WORLDLWORLDLYY ATONEMENTATONEMENT:: NEO-AGRARIANISNEO-AGRARIANISMM ANDAND

MARRIAGMARRIAGEE TOTO PLACPLACEE ININ THTHEE WORKWORKSS OFOF

WENDELWENDELLL BERRYBERRY

bbyy

BryaBryann VerdiVerdinn WallisWallis

A thesithesiss submittedsubmitted ttoo thethe facultfacultyy ofof ThThee UniversityUniversity ooff UtahUtah inin partialpartial fulfillmenfulfillmentt ooff ththee requirementrequirementss forfor ththee degreedegree ofof

MasteMasterr ooff ArtsArts

IIIin

EnvironmentaEnvironmentall HumanitiesHumanities

DepartmenDepartmentt ofof EnglishEnglish

TheThe UniversitUniversityy ooff UtahUtah

AugusAugustt 20082008 CopyrighCopyrightt © BryaBryann VerdiVerdinn WalliWalliss 20082008

AlAlll RightsRights ReservedReserved THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH GRADUATE SCHOOL

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE APPROVAL

of a thesis submitted by

Bryan Verdin Wallis

This thesis has been read by each member of the following supervisory committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. �LA S/I /03 ti, Chair: step Tatum

}te; 7 StuartCu

Marcus Hall THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH GRADUATE SCHOOL

FINAL READING APPROVAL

To the Graduate Council of the University of Utah:

I have read the thesis of BryanV. Wallis in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographic style are consistent and acceptable; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the supervisory committee and is ready for submission to The GraduateSchool.

Date Stephen Tatum Chair: SupervisoryCommittee

Approved for the MajorDepal1ment �ed Mark� rgstrom Chair/Dean

Approved for the GraduateCouncil

DavidS. Chapman Dean ofThe GraduateSchool ABSTRACABSTRACTT

TheThe writingwritingss ofof essayistessayist,, poetpoet,, novelistnovelist,, anandd farmerfarmer WendelWendelll BerrBerryy araree a preeminenpreeminentt influencinfluencee inin anan ongoinongoingg neo-agrarianeo-agrariann renaissancerenaissance.. DrawinDrawingg frofromm hishis cannoncannon ofof essaysessays,, fiction,fiction, anandd poetrypoetry,, thithiss worworkk elucidateelucidatess severaseverall kekeyy principleprincipless ofof Berry'sBerry's

"agrarian"agrarian argumentargument"" includingincluding hishis senssensee ofof ththee relationshirelationshipp betweebetweenn culture,culture, worshipworship,, andand agriculture,agriculture, hishis relationshirelationshipp ttoo thethe paspastt anandd ththee WesterWesternn traditiontradition,, andand ththee connectionsconnections betweebetweenn urbaurbann andand agriculturaagriculturall landscapes.landscapes. ThiThiss worworkk arguearguess thathatt Berry'Berry'ss thoughthoughtt iiss notnot simplysimply a nostalginostalgicc yearninyearningg foforr a never-realizenever-realizedd agrarianagrarian idealideal (as(as construeconstruedd bbyy somesome criticscritics)) bubutt thathatt BerrBerryy looklookss forwardforward ttoo ththee possibilitpossibilityy ofof healthhealthyy communitiescommunities (which(which forfor

BerrBerryy includeinclude humanshumans,, animalsanimals,, plantsplants,, andand ecosystems)ecosystems) groundegroundedd inin ththee healthealthh ofof thethe

sustainingsustaining land,land, anandd thathatt Berry'Berry'ss thoughthoughtt expandexpandss agrariaagrariann thoughthoughtt andand practicpracticee beyondbeyond thethe familfamilyy farfarmm intointo rurarurall anandd urbaurbann environmentsenvironments.. ThisThis worworkk examinesexamines Berry'Berry'ss critiquescritiques

ooff industriaindustriall capitaliscapitalismm andand currentcurrent educationaeducationall andand religioureligiouss thinkingthinking,, anandd arguearguess forfor

Berry'Berry'ss twenty-first-centurtwenty-first-centuryy populapopularr andand academicacademic relevancerelevance.. FromFrom a broabroadd focusfocus onon

agrariaagrariann principleprincipless thithiss worworkk shiftsshifts ttoo examineexamine (primaril(primarilyy througthroughh thethe lenslens ofof hihiss fiction)fiction)

ththee propeproperr relationshirelationshipp BerrBerryy imagineimaginess betweebetweenn humanhumanss andand ththee surroundingsurrounding worlworldd basedbased

oonn hihiss metaphoricametaphoricall ususee ofof marriagmarriagee andand ththee moramorall exemplarexemplar ofof ththee husbandmahusbandmann toto

imagineimagine a relationshirelationshipp ooff lifelonlifelongg carcaree andand fidelityfidelity betweebetweenn individuals,individuals, community,community, andand

placeplace.. ThisThis worworkk alsoalso examineexaminess Berry'sBerry's senssensee ooff atonement,atonement, aann integratiointegrationn ofof individualsindividuals

ttoo a sustainingsustaining patterpatternn ofof communitycommunity andand anan ultimatelultimatelyy literalliteral at-one-mentat-one-ment betweenbetween

humanshumans,, placeplace,, andand thethe divinitdivinityy BerrBerryy perceiveperceivess aass emineneminentt iinn thethe world.world. TABLTABLEE OOFF CONTENTSCONTENTS

