thoreau/dillard

From the lone hiker on the Appalachian Trail to the environmental lobby groups in Washington D.C., nature evokes strong feelings in each and every one of us. We often struggle with and are ultimately shaped by our relationship with nature. The relationship we forge with nature reflects our fundamental beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. The works of timeless authors, including Henry David Thoreau and Annie Dillard, are centered around their relationship …

…interpretation, leaving that to the reader. Thoreau and Dillard, while superficially similar prove to represent entirely different ideals in their writing. Thoreau was more apt to live the life that he preached. While Dillard by her own admission is an author and nothing more (Lander). This can explain to a large degree why they differ so largely in their disposition toward the natural world. They had different motives when they went about writing their books.