Train Dreams Essay

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Cheri Crader 10/11/2012 Paper 1: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson Writing 115/Selby Human beings live in the realm of nature, they are constantly surrounded by it and interact with it. The battle between nature and man in Train Dreams is a constant and competing force that embodies itself within the characters and in the general surroundings. Even though we manipulate nature and try to advance in civilization, people need to know our nature, or we lose ourselves. Train Dreams characterizes nature to be an almighty force upon Robert Grainier. Robert Grainier is powerless against it. Once he stops changing nature is when it transcends and calms Grainier. For civilization to progress, we distinguish ourselves from the natural world by manipulating our environment through technology. Grainier worked as a day laborer on the Eleven-Mile Cut-off Bridge that went above the Moyea River, through an adjacent pass in the gorge so to have “The Spokane International's having to look after that eleven-mile stretch of rails and ties.” (12) Twentieth century America is taking shape. Train gangs, of which Grainier belongs to, are building the nation’s infrastructure and, nature is no longer something that is hostile to man. As time goes on, the relationship between man and nature is characterized by increasing subjugation of nature, the taming of its resources. The subjugating power of labor begins to bring power to natural forces. In 1920, James worked briefly to do repairs on the Robinson Gorge Bridge and set off to cut timber with the Simpson Company. The death of Arns Peeples and a mysterious ailment that sweeps through the logging camp results in the captain of the company telling his working men “ 'Get out of this place, boys' By this time Billy too, had survived the crisis of his illness. But the captain said he feared an influenza epidemic like the one in

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