ABSTRACABSTRACTT ...... iivv

INTRODUCTIOIN"TRODUCTIONN ...... 11

A QUIEQUIETT VOICVOICEE THATHATT MAKEMAKESS THTHEE MOUNTAINMOUNTAIN"SS TREMBLE:TREMBLE: WENDELWENDELLL BERRY'BERRY'SS AGRARIAAGRARIANN ARGUMENARGUMENTT ...... 5

ThThee AgrariaAgrariann ArgumentArgument:: BerrBerryy oonn CulturCulturee anandd AgriculturAgriculturee ...... 5 BerrBerryy anandd ththee AcademAcademyy ...... 1144 ThThee ProphetiPropheticc AmericaAmericann VoiceVoice:: BerrBerryy anandd ththee PasPast..t ...... 1166 TowTownn anandd CountryCountry:: InterdependenInterdependentt CommunitieCommunitiess anandd thethe SentimentalizatioSentimentalizationn ooff FarminFarmingg ...... 2121

THTHEE PREEMIN"ENTPREEMINENT AGRARIANAGRARIAN:: WENDELWENDELLL BERRBERRYY ANDAND TWENTY-FIRSTTWENTY-FIRST CENTURCENTURYY AGRARIANISAGRARIANISMM ...... 3131

WendelWendelll BerrBerryy andand ththee RisRisee ofNeo-Agrarianismof Neo-Agrarianism ...... 3131 AAnn AlliancAlliancee witwithh CaesarCaesar:: BerrBerryy onon EducationEducation andand ReligioReligionn ...... 4545 AgrarianisAgrarianismm andand CountercultureCounterculture ...... 5858 ComeCome andand JoinJoin Us:Us: Berry'sBerry's HopHopee ...... 6464

MARRIAGEMARRIAGE ANDAND ATONEMENATONEMENTT TOTO PLACEPLACE IN"IN THETHE WORKSWORKS OFOF WENDELLWENDELL BERRYBERRY ...... 6666

HealthHealth andand thethe GoodGood FarmerFarmer ...... 6666 TheThe HusbandmanHusbandman ...... 6868 MarriageMarriage ...... 8181 AtonementAtonement ...... 9090

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION ...... 104104

WORKSWORKS CITEDCITED ...... 106106 INTRODUCTIOINTRODUCTIONN

ThThee worworkk ooff WendelWendelll Berry—essayistBerry-essayist,, poetpoet,, novelistnovelist,, farmer,farmer, andand self-styledself-styled

"Jeffersonian"Jeffersonian,, DemocratDemocrat anandd AgrarianAgrarian"" (Berry,(Berry, AnotheAnotherr TurnTurn ofof ththee CranCrankk 49)-is49)—is a foundationafoundationall influencinfluencee inin whawhatt hahass becombecomee knownknown aass "neo-agrarianism""neo-agrarianism" (Jackson(Jackson 141).141).

Berry'sBerry's agrarianism,agrarianism, "no"no small,small, whittled-dowwhittled-downn philosophphilosophyy forfor rurarurall folksfolks,, [but][but] a full­full­ blownblown philosophphilosophyy rootedrooted inin thethe realitierealitiess ooff soisoill anandd naturnaturee aass thethe 'standard'standard'' byby whicwhichh wewe alsalsoo comcomee ttoo judgjudgee mucmuchh moremore"" (Orr(Orr,, UseUsess ooff ProphecProphecyy 184)184).. Neo-agrarianisNeo-agrarianismm workworkss toto breabreakk frefreee ofof ossifieossifiedd definitiondefinitionss ofof agrarianismagrarianism asas nostalginostalgiaa forfor anan unrealizedunrealized

JeffersoniaJeffersoniann dreadreamm ooff a nationationn ooff yeomayeomann farmersfarmers,, "simply"simply a phase.phase ... .in.in orderorder ttoo gegett onon thethe tractrackk ofof technologicatechnologicall progressprogress"" (Berry,(Berry, CitizenshiCitizenshipp PaperPaperss 118),118), oorr merelmerelyy a concernconcern ooff farmersfarmers,, endingending "at"at ththee farfarmm gategate"" (Orr(Orr 184).184). ThrougThroughh hihiss writingwritingss BerrBerryy expandsexpands andand enlivenenlivenss ththee agrariaagrariann traditiontradition,, creatincreatingg a uniounionn ooff concernconcern andand purpospurposee betweenbetween urbanitesurbanites,, religioureligiouss thinkersthinkers,, smallsmall farmersfarmers,, andand environmentalists.environmentalists.

