A Note to Professor Wilson

Hi Professor Wilson,

I edited this blog recently to include all my written work, just in case.

Have a good winter break!

--Mallika

Final Project Annotated Bibliography

Mallika Dhaliwal

Professor Jimmie Wilson

English Writing 001B-09Y

8 December 2011

Annotated Bibliography

Baym, Nina, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7^th ed. 5 vols. New York: Norton, 2007. Print.

Nina Baym is an American literary critic who has written hundreds of scholarly articles on American literature. She was also an Emeritus Professor at the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign before her retirement. This anthology, which she edited, is particularly useful because it includes biographies of authors and descriptions of literary periods to contextualize the texts compiled. For example, Walt Whitman’s poetry would be accompanied by his biography, an account of the time in which he lived, and a portrait of American Romanticism and Transcendentalism.

Greenblatt, Stepehen, ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8^th ed., New York: Norton, 2006. Print.

Stephen Greenblatt is a professor of English at The University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University. He is often considered one of the founders of “New Historicism,” a movement analyzing the cultural and historical contexts of a poem in order to better criticize it. The Norton anthology he edited is useful in the same way that Baym’s anthology of American literature is helpful: Greenblatt provides significant insight into the society and movements occurring during the time in which various poets were writing.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. 1850. New York: Random House, 2000. Print.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American author best known for pioneering American dark Romanticism, or American Gothic. He was a troubled and agitated man often haunted by his family’s dark history in the Salem Witch Trials. His most famous novel, The Scarlett Letter, depicts the battle between what is inherent in human nature and what is expected by society. Hester makes her home in the wild, untamed region of pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts after she is disgraced. When she changes herself to adhere to societal conventions, her beauty and fire are considerably lessened and she becomes another woman altogether. This edition included an enlightening introduction as well as footnotes and endnotes that lend fullness to the text.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1818. New York: Norton, 1996. Print.

Shelley wrote her seminal novel, Frankenstein, as the result of a wager between the greatest writers of her time when she was only eighteen years old. Of course, this chilling and cautionary account of a man’s attempt to defy the laws of God and nature won the competition and has earned its place in the Western cannon. The novel stresses the anxieties of the scientifically-inclined modern world yet describes the natural world as an innocent garden of Eden in which all humans and all beings are free from sin and judgment. The downfall of man occurs only when he attempts to harness powers greater than what has been allotted to him since the dawn of time. This Norton edition includes extremely interesting scholarly essays and articles on Frankenstein, illuminating Shelley’s intentions to a greater extent.

Oerlemans, Onno. Romanticism and the Materiality of Nature. 2002. University of Toronto, 2002. Print.

Oerlemans is a Professor of English at Hamilton College in Upstate New York who earned his Ph.D. from Yale University. He has published articles on the form and function of lyric in Whitman, Milton, and Wordsworth, on literary theory and Henry James, and on animal rights and taxonomy in romanticism. This particular book establishes a connection between the ideas of Romanticism and the ideals of modern environmentalism, but stresses the differences due to the changes in environmental theory and practice over time. However, he does establish that Romantics were among the first to realize the dangers of industrial development by drawing from their works, discussions, and personal correspondences.

Final Project Outline

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINAL PRESENTATION

Assuming you have done your research, submitted your formal proposal and received my approval, you should then prepare an outline of your presentation as follows:

Introduction, Hello, my name is Mallika Dhaliwal.

My Subject is: Romanticism as an Environmentalist movement

My position/focus is: The romantic movement of the 19^th century was the first instance of environmentalism in literature.

The first point I want to make is: The characteristics of literary romanticism are similar to the modern definition of environmentalism.

2 or 3 sources that support my first point are: Shelley’s Frankenstein, the two Norton Anthologies, and Oerleman’s Romanticism and the Materiality of Nature.

The second point I want to make is: The era of the Industrial Revolution spurred a polarization between people that led to the division between Romantics and Rationalists.

2 or 3 sources that support my second point are: The Norton Anthology of English Literature and Oerleman’s Romanticism and the Materiality of Nature.

The third point I want to make is: Though the Romantic movement was relatively brief in England, the movement spread to other countries, such as the United States, as the Industrial Revolution spread.

2 or 3 sources that support my third point are: The Norton Anthology of American Literature and Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.

Conclusion: In my presentation I have shown that the Romantic movement was a natural reaction to the rapid development of cities and widespread destruction of scenery of the 19^th century. Therefore, the Romantics could be considered the first environmentalists as their work was a form of protest to these developments.

