In their intentions to create better-living conditions, find new working places, and promote technological and social prosperity, people usually forget about one simple issue – the role of the natural world around them. Many environmentalists and eco-activists continue to research the field and offer new options to keep human beings and nature in balance. However, their attempts maybe not enough compared to the goals and methods chosen by technologically advanced people.
As a strong environmentalist, Terry Tempest Williams finds it necessary to emphasize the beauty of the wilderness and recognize the aesthetic value of nature. Her “A Shark in the Mind of One Contemplating Wilderness” is not only a call to protect nature, but also an emotional eruption and expression of indignation about the fact that wilderness, with no definable function, is thus considered dangerous or unimportant for people.
One of the strongest points of the story is the author’s ability to raise several significant topics related to the environment. Many people tend to think that nature can survive everything due to their ability to regenerate. It is normal to observe “the killer whales kept in tanks for the amusement of humans, the killer whales that jump through hoops, carry humans on their backs as they circle… day after day” (Williams).
When people find a fish “preserved in a salt solution to honor the diversity of species,” they enjoy the idea of progress and celebrate their achievements (Williams). The problem in the story is the view of nature and wilderness in particular as weird and even dangerous because of the inability of people to determine its meaning and aesthetic value.
In her essay, Williams demonstrates strong opposition to almost all the activities of humans. She describes such behavior as “we are stopped cold, our spirits suspended, controlled, controlled sensation” (Williams). Instead of paying attention to emotions, compassion, and respect to the world around them, people want to focus on power, control, and using every resource for personal benefit and success. Williams asks several questions about the quality of life and the environment, the relationship between biology and art, and the decisions that people need to make before it is too late to do something.
The author doubts her readiness to provide enlightenment about the value of nature in the modern world. Her imagination becomes “quickly rearranged to see the suspension of a shark, pickled in formaldehyde, as the stopping power of motion in the jaws of death, an image of my mortality” (Williams). This world undergoes numerous changes, and people are not always able to understand and accept all the transformations.
To develop an effective solution in debates about human beings and nature, Williams recommends focusing on the definitions and values of specific concepts. She states that “wilderness is a cabinet of pharmaceuticals waiting to be discovered” (Williams). Therefore, people are free to introduce their interpretations, share their controversies, and promote new conversations to find out the truth and create clarity about who is wrong, and who is right.
Like art, nature remains an indefinable and complex issue for people, and Williams wants to clarify at least some part of it. She is correct in her statement about “requiem days” and that “everything feels upside down these days, created for our entertainment” (Williams). No attention is paid to the fact that the natural world is becoming invisible. However, people should never forget that they are a part of that world, and soon they may also be invisible or destroyed. Nature will be reborn due to its regenerative qualities, while the future of the human race will remain in question.
After reading stories such as the one written by Terry Williams, many people find it necessary to do something to help nature, demonstrate their respect and care, and fear for its destruction. I have developed an ambiguous attitude towards “A Shark in the Mind of One Contemplating Wilderness.” On the one hand, I want to agree with the author about her frustration that people define everything unknown as dangerous and inappropriate. It is a weakness of humans beings to avoid problems and situations that cannot be solved or controlled, and Williams takes a step forward to provide a definition of wilderness and unite it with people.
On the other hand, I find Williams is a provocateur or instigator who uses extremes as the only explanation for her position. She says that people use the natural world “as a backdrop for our human dramas and catastrophes” (Williams). However, many nature preserves are legally protected, as well as official documents with Red Lists where threatened species are identified and protected. Society takes care of nature and promotes certain values to recognize its beauty and importance.
“A Shark in the Mind of One Contemplating Wilderness” contains several important lessons about nature and its protection. Some people may regard Williams as an extreme eco-activist who uses absolutism as the only form of argumentation. I want to consider this author as an experienced environmentalist who believes in the necessity of taking eco-friendly steps and promoting the aesthetic value of the wilderness and its role in human life.
Work Cited
Williams, Terry Tempest. “A Shark in the Mind of One Contemplating Wilderness.” The Nation. 1999. Web.