DespiteDespite hihiss voluminouvoluminouss canocanonn ooff publishepublishedd workworkss anandd hihiss broabroadd appealappeal amongstamongst a promisinpromisingg coalitioncoalition ofof conservationists,conservationists, agrariansagrarians,, scientists,scientists, andand religioureligiouss thinkerthinkerss (often(often bridginbridgingg heretoforheretoforee deepldeeplyy entrencheentrenchedd sociasociall lineslines)) BerrBerryy iiss oftenoften criticallycritically categorizedcategorized asas simplysimply a latter-daylatter-day advocateadvocate ofof anan unrealizeunrealizedd JeffersoniaJeffersoniann dream,dream, a revivalistrevivalist anachronisticallanachronisticallyy yearninyearningg forfor a goldegoldenn pre-industriapre-industriall pastpast,, a "virtuous"virtuous ruralisruralismm fromfrom whicwhichh AmericanAmericanss havhavee supposedlysupposedly lapsedlapsed"" (Buell,(Buell, EnvironmentalEnvironmental ImaginatioImaginationn 44,55).44, 55). A commoncommon criticacriticall reactionreaction ttoo BerrBerryy thereforthereforee hahass beebeenn ttoo "conced"concedee hishis literaryliterary talentstalents

[while][while] ththee substancsubstancee ofof whawhatt hehe hashas toto saysay"" iiss simplysimply dismissedismissedd asas "nostalgia"nostalgia forfor a 2 bygonbygonee [...... ] timetime"" (Or(Orrr 171).171). YetYet whilwhilee BerrBerryy acknowledgesacknowledges ththee influencinfluencee ofof pastpast figuresfigures sucsuchh asas JeffersoJeffersonn andand thethe SouthernSouthern Agrarians,Agrarians, andand tracetracess ththee lineagelineage ofof hishis thoughthoughtt "through"through ththee writingswritings ooff Virgil,Virgil, Spencer,Spencer, Shakespeare,Shakespeare, [and][and] Pope"Pope" (Citizenship(Citizenship

PaperPaperss 117),117), hihiss neo-agrarianisneo-agrarianismm goegoess beyonbeyondd "a"a throwbacthrowbackk ttoo a never-realizenever-realizedd pastoralpastoral arcadiarcadiaa [or][or] a caricatured,caricatured, Luddite-inspiredLuddite-inspired refusarefusall toto faceface ththee future...[tofuture ... [to]] a deliberatedeliberate anandd intentionalintentional wawayy ofof livinlivingg anandd thinkinthinkingg thathatt taketakess seriouslyseriously ththee failuresfailures andand successessuccesses ooff ththee paspastt aass thetheyy havhavee beebeenn realizerealizedd inin ourour engagemenengagementt witwithh ththee earthearth andand witwithh eacheach otherother"" (Wirzba,(Wirzba, WhyWhy AgrarianisAgrarianismm MatterMatterss 4)4)..

Berry'Berry'ss neo-agrarianisneo-agrarianismm "should"should nonott bbee vieweviewedd asas a staticstatic philosophicaphilosophicall system,system, bubutt aass aann evolvinevolvingg collectiocollectionn ooff ideasideas anandd rhetoricarhetoricall strategiesstrategies"" (Smith(Smith 1515)) drawindrawingg itsits vitavitall strengthstrength fromfrom a generagenerall setset ooff corcoree principleprincipless includinincludingg carecare ooff ththee lanlandd upouponn whichwhich alalll lifelife dependsdepends,, a focusfocus oonn ththee locallocal,, aann emphasisemphasis oonn particularparticularss ratheratherr thathann abstractions,abstractions, a subsistencesubsistence economyeconomy beforebefore a marketmarket economy,economy, connectionsconnections betweenbetween urbanurban andand ruralrural landscapeslandscapes,, googoodd food,food, goodgood workwork,, anandd independencindependencee (Berry,(Berry, CitizenshipCitizenship PapersPapers 116-116-

118).118). WhilWhilee historicallhistoricallyy agrarianisagrarianismm hahass beebeenn associateassociatedd almosalmostt exclusivelyexclusively withwith farmersfarmers,, contemporarycontemporary agrarianagrarianss believbelievee thathatt agrariaagrariann principleprincipless mamayy bebe adoptedadopted (and(and localllocallyy adapted)adapted) nonott onlonlyy byby farmersfarmers,, bubutt bbyy anyonanyonee whwhoo participateparticipatess inin agriculture-oragriculture—or inin otheotherr wordswords everyoneveryonee whwhoo eats-sinceeats—since BerrBerryy famouslfamouslyy pointepointedd outout thathatt "eating"eating iiss anan agriculturalagricultural actact"" (Wha(Whatt araree PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 145).145).