Thank you

Does anyone have questions or comments?

Final Paper

Mallika Dhaliwal

Professor Wilson

EWRIT 1B, 09Y

2 December 2011

Morality Ends Where a Gun Begins; or, Opposites of Force and Mind

In Webster’s Dictionary, morality is defined as conformity to the ideals of right human conduct. What is right and wrong is, of course, always extremely variable, and rarely does ethical rectitude align with personal advancement. Additionally, perceptions and personal experiences are inextricably intertwined with beliefs; an idea that is substantiated through the differing viewpoints T.C. Boyle includes in his novel, When the Killing’s Done. Boyle portrays the dilemmas of steadfast adherence to one’s principles through the characters of Alma Boyd-Takesue and Dave LaJoy in order to depict the flexibility of goodness and the hypocrisy of self-righteousness.

In many ways, Alma and Dave are similar personalities representing opposing sides of an argument. In fact, they even dated for a short period of time until LaJoy distressed Alma with his vulgar arrogance. They are both devoted to their respective ideals with fanatic devotion and regard opposing opinions with disdain and intolerance. Her condescension is most prominently depicted when she states:

We are scientists. We do the studies. Not like these PETA nuts that come out to shout you down because they’ve got nothing better to do – and they’re ignorant, baseline stupid, that’s all. They don’t have the faintest idea of what they’re talking about. Not a clue. (Boyle 50)

Similarly, LaJoy disparages Alma when he describes her as “that condescending bitch from the Park Service who was fooling nobody with her gray-eyed squint and her all-black outfit as if she were going to a funeral….” (66). Most importantly, the two are both extremely hypocritical. Dave LaJoy lives in a mansion in Montecito, owns a yacht, and drives a BMW. He shows a callous contempt for human life, especially of women, except regarding his girlfriend, Anise Reed. In one respect, LaJoy feels no sympathy for the homeless or disenfranchised whom he views as lazy and unproductive outsiders to society. He establishes that “his sympathies lie with the animals that can’t help themselves…and not some white-haired upright primate who’s had all the advantages of living in America instead of some third-world country….” (69). However, he is obsessively dedicated to Anise, saying “If it makes Rita happy…it makes Anise happy. And what makes Anise happy absorbs him completely,” (213). Even in regard to animal right advocacy, LaJoy does not practice what he preaches. When he actually ventures to Anacapa, he is afraid that he will be harmed in the act of saving animals. It is always easy to say that one would die for something, but when one must do it himself, his investment in his beliefs are put on display. Similarly, Alma does not want to destroy the rat population because she has any vested interest in the sanctity of conservation; rather, she wishes to make a name for herself and expand her scope of influence. Alma has little compunction about the “humane” killing of animals as she has so dissociated herself from the act of killing that she feels she has no part in it. When she shows a picture of a housecat during her presentation on rat exterminate, she privately notes, “she’d like to see all free-ranging cats exterminated in fact and by law,” (58). More jarringly, while others are “fighting back tears” over the death of a research assistant, Kelly, Alma carries herself composedly with an “unforgiving sneer of triumph” and very calmly instructs the others to “Call the coast guard…. And the ranger station,” (312-313), proving that she holds life in comparatively, human or otherwise, little regard than others do. Lastly, she coldly strings along Park Ranger, Tim Sickafoose, in order to retain her stronghold within the National Parks Service despite her at best tepid feelings for him. However, when he is uncomfortable with her unexpected pregnancy, Alma fancies herself a victim of his lack of caring. She does not understand the role her haughty behavior has in the uncharitable feelings people like Toni Walsh, the writer of an article called “The Real Pests of Anacapa” about Alma and other ecologists, hold for her. Alma is manipulative, self-promoting, and unfeeling, not a scientist who truly wants to improve the world. In these ways, Alma and Dave are extremely aligned in their personalities.

