I like journeys that involve meeting new people, discovering exotic places or even facing death! However, when I first read the Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen, I started to love it as it involves the three elements I just mentioned. But all that disappeared right away when I had known the real purpose of this novel.
When I read books like this one, I want enjoyment and excitement but peter was looking for something else when he set off on that journey. Here is the essence or main idea of the book:
Peter sets out on a journey that takes him and his accompanist, George, into the heart of the Himalayan region of Dolpo. This voyage is on the quest of one of the world’s most elusive big cats, the Snow Leopard, a creature that is rarely spotted as to be nearly mythical.
When I read books like this one, I want enjoyment and excitement but peter was looking for something else when he set off on that journey. Here is the essence or main idea of the book:
Peter sets out on a journey that takes him and his accompanist, George, into the heart of the Himalayan region of Dolpo. This voyage is on the quest of one of the world’s most elusive big cats, the Snow Leopard, a creature that is rarely spotted as to be nearly mythical.
In this way, Peter associates two ideas: the animal can not be found, but I am sure it is somewhere watching us. Similarly, I can not bring my wife back, but I am sure that she is somewhere watching me. So, as the animal is nearly considered as a mythical one, Peter tries to associate it with something that does not exist too(his wife).At the end, by reading this book, it will give you the sense of wonder at the world’s beauty and how Peter experiences many things such as his encounters with villagers, animals and discovering the Himalaya.
Live long and prosper.
Ahmed, this is a great review - well done. As I'm now aware of your love of animals and safari/wildlife, I can understand what you write/your opinion. Perhaps Peter felt he 'needed to do something that might absorb him.' What do you think? Would you agree? Often after losing someone, people pour themselves into work or new projects in order to keep themselves busy so they are less preoccupied with their own loss. It's interesting that you think he 'used' the Snow Leopard - I haven't thought of it like this. Maybe if you read the whole book you'd think differently!! I don't know. It's certainly been criticised in that it might be too sentimental. Try John Krakauer's 'Touching the Void', see what you think.
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ReplyDeleteOK Ahmed - here goes! Post tutorial: for the rest of the term, compare these two texts.
ReplyDelete1) The core text, 'Into the Wild.'
2) Barry Lopez's 'Arctic Dreams.'
The former is based on an idealist protagonist and it can be argued that his 'quest' to experience an authentic existence, as far away from that of what he saw around him in his native US (and his privileged middle-class upbringing), was, ultimately rather naive or doomed. I.e. he died.
The latter text is, by comparison, also about one man's journey out in to the wild, however, it is a very different text, as it is written through the eyes of a biologist, Barry Lopez sees the landscape/environment in a very 'real' way, although his real is very different to what Chris McCandless was searching for. In other words, Lopez's text is more realist. Try reading it and comment on how it compares to the main text we are studying:)
The World's your Oyster!!!!:) Figure it out!!
ReplyDeleteYou can buy the Barry Lopez book from Waterstones (Bridlesmith Gate, or off Amazon):)
ReplyDeleteI could recommend some too .. good review by the way
ReplyDeleteKeep up the tasks, there's a task sheet to work on from today's class based on our core book.
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