For your post I'd like you to write about whatever interested you in your reading of "Cape Solitude." I hope something interested you, but if nothing comes to mind, please respond to one of the questions below. Kindly refer to some specifics to demonstrate that you took the time to read the essay.
Q: Is Abbey doing something different than Steinbeck or William LHM? Are the motivations similar?
Q: Can you compare Ed Abbey with Doc?
Q: Why do you think he chooses this place for his catharsis / redemption / resurrection? Does the fact that it overlooks an "abyss" have anything to do with it?
Q: Why does he seem to have problems with the direction of the US? (he wrote this in 1980).
Q: How would you characterize Abbey's unique and highly personalized tone?
Feel free to write what you like -- but I'd like to see at least one reference to another person's post and some references to "Cape Solitude." mrh
Abbey, a true desert rat would ultimately feel the closest to nature when he is on Cape Solitude. This is because Abbey is the furthest away from civilization a person could be during his time, and Cape Solitude offers a variant experience for him than other places could. Specifically, this ridge gives him the opportunity to be alone with nature, something that he is very passionate about. A hint into just how eager he is to be alone can be found in the scene where Abbey makes sure to dust over his tire tracks. He fervently does not want anyone with him, and thus in a way can be seen as obsessive with his journey to self-discovery. Unlike Steinbeck who discusses his desire to leave as an “itch”, Abbey talks about his need to get away from civilization with desperation. While Steinbeck enjoys being on the open road, and the actual journey of moving from place to place, Abbey concentrates more upon Cape Solitude itself. Therefore, the two readers are in common that they both decide to leave over-populated cities for the outdoors, but Abbey allows the experience to fully consume him. The question I do not know, is whether this form of detoxification is healthy? (in Abbey’s case)
ReplyDeleteSo this night’s reading put me into deep thought about where we stand as humans. Do you really need all the things we have in our lives to be happy? Is it as simple as going outside and experiencing the raw power of nature? I completely agree with Rosana when she says that Abbey is closest to nature when Abbey is on Cape Solitude. Abbey is someone who not only appreciates nature, but respects it as well. From reading his journey, I right off the bat noticed that he kept mentioning the respect he had for nature and all that lives in it. So much respect that he avoids pissing on “little living things”. :’) Another example of respect is when Abbey plays his flute. He plays his flute to not only himself, but the world. He plays for the “coyotes that might be listening, a song for the river and great canyon, a song for the sky, a song for the settling sun.” Abbey also uses “we” when talking about himself and all the living things around him. From the beginning of the story, Abbey mentions that he needs to get away from civilization and all that comes with it. I find it interesting that within a few moments with nature, he can already conclude himself equal to the “lizards, ravens, snakes, bushes …” Which brings me back to what I asked from the start. From looking at Abbey’s experience and how his world has evolved; is it necessary for us to go out into nature and explore, in order to be happy and to enjoy life and its’ moments? Because using Abbey as an example, it is possible…
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to Shane and Rosanna, Cape Solitude set me deep into a whirl of new thoughts. Abbey is the definition of a true naturalist, or as Rosanna pointed out, a desert rat. What I like about Abbey is his ability to portray his surrounds so effortlessly in his writings. He would give me a description of his view but a few sentences later I would be filtering though his thoughts and deep analyzation about nothing but life. The part I found most interesting was when he brought up the city "Why" in Arizona. Abbey immediately claims if it were up to him, he would name a city "Why Not". It is almost like he wants to have the freedom to be able to name a city what he wants, no matter how much authority one must have to actually be apart of the naming process. The question for Abbey then becomes, why name a city Why? Or better yet, why not name a city Why Not?