ThThee firsfirstt chaptechapterr ooff thithiss worworkk examineexaminess Berry'Berry'ss influencinfluencee iinn aann ongoingongoing neo­neo- agrariaagrariann renaissancerenaissance bbyy elucidatingelucidating Berry'Berry'ss primarprimaryy agrariaagrariann principleprincipless drawdrawnn fromfrom hishis definitiodefinitionn ooff cultureculture.. ThiThiss chaptechapterr seeksseeks ttoo addresaddresss criticiscriticismm thathatt woulwouldd dismissdismiss Berry'sBerry's ideaideass asas anachronisticanachronistic anandd irrelevanirrelevantt withiwithinn a contemporarycontemporary context.context. ThiThiss chapterchapter arguesargues 3 thathatt BerryBerry doedoess nonott simplysimply yearnyearn forfor a goldengolden paspastt butbut thatthat hihiss workworkss describdescribee a troubledtroubled a pastpast thatthat isis simultaneouslysimultaneously thethe sourcesource ofof vexationsvexations andand hope.hope. WhileWhile Berry'sBerry's visionvision ofof interdependeninterdependentt communitiescommunities consciousconscious ooff theitheirr inhereninherentt tietiess ttoo oneone anotheanotherr andand attuneattunedd toto ththee welwelll beinbeingg ooff theitheirr placeplace hashas neveneverr beebeenn realizedrealized historically,historically, itit isis a visiovisionn BerryBerry believebelievess iiss stillstill attainableattainable.. ThiThiss chaptechapterr alsalsoo addresseaddressess issueissuess ooff thethe sentimentalizationsentimentalization ofof farminfarmingg inin Berry'sBerry's worworkk anandd hihiss relationshirelationshipp ttoo ththee largelargerr pastorapastorall tradition.tradition.

TheThe secondsecond chaptechapterr addresseaddressess contemporarcontemporaryy issuesissues facingfacing neo-agrarianisneo-agrarianismm byby examininexaminingg Berry'Berry'ss challengechallengess ttoo globalglobal corporatcorporatee industrialisindustrialismm anandd ththee prospecprospectt ofof alternativealternative economieeconomiess builbuiltt upouponn agrariaagrariann principlesprinciples.. ThiThiss chaptechapterr arguesargues thathatt whilwhilee manymany ooff ththee themethemess BerryBerry invokeinvokess iinn hihiss worworkk sucsuchh aass marriagemarriage,, religionreligion,, andand communitycommunity maymay appearappear overloverlyy traditionaltraditional,, thetheyy iinn factfact presenpresentt profounprofoundd critiquecritiquess ofof foundationalfoundational institutionsinstitutions suchsuch aass industriaindustriall capitalism,capitalism, contemporarycontemporary education,education, andand mainstreammainstream

Christianity.Christianity. ThisThis chapterchapter examineexaminess culturalcultural challengechallengess facefacedd bbyy agrarianagrarian reformers,reformers, highlightshighlights contemporarycontemporary popularizationpopularizationss ofof Berry'Berry'ss ideasideas,, andand concludesconcludes withwith Berry'sBerry's expressioexpressionn ofof hophopee inin ththee realizatiorealizationn ooff agrarianagrarian idealsideals..

TheThe thirthirdd chapterchapter shiftsshifts fromfrom a generagenerall treatmentreatmentt ofof Berry'Berry'ss agrariaagrariann principleprincipless toto a moremore specificspecific examinationexamination ofof whatwhat hehe considersconsiders properproper humanhuman relationsrelations toto thethe naturalnatural worldworld.. DrawingDrawing fromfrom hihiss essaysessays toto exploreexplore thethe "marriage""marriage" relationshirelationshipp BerryBerry describesdescribes betweebetweenn farmerfarmer anandd landland placeplacedd withiwithinn ththee largerlarger patterpatternn ofof community,community, thithiss sectionsection examinesexamines howhow thathatt relationshirelationshipp isis portrayeportrayedd inin hihiss fictionfiction.. ThisThis chapterchapter examineexaminess Berry'sBerry's challengechallenge ttoo ththee heroiheroicc traditiotraditionn presenpresentt iinn WesterWesternn thoughthoughtt andand scripturscripturee anandd reviewsreviews thethe rolrolee ooff ththee farmerfarmer husbandmanhusbandman asas societasocietall exemplaexemplarr iinn Berry'Berry'ss work.work. FinallyFinally,, thithiss chapterchapter exploreexploress Berry'Berry'ss sensesense ofof aann intimatintimatee atonementatonement betweebetweenn humans,humans, ththee sustainingsustaining land,land, 4 andand ththee divinedivine presencepresence hehe perceiveperceivess aass emineneminentt withiwithinn it—anit-andd iinn whicwhichh BerrBerryy callscalls forfor reconciliationreconciliation ofof ththee ChristianChristian minmindd ttoo ththee sustainingsustaining world.world.