In contrast, Alma and Dave have extremely different methods of achieving their ends and often clash over which tactic is correct. Alma places herself directly on the side of science and logic (ironic because her name means “soul” in Italian and Spanish), believing that her education and research have all but verified her beliefs. Ever rational, she understands the logic and facts of an idea well and always has her reasoning and arguments well organized and well presented. When Boyle describes Alma from her perspective, he is very succinct, as she would be, saying, “If anything defines her it’s self-control. And drive. And smarts,” (39). She believes wholeheartedly that the only way to save indigenous life on the Channel Islands is to kill any invasive species but has a habit of always anticipating a positive overall effect without considering minute negative consequences of her solutions. When Alicia, her assistant, expresses her doubts about the widespread killing, Alma philosophizes:

[She] had been stunned. To think that this girl, this young woman, this locked box of a personality, had been working and thinking and breathing amongst them since she left community college, and she’d absorbed nothing? Zero? Zilch? (103)

In opposition, LaJoy is continually imbued with rage and anger living as a creature of his inarticulate passions incapable of rational thought. He makes grand statements to confuse the issues presented by ecologists like Alma. During her presentation in particular, he shouts, “You’re no better than executioners!” and “Nazis, that’s what you are. Kill everything, that’s your solution. Kill, kill, kill,” (62), and ending with a particularly effective question, one that addresses the very theme of the novel: “And who exactly was it appointed you God, lady?” (64). No matter how ardent LaJoy is in his support of animal rights, he remains ill informed throughout the novel. Even though the rat population is destroying the native species of Anacapa and Santa Cruz, he sees the loss of one animal life as inexcusable cruelty, but lacks the information and elocution to argue his perspective successfully. While addressing the assembly at Alma’s presentation, he makes argues against “listen[ing] to the party line like a bunch of drones under some communistic dictatorship,” (60) portraying himself as a protester for the sake of protesting. His organization, FPA (For the Protection of Animals), attack studies indiscriminately without examining the facts or benefits for the environment behind ecological resolutions. In many ways, he represents the token rich man who uses his money to fund his own ever-changing interests. After all, he became involved in animal rights because of a pamphlet and a woman, not because of any driving personal persuasions that he holds. In these ways, Alma and Dave are dissimilar and irreconcilable.

Alma and Dave are not necessary antagonists to each other; rather they are foils of each other. Their personalities are essentially the same, but their methodology and ideologies are different. The book presents many issues of whether killing is right in some cases, and it is a question that no one can answer. Many people have strong convictions on both sides, either for spiritual or personal concerns and interests, just as people have extremely inflexible views on abortion. Indeed, in terms of moral fortitude, the novel rarely gives its audience an instance of true perfection. Instead, the reader is left to form his or her own opinion on whether killing is ever right or wrong.

Works Cited

Boyle, T. Coraghessan. When the Killing’s Done. New York: Penguin, 2011. Print.

Chapter 17 Response

The final chapter sees Alma with her daughter, Beverly, studying raccoons on Santa Cruz to see whether or not they are indigenous, and, if not, who brought them to the island. We also learn that Dave's entire crew died in the wreck, though only Anise's body was found washed ashore. The book ends with a natural scene of night on an island through the eyes of a fox.

Chapter 16 Response

This chapter sees Dave Lajoy in his favorite cafe, bemoaning the suit he received over Kelly's death, self-aggrandizing himself for pleading guilty to trespassing on his blog. We then see him attempting to set loose rattlesnakes on Santa Cruz Island, once again not giving any thought to the dangers this might pose to indigenous species. Unfortunately, at the moment he realizes how wrong he's been, another boat crashes into his boat and wrecks it.

Chapter 15 Response

This chapter informs us that Dave Lajoy has served Alma with a civil suit and that Lajoy is being served a wrongful death suit for the death of Kelly. Tim has definitely left Alma at this point and she still struggles with the decision of whether or not to keep her baby. There is also an anecdote about the recent death of a young couple aboard a boat called The Anubis. At the end of the chapter, Alma finally confronts the raccoons left on Santa Cruz by Dave Lajoy.

Chapter 14 Response

This chapter sees Dave stranded on Santa Cruz with Toni Walsh, the dead girl, Kelly, and his disgruntled followers. When Alma and the Park Service come to their aid, most of Dave's minions elect to stay on the side of the law rather than go with him and Wilson. We also learn that Dave took the raccoons he trapped and introduced them to the islands, completely disregarding any harm they might to the ecosystem, and is planning something similar with rattlesnakes.

Chapter 13 Response

In this chapter, Alma discovers that she is pregnant and is rejected by her boyfriend, Tim Sickafoose. Four months later, Tim still hasn't come around to the idea of a child and Alma is still uncertain about how this might impact her career and her philosophy. Later in the chapter, Alma and her colleagues go to Santa Cruz to survey the eradication of the invasive pigs when she sees something strange on the ridge.