ReplyDeleteCape Solitude sounds like a pretty amazing spot. Abbey describes it in the perfect way; he lets his readers understand the beauty and serenity of it, but you can tell he holds back. Its like what we talked about in class today: does writing about something enrich it or devalue it? i think Abbey takes both sides on this conversation. He wants to let people know about Cape Solitude, but it is that special place where he has these memories that only he can know of. My favorite thing about Abbey is his simplicity and overall sense of "chill". He makes a fire and sits on a cliff naked, no big deal. He bashes on the government pretty comically and seems like an awesome guy. I think everyone above has hit the nail on the head describing how Abbey makes you think. He really turns your head inside out thinking about your daily life and what it really does for you in the long term.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading about three very different journeys- Steinbeck in his quest to move, to discover, to travel, Least Heat Moon to escape problems at home and fill in the missing hole inside of him, and now Abbey with his love of nature and transcendentalist ways, we can easily identify the differences between them. Steinbeck is the most positive; he prepares and gets excited and brings along a lovable companion. His motivations are clearly defined: to see America again and essentially be reacquainted with the place he writes so often about. It's obvious why pretty much the whole class agreed that if we had to pick one road trip to be a part of, we would choose Steinbeck's. Least Heat Moon's driving forces are a little different. In going in a circle, he is going on a resurrection journey in order to find something within himself that he lost along the way. It's all about self-discovery (or re-discovery?) for LHM. Abbey's is a little different. He reminds me of a transcendentalist like Thoreau, in his passionate love and appreciation for nature. He says it most effectively in the first lines of the essay: "...a man must hide. Must slip away from the human world and its clutching, insane, insatiable demands." Abbey attempts to get away from the material world and its constant needs and constraints. Like Walker said, he is all about simplicity. Who needs technology and society when you have this place called Cape Solitude and can play the flute by yourself to your heart's desire? The three men's ambitions are similar: to experience something new and different, away from the comforts of home. But Abbey is motivated to go on this journey, not by a desire for knowledge or reincarnation, but by a need for solitude, quiet, and the natural world. He is yet another heroic and brave transcendentalist in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteEdward Abbey's Cape Solitude brought a different outlook on the essence and importance of road trips. In contrast to Steinbeck's, and William LHM’s writings, Abbey’s writing reflects a focus on the appreciation of nature and the self-growth the scenery inspires. Steinbeck primarily discusses his goals and motivations for setting out on the open road. William LHM holds a more negative outlook, while he is running from his old life; he turns to the idea of a road trip to reinvent himself. However, Abbey's spin displayed a more sincere, and deep respect for what lies on either side of the endless blacktop that lies ahead. Similar to what Shane referred to, Abbey holds respect for his surroundings, even for the smallest of creatures, which in most cases go unrecognized by Steinbeck and William LHM. Abbey looks beyond the sand and dry landscape and is able to see a paradise, “I want incense and ceremony and there is no incense finer---for my soul and this place.” His deep reverence for the land and conservation inspires new thoughts that go beyond the more simple and direct effects that a road trip can have. He experiences something different, an inner peace not found at the beginning or end of his trip, but during. Cape solitude brings a different perspective to the idea of the Road Trip, one that is more meaningful in regards to self-growth, with an appreciation and respect for the land.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this reading and definitely should re-read it, as I probably didn't give it the attention it deserves. The writing style and overall tone was definitely very different from that of Steinbeck or Moon and seems to be much more influenced by Thompson's eccentric gonzo journalism. The overall tone also seems much more negative than either of the two non-fiction works previously read (at least in terms of societal progress in America and humanity in general). Whereas, Steinbeck and Moon document their journey into America, Abbey seems to be documenting his journey away from America into the undeveloped countryside. The time period certainly plays a factor in the overall tone of the book. After witnessing the beat generation, the psychedelic movement, and further extensions of American counterculture, America is certainly less "innocent" than it was in 1960 when Steinbeck embarked upon his trip. Nature is also held to a seemingly much higher regard in Abbey's work, possibly due to the scarcity of nature by the early 80s. Being an environmentalist, it is obvious that Abbey greatly values his time in nature, or rather his time away from society.
ReplyDeleteAlong with all the other posts on here I also really enjoyed reading this, and like Mr. Stow, I plan on reading it again soon! The written style of this piece was quite interesting; nothing like we have really read yet. Personally I saw this piece as "outlandish" and "odd." But it was a refreshing change from the past few stories we have encountered. My entry will probably follow along the lines of what Shane wrote. Shout out to Shane!! To start off, yes, Abbey seems to be most connected to nature when closest to Cape Solitude. Abbey, is one of those characters that looks beyond the surface, and really enjoys and loves nature for what it is. While reading I figured out that Abbey "respects" nature just like someone would respect a human. We take it for what it is, and look deeper in order to analyze what it(nature) really stands for. Finally, Abbey reminds me of an old-time hippy, when describing playing flutes for all the animals and surroundings. Overall, a good read!
ReplyDeleteTo me Cape Solitude was seeking to achieve something slightly different that both Travels with Charley and Blue Highways. Something that was mentioned multiple times in this introduction was the intense respect for nature Abbey maintains towards nature. For example, he won't even drive his car near the actual site of "Cape Solitude." I feel that Abbey seeks to spent more time at the actual point of sanctuary rather than in a vehicle. There is an effort to find Cape Solitude as quickly as possible and spend as much quality time there are possible as opposed to making several meaningful stops along the way. Similar however to the other introductions is the idea of escapism. All the authors seek to leave the tensions of urban and civilized lives. Perhaps in Abbey there is a motive to connect with some innate roots that connect with nature. The symbolic fire in which Kindly makes tribute to his pilgrimage is perhaps the most emotional point in his "turning a new leaf" story.
