Free Essay

Richard Louv's "Last Child in Th Woods" Essay

In:

Submitted By jennavenuto
Words 424
Pages 2
Albert Einstein recognized, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Richard Louv, writer of Last Child in the Woods conveys a sarcastic tone and imagery to address the idea of “why do so many people no longer consider the physical world worth watching?” He also ponders, “Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it?” Louv visualizes explaining the nineteenth century to a younger generation and how they will not understand what they hear. Louv assumes, “’You did what?’ they’ll ask. ‘Yes,’ we’ll say, ‘it’s true. We actually looked out the car window.’” He is sarcastic because he is in disbelief at how oblivious adolescence is becoming. Louv finds it humorous that children are becoming so dependent on technology and are becoming so detached from nature. He mocks our future generation and their foolhardiness that is arising within them. Richard Louv reminisces his days in the back seat of a driving car, and vividly explains his experience through imagery. He remembers when he “started with a kind of reverence at the horizon, as thunderheads and dancing rain moved with” him. He also personifies the “dancing rain” to portray his full image. Louv understands technology is going to expand and become more broad; however he can understand the intellectual details of nature that he remembers and realizes that technology is distracting people from visualizing “the variety or architecture, here and there; the woods and fields and water beyond the steamy edges- all that was and still available to the eye.” Due to the fact that Louv is not separated at all from nature, he portrays imagery because he notices the beauty in nature and enhances its beauty. Louv demonstrates a mocking and sarcastic tone, as well as imagery, to develop his argument about the separation of people and nature. Technology is demonstrated in everyday life. From billboards and televised advertisements, to texting and searching the internet; no one can deny the impact technology has on human lives. Louv argues that technology deprives the human race of seeing the true essence of nature. He remembers looking out the window as “out drive-by movie.” Louv believes “we considered the past and dreamed of the future, and watched it all go by in the blink of an eye” without technology at one’s fingertips, so one does not need it now. Technology is ripping nature right out from under us and making us more separated it.

Similar Documents