ThThee overarchingoverarching aiaimm ooff thithiss workwork iiss toto dradraww attentioattentionn ttoo a thinkethinkerr whowho hahass beenbeen a foundingfounding influenceinfluence inin a smallsmall yeyett rapidlrapidlyy expandingexpanding systemsystem ooff thoughthoughtt thatthat movemovess beyondbeyond thethe historicallyhistorically limitelimitedd perspectivperspectivee ooff environmentalisenvironmentalistt concernconcernss overover wildernesswilderness preservatiopreservationn ttoo a comprehensivecomprehensive vievieww ooff humahumann engagementengagement witwithh ththee surroundinsurroundingg world.world.

Berry'sBerry's neo-agrarianeo-agrariann argumentargument recognizerecognizess thathatt "people"people cannotcannot livlivee aparapartt fromfrom nature...annature ... andd yetyet,, peoplpeoplee cannotcannot livelive inin naturenature withouwithoutt changinchangingg itit"" (Hom(Homee EconomicEconomicss 7).7).

RecognizingRecognizing thathatt "humans"humans musmustt makmakee a choicchoicee asas ttoo ththee kinkindd andand scalescale ooff ththee differencedifference theythey makemake"" (7),(7), BerrBerryy poseposess evocativevocativee questionquestionss suchsuch asas:: WhaWhatt araree peoplpeoplee for?for? HowHow shouldshould wwee changchangee ththee worlworldd oonn whichwhich wwee depend?depend? WhaWhatt araree propeproperr waywayss ttoo worworkk withinwithin ththee patterpatternn ooff specificspecific placesplaces?? WhatWhat musmustt I dodo?? AttemptinAttemptingg ttoo answeanswerr sucsuchh questions,questions,

BerryBerry workworkss ttoo breabreakk downdown sociallysocially constructedconstructed binariebinariess sucsuchh asas domesticatiodomesticationn versusversus wildness,wildness, urbaurbann versusversus ruralrural,, andand cultureculture versusversus nature,nature, believinbelievingg thathatt thesthesee polepoless areare notnot iinn realityreality opposedopposed bubutt interwoveinterwovenn andand interdependentinterdependent andand thathatt "authentic"authentic experiencexperiencee ofof eithereither wilwilll reveareveall thethe neeneedd ooff ononee foforr thethe otherother"" (12)(12).. Berry'Berry'ss thoughthoughtt unapologeticallyunapologetically cutcutss acrossacross contemporarycontemporary politicapoliticall andand culturalcultural factionsfactions ttoo formulatformulatee a wawayy ooff thinkingthinking thathatt confirmsconfirms humahumann importancimportancee yeyett thatthat humblyhumbly acknowledgeacknowledgess humahumann ignoranceignorance,, frailty,frailty, andand limitation.limitation. PerceivingPerceiving a worldworld infusedinfused witwithh ththee divinedivine,, BerryBerry strivesstrives ttoo comprehendcomprehend thethe propeproperr humahumann placplacee "both"both oonn ththee eartearthh andand inin ththee orderorder ooff thingsthings"" statingstating thatthat "where"where thethe creatiocreationn iiss wholwholee nothinnothingg iiss extraneousextraneous.. ThThee presencpresencee ooff ththee creationcreation makemakess thisthis a holyholy placeplace,, andand iitt iiss asas a pilgripilgrimm thathatt I havhavee come—tcome-too givegive homaghomagee ofof awawee anandd love,love, toto submitsubmit toto mystificationmystification"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 199,199, 201).201). A QUIEQUIETT VOICVOICEE THATTHAT MAKESMAKES THETHE MOUNTAINSMOUNTAINS TREMBLE:TREMBLE:

WENDELWENDELLL BERRY'BERRY'SS AGRARIAAGRARIANN ARGUMENTARGUMENT

ThThee AgrariaAgrariann Argument:Argument: BerryBerry oonn CulturCulturee andand AgricultureAgriculture

Neo-agrarianisNeo-agrarianismm mamayy bbee characterizedcharacterized aass a grassrootgrassrootss socialsocial oror economiceconomic movementmovement,, WendelWendelll BerryBerry candidlcandidlyy declaredeclaress hihiss "distrust"distrust ofof movements,movements,"" however,however, statingstating thathatt "even"even movementsmovements thathatt havhavee seemedseemed necessarnecessaryy andand deardear ttoo [me]"[me]" tentendd toto