Vocabulary:

Abrade: Scrape or wear away by friction or erosion

Chapter 12 Response

In this Chapter, Dave Lajoy leads a ragtag group of college students and Toni Walsh to Santa Cruz in order to document the inhumane killing of pigs by conservationists. Even though the trail is washed out by the tide and the mud on the hills is unstable, Dave presses on, and, unfortunately, a young girl named Kelly is killed in a mudslide.

Chapter 11 Response

This chapter focuses mostly on Alma's family and inner turmoil. It begins with Alma debating whether or not to confront Alicia, her duplicitous trainee, and becoming so involved in this aspect of her work that she misses her own birthday celebration. In the restroom, she sees the words "Pig Killer" scrawled on the mirror and begins to question her role as savior of indigenous environments. Later, she attends a Micah Stroud concert with her mother, and in girlish fantasy imagines him supporting her cause and inviting her to go on tour with him. However, her hopes are dashed when he invites Anise Reed to stage, showing his support for the opposing cause. We then learn about how Beverley lived after she was saved from Anacapa and how Katherine met, married, and lost Greg Takesue.

Vocabulary:

Apostasy: The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief

Chapter 10 Response

In this chapter, we learn more about Dave Lajoy through his interactions with Anise and Rita. While Anise and Rita are both sincere in their beliefs and dedicated to their respective worldviews, Dave vacillates constantly. Anise and Rita view the islands as their own, have a relationship with nature, and do not change their attitudes toward anything, be it food or each other. Dave, however, is an animal rights advocate who eats fish, traps raccoons who destroy his lawn, and owns a big house on top of a Montecito hill. In other words, Dave is a hypocrite.

Chapter 9 Response

This chapter describes Alma in the aftermath of Anacapa and preparing to intervene in Santa Cruz. Alma's mother and stepfather are introduced and we are given a glimpse into how her passion for ecology defines her life. Additionally, we see the struggles that Alma faces in her workplace due to resistance from the FPA, especially during court cases. Finally, Alma sees her trainee, Alicia, having lunch with Dave Lajoy's coworker, Wilson, showing that one of her own has been "turned" so to speak to the opposing campaign.

Chapter 8 Response

This chapter details the development of Santa Cruz as a farming community, the acquisition of Scorpion Ranch by Bax Russell, and the eviction of Bax from Scorpion Ranch. A vast portion of Santa Cruz was bought by Justinian Caire in the late 1800s after California became American territory. In the years following, Caire became prosperous and, following his death, his heirs fought over how to split the land. Eventually, after years of disagreement, Bax Russell leased the land in order to make a living sheepfarming. However, the owners of the ranch, the Gherinis, forced Russell out during the time Anise lived on the island in order to begin a hunting business, depicted in the previous chapter.

Vocabulary:

Perspicacious - having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

Chapter 7 Response

In this chapter, we learn more about Anise's upbringing and her reasons for being passionate about animal rights. Anise's mother, Rita, a failed musician who gave up her career to have Anise, takes a job as a cook on a Santa Cruz sheep farm owned by a kind elderly man named Bax in order to support herself and her daughter. On the farm, Anise has a traumatic experience when ravens attack the sheep while she attempts in vain to save them.

Chapter 6 Response

In this chapter, we learn a little bit more about Dave Lajoy including how he runs the FPA, his feelings on his relationship with Anise, and the aftermath of his arrest on Anacapa. He has been served a court order and is facing a fine and considerable jail time. However, he remains undeterred and continues to monitor Santa Cruz Island and the Channel Islands in general. Additionally, this chapter describes the stresses Lajoy faces in running his own business along with the FPA chapter as well as further explaining how he became interested in PETA and animal rights advocacy.Vocabulary:

Vocabulary:

Terra incognita - unknown territory : an unexplored country or field of knowledge

Story of an Hour Sequel

Moments in a Story

Brently Mallard sat in a pew of New Orleans’ St. Louis Cathedral replaying the whole conversation in his head.

“Your wife must have loved you very much, Mr. Mallard,” the doctor told him. “I apologize for your loss.”

Brently said nothing. He simply sat in the uncomfortable parlor chair and stared at his hands in wonder. In a way, he found it almost funny that he should be sitting here dry-eyed and completely alive when Louise was dead of a fit of emotion. He didn’t think he would ever be able to put the sight of her glossy, wide eyes and hysterically grinning mouth from his mind.

“Thank you, Dr. Williams. If you don’t mind, I’d like to begin making some arrangements immediately, “ he told the kindly old man in front of him.

“Of course, Mr. Mallard. I’ll see myself out,” and he was alone.

