appreciation for consumerism, America set out to further develop and utilize the Southwest, increasing efforts on mining, fracking, clear cutting, and taming the wild desert. Adding insult to injury, the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1966 destroyed Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon forever. The negative impact of the dam was apparent almost instantly. Its construction collapsed a flourishing ecosystem and riverway that was almost 6 million years old in what felt like minutes. Many people openly opposed the dam's construction, trying in vain to

Originally, Abbey introduced Hayduke as a very off-putting character. The reader's first impression of him is that he is a resentful, angry man with no self control or understanding of the consequences of his actions. Before the first big incident with Hayduke, Abbey remarks that “Hayduke loved guns” and had “acquired a taste for methodical, comprehensive and precisely gauged destruction,” which is “coupled in his case with a passion for equity (statistically rare)” (19). Essentially stating that Hayduke craves justice and doesn't mind doing a little evil to obtain it. After spending two years fighting in Vietnam as a medic for the Green Beret, and one year as a POW, Hayduke has been completely desensitized to violence. During his first night of freedom, he tracks down a cop that had unfairly arrested him several years

He believes himself to be of higher intelligence morally to Hayduke. Nevertheless, Smith allows Hayduke to come on a rafting trip with the other future members of the Monkey Wrench Gang. It is on this trip that they decide to work together to save the desert. The main problem is that Hayduke wants to use guns and explosives, and the others are firmly against it. In an argument with Bonnie, Hayduke yells “‘Sidearms!’ ‘No.’ ‘Guns!’ ‘No.’ ‘Peanut butter!’ said Bonnie. ‘Guns and peanut butter!’” Hayduke counters (69). Hayduke is ultimately shut down by Doc, who wants to avoid violence at all costs. This argument highlights the difference in values between Hayduke, Bonnie, and Doc. Doc values good publicity and peace, Bonnie values comfort, and Hayduke values guns and getting even. Doc and Bonnie see him as unintelligent because they don't understand the way Hayduke’s brain works. Contrary to the beginning of the book, Hayduke now has a solid reason and justification for his actions. Hayduke believes his actions can be justified because of the severity of the purpose, which is becoming increasingly believable as the story