"laps"lapsee intintoo self-righteousnesself-righteousnesss anandd self-betrayal.self-betrayal...ofte .. oftenn [becoming][becoming] totooo specialized"specialized"

(Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 44-45)44-45).. WorsWorstt ooff allall,, BerrBerryy allegesalleges,, iiss a movement'movement'ss tendenctendencyy toto

"loose"loose ititss languaglanguagee eitheeitherr ttoo ititss ownown confusioconfusionn abouaboutt meaninmeaningg andand practicepractice,, oorr toto preemptiopreemptionn bbyy itsits enemies,"enemies," citingciting ththee decaydecay inin meaninmeaningg ofof wordwordss suchsuch asas "natural,""natural,"

"sustainable,""sustainable," anandd "organic""organic" aass examplesexamples ofof sucsuchh loslosss (45)(45).. BerrBerryy eveevenn resistresistss thethe ideideaa ofof naminnamingg "the"the movemenmovementt I thinthinkk I aamm a parpartt of,"of," wrylwrylyy suggestingsuggesting thathatt perhapperhapss iitt coulcouldd bebe referrereferredd ttoo aass "Th"Thee NamelesNamelesss MovemenMovementt forfor BetteBetterr WayWayss ooff Doing—whicDoing-whichh I hophopee iiss tootoo longlong andand uncutuncutee ttoo bbee useusedd asas a bumpebumperr sticker,sticker,"" althoughalthough hhee fearfearss thathatt eveevenn thatthat namename woulwouldd ultimatelyultimately becombecomee "th"thee NMBWNMBWDD andand acquiracquiree a headquarterheadquarterss andand a budgebudgett anandd anan inventoryinventory ooff T-shirtsT-shirts"" (46)(46)..

AlthougAlthoughh BerrBerryy acknowledgeacknowledgess havinhavingg spentspent a significansignificantt portioportionn ofof hihiss lifetime,lifetime,

"twenty-five"twenty-five oror thirtthirtyy years.years .... .makin makingg anandd remakingremaking differendifferentt versionversionss ofof ththee samesame argument..argument. .. .inherited inherited fromfrom a lonlongg lineline ooff familial,familial, neighborlyneighborly,, literaryliterary,, andand scientificscientific ancestors,ancestors,"" oorr whawhatt BerrBerryy referreferss ttoo aass "th"thee agrariaagrariann argument,argument,"" hhee resistresistss authoritativeauthoritative listslists ofof agrariaagrariann valuevaluess oror principlesprinciples,, statingstating thathatt "the"the agrariaagrariann argumenargumentt cancan bbee summedsummed 6 uupp inin asas manmanyy waysways asas itit cancan bebe made"made" (43).(43). A handfuhandfull ofof systematicsystematic "road"road maps"maps" ofof

Berry'sBerry's ideasideas havehave neverthelessnevertheless beebeenn attempted.attempted. PoliticaPoliticall sciencescience scholarscholar KimberlyKimberly

SmithSmith (who(who usesuses thethe frameworkframework ofof virtuvirtuee ethicsethics toto frameframe Berry'sBerry's corecore ideas)ideas) listslists Berry'sBerry's principleprinciple "virtues""virtues" as:as: autonomy,autonomy, fidelity,fidelity, humility,humility, proprietypropriety,, andand sophrosyne-asophrosyne—a GreekGreek tertermm describingdescribing a statestate ofof self-controlself-control andand moderatiomoderationn "that"that preventpreventss hubristichubristic overreaching"overreaching" (136).(136). ForFor historianhistorian BriaBriann DonahueDonahue,, Berry'sBerry's "agrarian"agrarian values"values" areare carecare ofof ththee land,land, beautybeauty,, goodgood foodfood,, goodgood work,work, andand communitycommunity (36-37).(36-37).