There had been something wrong. Something had not connected. He kept coming back to “Your wife must have loved you very much.” He could not reconcile it with the grotesque, laughing expression on his usually somber and pallid wife.

“Did you hear about Louise Mallard?” he heard in hushed tones behind him. He strained to listen.

“Oh yes, poor thing. She always was a sickly, queer sort of girl though. Frankly, I didn’t think she had it in her to go the way she did. You know, for Brently and all.”

“Yes, it’s really quite romantic in a tragic sort of way!” Brently’s jaw set.

He made the sign of the cross across his heart and confidently rose. He heard a short gasp from one of the women. He gave her a little bow of respect before striding to the door. Above, the intricate portraits of gods and saints watched him like jail keepers. Louise had always loved them and often spent what seemed like hours staring at them. “They come to life,” she would say.

Brently loved Louise. He always would. He remembered the day he first saw her at a grand ball for Mardi Gras.

The other girls, quintessential Louisiana belles, flirted with him and doused him with praise. Even the ball’s queen left her king’s side for a dance with him. Beautiful girls with coquettish smiles and colorful dresses surrounded him. There was no denying that Brently Mallard had been an eligible bachelor in his youth: handsome, intelligent, charming, and from an old French family.

By chance, looking for some extra bourbon, he stumbled into the host’s library where he started to see a startled girl in a beige silk dress pouring over a book.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you,” he said.

“It’s quite alright,” she breathed lightly.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she said with some force, “I’ll be fine. Let me catch my breath a moment.”

He took that moment to look her over. Her skin was very pale. She looked almost like a ghost. But her hair was dark and soft, piled up fashionably on her head.

“What are you reading?” he asked.

“The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James,” she told him with more enthusiasm. “I’ve always wanted to go to Europe.”

“And you’ll need someone to protect you from all the men there to seek your fortune and connections,” he told her cheekily.

Her smile widened. “You’ve read it!”

“Indeed.”

So she invited him to sit with her to discuss the genius of Henry James.

Over the next few weeks, she beguiled Brently. She was not at all girlish or even particularly beautiful, but she was intelligent, striking, and direct.

But he had long lost hope of wedding her. When she saw him in the room she would give him a small smile, but he knew she was not nearly as enamored of him as he was of her. He thought of her every moment and she always looked a little surprised to see him.

Their proposal was a strange affair.

“Ms. Blanchard,” he began.

“Louise.”

“Louise,” he continued. “I know that you may not be as taken with me as I am with you, but believe me when I tell you that I love you very much with my whole heart.”

“Brently—.”

“Please, let me finish. I would simply like for you to consider marriage to me. You don’t have to say today or even tomorrow—.”

“Brently! I can’t marry you. Today or tomorrow or ever,” she said firmly. Her eyes shone with tears.

“Why?” he demanded.

“I’m very ill, Brently. Very ill,” she choked.

Immediately his heart sank. “Louise, darling, tell me. Is it very serious?”

“It’s a problem of the heart. Perhaps I’ll live, perhaps I won’t.”

His heart lifted a bit and he responded to her. “Marry me. I’ll take care of you. I’ll make sure that you don’t get too excited and I—I’ll care for you. “

“Brently, I think it might be better if I just didn’t marry. You deserve the kind of girl who likes to go to parties and dress in fine clothes.”

“I’ll take you to Europe. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” he begged.

“I don’t know. I suppose I might like to live alone for a while, perhaps help the less fortunate or study the piano more than I have.”

“I want to marry you. Don’t try to make me feel as though I shouldn’t want to. I love you.”

She sighed. “Alright, Brently. I’ll marry you if I live to see our wedding day.”

Brently had taken care of her. Every single day. He was forever at her side. The one day he had left to take care of some business up north she had passed. He couldn’t stand it.

She had become a shadow of herself as her illness progressed and he kept her under his watch more and more. She no longer laughed as readily or had a witty comment at hand to lash at him towards the end. Her smiles became smaller and smaller.

Perhaps, Louise could have lived perfectly well all alone, but Brently was nothing without Louise.

Snow Sequel

Mallika Dhaliwal

The Snow

Zoe Tremaine had turned twenty-three the year she saw The Bells of Saint Mary’s in a dimly lit New York City cinema on Christmas Day. She was two years out of Barnard and hopeful, as many young women her age were, for her dashing, uniformed soldier to return home to her safely.