ReplyDeleteCape Solitude is the ultimate representation of Abbey's close connection to raw nature. Like Thoreau, Abbey completely separates himself from civilization in Cape Solitude, a representation of the only raw materials we need to survive. Abbey uses Cape Solitude to represent his isolation from society. The desert is empty, true, and unforgiving, and Abbey shows us that we can, and should survive and live without not only materialistic things, but basic things we think we need, but could realistically survive without. However Abbey differs in Thoreau in his attentions. While he personally believes in cutting himself off from society, he is not trying to convince anyone else to do so. Thoreau was trying to promote the lifestyle he lived, while Abbey wants to keep it a treasured secret to those he know will appreciate it, which is why he does things like cover his tire marks, as if to erase the fact that he was there. I think he does this not only to hide his tracks to people, but also the world itself. Abbey's relationship with nature is based on a holy respect and understanding that he is just a small piece inside of the bigger picture, and he must not stain or tarnish that picture, so he tries to erase any marks he creates. His perseverance to be alone only plays more into his obsessive desire for constant self discovery. Compared to Steinbeck, Abbey's view of nature and self discovery is much more desperate. Steinbeck wants to satisfy an itch, or a hunger while Abbey seems to be starving and unable to breathe without a place in nature. There is also more emphasis on the actual place in Abbey's tale than in Steinbeck's. Steinbeck focuses much more on the journey itself, merely the idea of moving and traveling is enough for him; a new place satisfies Steinbeck's itch. While Abbey is much more zeroed in on Cape Solitude, he is about the location and engulfment of nature. Both writers recognize the importance of nature in a relationship with self discovery, however Abbey's seems more passionate in an almost obsessive way.
ReplyDeleteI truly found this reading very interesting because it gave me the ability to look at nature with a different perspective. One of the many things that I found interesting and Brent mentioned has Abbey's carefulness with the nature that surrounded him. Afraid of disturbing and not showing respect to the nature around him, Abbey parks his car a mile out of Cape Solitude and hikes the rest of the way. He is so careful that even when he needs to go to the bathroom he is aware of the small living creatures around him and avoids them at all costs. In the beginning, he tells tell the reader how he is going to find solitude, to escape from the world and its problems, but once he is in Cape Solitude he keeps saying "we."This also shows Abbey's respect and consciousness of the nature that surrounds him. In the reading he says, "I write 'we' because, in the company of other nearby living things - lizards, ravens, snakes, bushes, grass, weeds- I do not feel myself to be alone." This truly captured my attention because he saw those small animals as human beings. One last part that captured my attention was when he said, "tonight and tomorrow and for the next few days I am going to walk the rim of Cape Solitude, along the palisades of the desert, and save myself. Without half trying." Those few words opened my mind to the possibility of what a few days or even hours surrounded by the beauty of nature could change inside every person.
ReplyDeleteQ: Is Abbey doing something different than Steinbeck or William LHM? Are the motivations similar?
ReplyDeleteI think Abbey is doing something different than Steinbeck or William. FIrst of all, Abbey wants to hide. Hide from what? Who really knows? But he is hiding in a way most people wouldn't. Abbey escapes to Cape Solitude, a desert landscape. It is dry, empty, boring, who would ever go there? But if like Abbey, you are hiding, it might be a good place. He wants to get away form society, away form people and rules and chaos and responsibilities. I believe he really wants to clear his mind more than anything else and take a breather.
Steinbeck on the other hand, is traveling across America to learn. He writes about America but now he wants to explore what he is writing about. He takes various books and writing material as well as his travel partner Charlie, his dog. Steinbeck seems more optimistic about his travels and is looking forward to explore and have an adventure. Unlike Abbey, Steinbeck is not hiding but exploring. He will not go to a desert to clear his mind but to towns and cities to learn and get to know his country. His trip is about experience.
William, unlike any of the past authors, is traveling to run away. He is escaping something or someone. Maybe like Abbey he is trying to escape form "commercialized" America and the responsibilities that come with it. William has a more realistic outlook on his travels but not a very happy one. He is traveling alone and does not wish to go to big cities. William wants to go to towns nobody knows the name of because of his need to escape to somewhere unknown.
Cape Solitude is like a holy place for Abbey, he is very respectful of the living things around him. He does not intrude like an American would usually do and he does not want to conquer. Abbey even takes off his close to leave the land untouched and undisturbed. This sense of nature is inspiring because it is not human instinct to do this, it is not natural, but Abbey is different. He wants to breathe in the nature and truly enjoy the experience.
-Jacky
Referring back to Rosanna, Abbey truly fits in at Cape Solitude. It is the only place where he feels at home. “Every time I go anywhere out in the desert or mountains, I wonder why I should return. Someday I won’t.” Abbey realizes that society is not for him; he belongs with nature, between the mountains and above the rivers. Society has never accepted him, “I’ve never been accepted by my fellow men, fellow women, never been a bonafide member of the club. And after looking back at the human race, feeling I never belonged, my first thought, right now, is—thank God. Or whatever.” Abbey realizes, in the world of nature, that all his miserable years of feeling misplaced make sense because the desert world accepts his “homage.” He belongs to nature. Abbey never felt settled living among society; he always felt some obligation, or hatred toward the pointless government. Nature helped free his mind to come to a conclusion: he no longer needs to respect his obligation to others, “let others save the world for the time being.”
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