WhileWhile systematicsystematic listslists ofof Berry'sBerry's agrarianagrarian principles/virtues/valueprinciples/virtues/valuess areare invariablyinvariably incomplete,incomplete, allall suchsuch listslists agreeagree thatthat Berry'Berry'ss ideasideas areare groundedgrounded inin "the"the goodgood healthealthh ofof thethe land"land" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericaAmerica 188).188). A generalgeneral understandinunderstandingg ofof Berry'Berry'ss agrarianagrarian principlesprinciples mamayy bebe ascertainedascertained bbyy examiningexamining Berry'Berry'ss sensesense ofof ththee intimateintimate relationshiprelationship betweenbetween landland andand culture.culture. LikeLike allall agrarians,agrarians, BerrBerryy recognizesrecognizes thethe healthealthh andand fertilityfertility ofof landland aass ththee vitavitall foundationfoundation ofof healthyhealthy communities.communities. YetYet drawingdrawing onon ecologicalecological ideasideas implicitimplicit inin AldAldoo Leopold'sLeopold's landland ethic,ethic, BerryBerry extendsextends thethe conceptconcept ofof communitycommunity beyondbeyond humanhumanss ttoo includeinclude ththee naturalnatural worldworld:: "If"If wewe speakspeak ofof a healthyhealthy community,community, wewe cannotcannot bebe speakingspeaking ofof a communitycommunity thatthat isis merelymerely human.human. WeWe areare talkingtalking aboutabout a neighborhoodneighborhood ofof humanshumans inin a place,place, plupluss thethe placplacee itself:itself: itsits soil,soil, itsits waterwater,, itsits air,air, andand allall thethe familiesfamilies andand tribestribes ooff ththee nonhumanonhumann creaturescreatures thatthat belongbelong toto it"it" (Sex(Sex 14).14). UsingUsing ththee standardstandard ofof thethe healthealthh ofof ththee communitycommunity (in(in itsits largestlargest sense),sense), BerryBerry recognizerecognizess thathatt healthyhealthy landland isis thethe commonwealthcommonwealth (and(and vitalvital ttoo thethe commoncommon healthhealth)) ofof allall livingliving things.things.

BerryBerry considersconsiders healthhealthyy landland nonott onlyonly asas ththee obviousobvious basibasiss ofof bodilbodilyy healthealthh butbut alsoalso essentiaessentiall ttoo healthyhealthy humahumann culture.culture. EtymologicallEtymologicallyy tracingtracing thethe worwordd "culture""culture" toto itsits rootsroots iinn "cultivation""cultivation" andand "cult,""cult," linkinglinking ththee ideideaa ofof cultureculture ttoo tillagtillagee andand worshipworship,, BerryBerry 7 pointpointss ououtt thathatt "these"these wordwordss allall comecome fromfrom anan Indo-EuropeaIndo-Europeann rootroot meaninmeaningg botbothh 'to'to revolve'revolve' anandd 'to'to dwell.'dwell.' ToTo live,live, ttoo survivesurvive onon ththee earthearth,, anandd ttoo carcaree forfor ththee soil,soil, anandd toto worshipworship,, areare alalll boundbound atat thethe rootroot ttoo ththee ideideaa ooff a cyclecycle"" (Unsettlin(Unsettlingg ofof AmericAmericaa 87).87).

InterweavingInterweaving cultivation,cultivation, worshipworship,, andand dwellingdwelling withiwithinn ththee contexcontextt ofof cyclescycles iinn placeplace,,

BerryBerry definedefiness culturculturee asas nonott simplsimplyy "a"a collectiocollectionn ofof relicrelicss oorr ornamentsornaments"" but,but,

a practicalpractical necessitynecessity...... a communalcommunal orderorder ofof memory,memory, insight,insight, value,value, work,work, convivialityconviviality,, reverencereverence,, andand aspiration.aspiration. ItIt revealrevealss ththee humahumann necessitiesnecessities andand ththee humahumann limits.limits. ItIt clarifieclarifiess ourour inescapablinescapablee bondbondss ttoo ththee eartearthh anandd toto eaceachh otherother.. ItIt assuresassures thathatt ththee necessarnecessaryy restraintrestraintss araree observed,observed, thathatt thethe necessarynecessary worworkk iiss donedone,, anandd thathatt itit iiss dondonee wellwell.. (43)(43)

HealthHealthyy cultureculture,, a cultureculture thatthat doedoess nonott endangeendangerr itsits owownn sourcsourcee ofof welwelll beingbeing originates,originates, accordingaccording toto BerryBerry,, frofromm livinlivingg withinwithin ththee contexcontextt ooff andand mindfullmindfullyy interactininteractingg withwith naturanaturall cycles.cycles. A viablviablee cultureculture iiss ononee "tha"thatt know[sknow[s]] whawhatt workworkss anandd whawhatt doesn'doesn'tt workwork inin a givegivenn placeplace"" (Grubbs(Grubbs 50)50),, andand strivestrivess toto preservpreservee ththee fertilityfertility anandd healthhealth ofof naturalnatural cycles.cycles.