John Warren was a young Columbia pre-law student and she an idealistic undergraduate who wore flannel and trousers and smoked things that were not cigarettes. Some of the other girls politely referred to her as a Bohemian and most of the boys tried things with her that she would never repeat, but she remained the same. She took trips to Harlem to listen to jazz and dance the lindy hop with boys who spoke in rhythm and were alternatively hedonistic and acetic.

John was none of these things and that was probably why she’d liked him so much, she supposed. He was kind and soft-spoken and he never raised his voice at her or laid a hand on her. He blushed when she used an obscene word and smiled when she laughed. He was less a man than any man she’d ever met, not at all threatening or dominating. In fact, he always deferred to her.

But the qualities of John that she so admired were exactly the ones that got him killed. The New York skyline glowed gray that day. She thought it was unusual to have gone so many days without snow in the beginning of winter. She thought little of what a marriage or a future had meant to her. Of course, she was sad for John, but she was relieved to not have to break his heart. She wasn’t the same girl anymore. She didn’t care as much for adventures uptown or for the artistic disillusionment of her Beat friends. Zoe was tired. And perhaps Zoe didn’t want to live the rest of her life in the shadow of a man like her mother did. She’d ever able to protect herself whether he lived or died. She doubted she’d ever find a man as soft as John and she couldn’t afford one as hard as her stepfather.

So Zoe sat on a bench in Central Park and thought about what she would do going forward. Perhaps she could become a schoolteacher or a nurse, something respectable enough for an unmarried woman. Then she heard Ingrid Bergman’s voice in her head, “You must be strong!” She wondered if she could be that strong. To give her body and her heart to God and never regret it for a single day. She recalled her college-level literature class in which she studied Hamlet. He told his Ophelia, “Get the to a nunnery!” to protect her or insult her. The nun’s would protect her even though she had a sinner’s soul. She could devote her life to good, to children, to God in Heaven. Perhaps, somewhere along the way she would be saved herself.

And then the grey clouds finally burst and snow fell upon her like holy water.

Character Analysis: Dave LaJoy

Dave LaJoy is possibly the most complex, intriguing character in When the Killing’s Done. His entire life, from his name to his actions, is completely contradictory. LaJoy, in spite of his surname, is a man who lives a rather joyless life. He is a rude, intimidating man who owns a chain of electronic stores, a BMW, a large house in Montecito, and a yacht.

Despite his activism on the part of animals, LaJoy holds very little regard for human life and is extremely self-centered. When he attacks Alma at her press conference about the eradication of rats from Anacapa, he ignores the impact on the rats on the native and endangered species on the island. After the incident, LaJoy is most disturbed at the fact that an article written about the incident does not mention him or the FPA by name.

However, LaJoy, like his lover Anise, has some redeeming qualities. He, in a rather stereotypical fashion, converts to animal rights fanaticism because he, when reading a pamphlet about slaughterhouses, recognizes in all too vivid detail the horrific violence that ended in his hamburger. Prior to this conversion, he engaged in a short relationship with Alma, which led to his rejection of all things, scientific or otherwise, that lead to the killing of animals.

In many ways, Alma and Dave are similar. They are both passionate about the environment in their own minds, extreme in their tactics, and flawed in their logic. They embody in their inherent hypocrisy the folk music-loving, Prius-driving, super-elite pseudo-activists rampant in modern society. Both have deluded themselves into believing that they are fighting to protect the helpless instead of furthering their own interests and garnering attention for themselves. In many ways, it is impossible to understand Dave without understanding Alma because they are foils of each other.

Yet Alma has many advantages over Dave, including the support of her Park Service boyfriend, Tim Sickafoose and the protection of the government, law, and academia. Dave, a romantic ruled by his fiery temper, is forced by the nature of his work to rely on flimsy donations, personal wealth, and morally ambiguous campaigns to see his work done.

In many ways, Dave LaJoy is the modern embodiment of the tyrant of 19^th century Gothic romantic novels. He is a slave to his rage, manipulates a beleaguered woman (in this case, Anise) to his advantage, and toys with the laws of nature and society. Dave LaJoy is an archetype, he remains static throughout the entire novel, and, though he speaks the words of the title during his protest, he is not the protagonist. However, it is difficult to call him the antagonist for his enemy is as unlikeable as he is.

Perhaps the purpose of LaJoy is to depict the failure of American idealism, to show how a man with nothing to lose takes up a cause of which he knows precious little. Perhaps LaJoy is simply a man who does not understand or acknowledge his place in the world just like the rats and native species. LaJoy does pose vital questions to the debate of who holds the power of deciding who lives and who dies, for to him it is not the scientists and chemical companies, but the average, spiritual man.

