In the chapter “Episodes and Visions” of Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness (1968) Edward Abbey defined the current culture as selfish, self-centered, and egotistic. …show more content…
We need people. Humans need other humans. This is an understood fact. When we separate ourselves typically one becomes insane or dies. There are times of some separation, but not complete separation. To escape to the wilderness is not the solution to culture. If culture is negative then it needs to be positive. The only way culture can change is if the people change. That is the key the change of people. Abbey saw the wrong in the people, but he himself too was ignorant of change. He figured a change was not going to happen so he abandoned himself from culture. He went away and was set in stone in his own thoughts and ways. He was not up for trying to change culture himself. He figured solace was the answer. Christopher McCandless thought alone was the answer, but both are