On The Shore Of The Sundown Sea Analysis

The world is in a state of constant evolution. With these endless progressions, the environment and the people connected to it are changing and developing with it. Observing of too many changes is a hard concept to accept because some see it as undesirable. Changing is a sign that signifies time has passed and there is no going back to what used to be. The only direction left is moving forward to the future, which is forming right in front of everyone’s eyes. Moreover, the rapid development of the natural environment can destroy one’s childhood memories because what he sees as an adult is the construction on top of the beautiful landscape that he remembers. The Southern California coast is an example of a charming landscape that has changed with overdevelopment of motels, shopping centers, highways, restaurants, and crowds. As a Dana Point visitor, T.H. Watkins writes about his specific view in

H. Watkins was born in Loma Linda in 1936 and was best known as the author of Righteous Pilgrim winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography and a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle. In his essay “On the Shore of the Sundown Sea” that was published in 1973 he returns back to his childhood sojourn, which was Dana Point, and warmly, recalls his childhood memories with affection. Watkins discovers that the landscape, which is surrounded by progress, is changed beyond his recognition. Watkins’ intention in his essay is to illustrate the contrast between present experiences to his childhood experience where he feels despondent while exploring his childhood experiences. With a message that shows the readers how irritate and angry he is by the changes that happened during his absence, Watkins uses foreshadowing, realistic descriptions, historical contrast, and tone which creates an appeal to pathos causing readers to share his sense of strong emptiness, while convincing them that the change in landscape is