Examples of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos in FDR's Pearl Harbor Speech

Politicians and other public figures frequently make use of rhetorical devices in speeches and addresses in order to legitimize and qualify their arguments. Below, I have copied the text of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech to Congress, which officially states his belief that America should declare war on Japan and the other Axis powers in retaliation to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Address

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.


As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Logos: President Roosevelt justifies an attack on Japan first by validating his point that the United States was at peace with Japan and that Japan was responsible for the hostilities between the two countries. He continues by stating that Japan attacked America and various Pacific islands and that the American government and military are obligated to protect American citizens. His logic provides an appropriate rationale for entering World War II.

Ethos: Roosevelt depicts American officials as proponents of peace and negotiation and the Japanese government as treacherous, deceptive villains. This characterization of the two opposing powers depicts the Americans as moral saviors and the Japanese as vicious assailants. He even states that America is pursuing a "righteous victory."

Pathos: Finally, Roosevelt appeals to Americans by saying that he empathizes with and speaks on behalf of the people. He also states his sorrow at the death of so many innocent American soldiers, which appeals to the emotional side of listeners.

Chapter 5 Response

Chapter five begins with an anecdote about an invasive species in Guam: the brown tree snake. Alma studied these snakes as fieldwork, which ignited her interest in invasive species. Shifting focus to the present, the rats have been successfully eradicated from Anacapa, and Alma is satisfied. She believes wholeheartedly that she was right in her theory and methods as the seabird and deer mouse populations have risen, and the public is largely on her side. Unfortunately, Dave LaJoy remains a problem and threatens her with a lawsuit. Alma reveals that she and Dave had a short, ill-fated relationship. Generally in this chapter, readers learn more about Alma and her history. She is half Japanese, she likes folk music, she is a workaholic who once had a musician-scientist workaholic boyfriend, and she is passionate about her work. These descriptions make her seem more relatable and real. The chapter also stresses the connections in ideology between Dave and Alma. Though she relies on scientific truth and he on passion and ideals, both wish to save a species or many species at the expense of another. In that sense, Boyle is stating that one cannot survive while the other lives and that death and survival are both necessary aspects of life and the ecosystem. Therefore, when these two ideologies are so at odds yet so similar, it will most certainly lead to future conflicts because neither Alma’s work nor Dave’s opposition will ever end. What will happen at Santa Cruz remains to be seen.

Vocabulary:

Ornithology - a branch of zoology concerned with the study of birds

Chapter 4 Response

Chapter four is told from the perspective of Dave LaJoy, the dread-locked leader of the FPA. He is a rude, perpetually enraged man who is more upset by the fact that he and the FPA were not mentioned in an article about Alma’s address than the fact that, in his opinion, the article did not get the facts right. He lives in upscale Montecito, drives two cars, and owns a boat but, as many in our society today do, always wants to fight the power that gave it all to him. He is passionate about animal rights and safety but has little respect for humans, insulting a fat waitress and calling homeless people “bums.” He believes that Alma’s address is anti-animal propaganda that has been through Photoshop to overdramatize the plight of indigenous species while underemphasizing the rats. He and the FPA make a boat trip to Anacapa in a futile effort to save the rats, but Dave’s selfishness is once again highlighted through his fear of dying if the poisoner’s helicopter comes overhead. Later, his incompetency is shown when he attempts to give food to the wildlife, which could be disastrous to them and the ecosystem. Dave LaJoy is the perfect example of a mis-educated pseudo-activist whose wish for brief fame or infamy is shrouded in his insincere sympathy for the plight of animals.

Vocabulary:

Phalangeal - of or relating to the bones of fingers or toes

Chapter 3 Response

The third chapter is set close to the present day and introduces Beverly’s granddaughter, Alma, an ecologist and PhD to whom Beverly is simply a family legend and distant memory. Alma is committed to protecting the indigenous wildlife of the Channel Islands and is due to deliver a speech on her proposition to eradicate the invasive rat population of Anacapa. Rats were introduced to the island via the wreck of the Winfield Scott, a ship that went down near the islands almost 200 years ago, and are now threatening the survival of many of the island’s rare species. Alma believes the rats should be humanely poisoned so that the other species can survive and states this idea in her presentation. Unfortunately, members of the FPA are present at her address and subvert her goals. Dave LaJoy is their obnoxious leader who believes that the death of any animal is murder. He is an ill-informed whistleblower who has little depth of knowledge about his own convictions. He simply attacks anyone who has anything to do with the killing of animals. Through him, Boyle criticizes the actions of PETA, a group that uses aggressive, if not sometimes violent, means to attack their opponents. Boyle also condemns an audience who applauds either side whenever they make any point. The audience is representative of the public, which will internalize any study and support any cause that has a passionate spokesman. In this chapter, Boyle encourages his readers to be more discerning and to look at all the facts in order to come to the right conclusion.

Vocabulary:

Inveterate - Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change

Macadam - a type of road construction pioneered by the Scotsman John Loudon McAdam in around 1820

Leman - A sweetheart; lover; beloved

Prandial - of or relating to a meal

Percolate - Spread gradually through an area or group of people

Peristalsis - the process of wavelike muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along

Chapter 2 Response

The second chapter provides more information about the history of Anacapa and more details of Beverly’s life and survival. Beverly is not the first person to inhabit the island as she sees dwellings in her search for water. The readers learn that many people attempted to colonize the island, but few succeeded. One species, however did survive, perhaps too well: the rat to which Beverly compares herself. They are the dominant species on the island. Boyle emphasizes Beverly’s distance from the natural world. Prior to her tragic arrival on Anacapa, she lived in a typical American household in which resources like tap water and shelter are taken for granted. In the wilderness, Beverly faces the elements, overwhelming thirst and hunger, and competition with other species. Yet she does adapt to her struggle despite incredible odds due to her animal instincts. She licks water from wet rocks, crushes live crabs, and attacks the invasive rats, all to survive. She also forgets her husband and her personal tragedies to facilitate her survival. For the second time, Beverly proves herself to be fit for her environment in the Darwinist sense. When the Coast Guard discovers her, she is almost unrecognizable, even to herself.

Vocabulary:

Tincture - an alcoholic extract or solution of a non-volatile substance

Vestigial - occurring or persisting as a rudimentary or degenerate structure

Tenuous - very weak or slight; insubstantial

Chapter 1 Response

In the first chapter, Boyle subtly introduces characters and themes of the novel. Beverly, a passenger on an ill-fated voyage to the Channel Islands on a ship bearing her own name, is Alma’s grandmother who has just married Till, a war veteran. Despite her femininity and delicacy compared to her husband and brother-in-law, Beverly is actually the most observant and insightful of the small crew. She is ultimately the one who notices the water seeping into the cabin, uses the Sears-Roebuck cooler to float, and reaches safety on an island despite incredible obstacles. In making Beverly the sole survivor of the shipwreck, Boyle can examine ideas about natural selection and what “fitness” truly means. Beverly, in surviving is the individual best suited for her environment and in that sense is almost like the rats that invaded the island years ago. Boyle alludes to another theme of his novel when Beverly recalls her high school English teacher, Mrs. Parminter, who can recite romantic poetry and advises her students to “let all the creatures be.” Choosing Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is perfect in many ways. It is a romantic poem and romantic poets emphasized the conflict between man and nature. The Coleridge poem in particular stresses punishment for the killing of an innocent albatross; an idea that is a counterpoint to Boyle’s novel, which examines whether killing a species is necessary to preserve indigenous species. Finally, Boyle’s writing style is very personal, almost akin to stream-of-consciousness, and alternately addresses the reader by using the second person tense and moves into the minds of his characters by using the third person limited. Though the tenses and thoughts shift quickly, the prose is not hard to follow as the ideas are interconnected.

Vocabulary:

Copepods - a group of crustaceans found in the sea and in nearly every freshwater habitat

Firmament - the vault or expanse of the sky

The Long Summer

In Evelyn Waugh's opus Brideshead Revisited, the all at once innocent and ambiguous character states "If only it could be like this always; always alone, always summer, the fruit always ripe..." and I am sure this is a universal feeling. One of Professor Wilson's stories deals with her time lived on Cole Street frequenting Grateful Dead concerts. I think summer is a lot like that. Friends, concerts, new places, new people, and the feeling of endlessness and exploration that seems to never end.

My most memorable summer was the one during which I attended a Playwriting and Screenwriting workshop at the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference. My friends and I went to outdoor concerts, scared ourselves with Ouija Boards, and watched fireworks under the stars up in the awe-inspiring mountains of Tennessee. I think that summer changed a lot of things for me. I realized that I really wanted to pursue a field in entertainment whether that meant film or theater, and that I wanted to have a job in which these amazing experiences could be shared with others. After all, I had always loved stories, why not become a story-teller?