AnAn exegesisexegesis ofof Berry'Berry'ss ricrichh definitiondefinition ofof cultureculture provideprovidess insightinsight intointo manmanyy ofof

Berry'sBerry's kekeyy agrarianagrarian themesthemes.. Berry'sBerry's sensesense ooff culturculturee iiss communal, iitt iiss "shared"shared bbyy allall membermemberss ofof a communitycommunity"" (Oxford(Oxford AmericaAmericann 343)343),, whicwhichh asas mentionementionedd previously,previously, includesincludes humanhumanss andand nonhumans,nonhumans, andand implieimpliess a commocommonn recognitiorecognitionn ofof healthhealthyy landland asas vitavitall ttoo maintaimaintainn itsits existencexistencee andand welwelll being—bindinbeing-bindingg togethertogether commoncommon healthhealth oonn thethe commonwealtcommonwealthh ofof ththee lanlandd (Another(Another TurnTurn ooff ththee CranCrankk 51)51).. FoForr BerryBerry,, cultureculture involveinvolvess a combinationcombination ofof orderorder andand wildness.wildness. BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt goodgood agriculturagriculturee applieappliess a certaincertain necessarnecessaryy degreedegree ofof orderorder toto naturanaturall systemssystems yeyett "respects"respects ththee naturanaturall charactecharacterr ooff thethe place"place" (Gift(Gift ooff GoodGood LandLand 210)210) anandd maintainsmaintains ththee "ultimately"ultimately unknowableunknowable"" "dark"dark wildernesswilderness"" ofof ththee soilsoil (Home(Home EconomicEconomicss 140).140). SimilarlySimilarly,, culturculturee musmustt achievachievee a 8 marriagmarriagee (or(or union)union) ofof wildneswildnesss anandd orderorder:: "natur"naturee andand humahumann culture,culture, wildneswildnesss andand domesticity,domesticity, areare nonott opposedopposed bubutt araree interdependent.interdependent. AuthentiAuthenticc experienceexperience ofof eithereither willwill reveareveall ththee neeneedd ofof ononee foforr ththee other.other."" (12)(12).. WhileWhile some ordeorderr iiss requiredrequired,, BerryBerry warnswarns thatthat anyany humahumann "attempt"attempt aatt totatotall controcontroll isis aann invitatioinvitationn ttoo disorder"disorder" anandd thathatt "patterns"patterns ofof cooperatiocooperationn areare safersafer thathann ththee mechanismmechanismss ofof exclusion,exclusion, eveevenn thougthoughh thetheyy laclackk thethe illusorillusoryy safetysafety ooff controlcontrol"" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 71)71)..

Berry'sBerry's culturculturee iiss alsoalso anan "order""order" inin ththee sensesense thathatt iitt iiss a membershimembershipp (the(the principlprinciplee charactercharacterss inin Berry'Berry'ss fictiofictionn araree referrereferredd ttoo aass ththee PorPortt WilliaWilliamm membership).membership).

ThiThiss membershimembershipp ofof communitycommunity iinn placeplace,, consciouconsciouss ooff implicitimplicit tietiess ttoo oneone anotheanotherr andand toto thethe landland,, isis ononee intointo whicwhichh anan individuaindividuall mamayy bbee borbornn (or(or adopted)adopted),, butbut thathatt ultimatelyultimately oneone musmustt choosechoose andand thathatt doedoess nonott necessarilnecessarilyy follofolloww biologicabiologicall familfamilyy lineslines (Smit(Smithh 110-110-

113).113). ExamplesExamples ooff ththee naturnaturee anandd dynamicdynamicss ooff thithiss senssensee ooff ordeorderr aass membershipmembership aboundabound inin Berry'Berry'ss fictionfiction.. MemberMemberss sucsuchh asas JackJack Beechum'Beechum'ss daughtedaughterr Clara-whoClara—who leavesleaves PortPort

WilliamWilliam ttoo attendattend collegcollegee wherwheree sheshe marriesmarries a bankebankerr anandd returnreturnss onlonlyy ttoo makmakee a profitprofit byby sellinsellingg herher father'father'ss farfarmm afterafter hihiss death-aredeath—are borbornn intintoo ththee tietiess ofof ththee PorPortt WilliamWilliam membershimembershipp yeyett choosechoose ttoo leave.leave. TheseThese individualindividualss becombecomee estrangedestranged frofromm anandd forfeitforfeit theirtheir placeplace withiwithinn ththee membershimembershipp (Memor(Memoryy ooff OlOldd JacJackk 133-140).133-140). OthersOthers,, liklikee EltoEltonn andand

MaryMary Penn,Penn, whwhoo begibeginn aass outsideroutsiderss workinworkingg oonn Jack'Jack'ss farfarmm aass tenanttenantss araree adoptedadopted intointo thethe patterpatternn ofof ththee PortPort WilliaWilliamm community,community, andand witwithh ththee helhelpp ofof fellofelloww membememberr WheelerWheeler

CatlettCatlett areare ablablee ttoo purchaspurchasee Jack'sJack's farfarmm frofromm hihiss daughterdaughter therebtherebyy confirmingconfirming theitheirr placeplace inin ththee successionsuccession ooff membershimembershipp inin placplacee (That(That DistanDistantt LanLandd 266-288)266-288).. AlAlll becomebecome

"members"-each"members"—each representinrepresentingg "a"a constituenconstituentt piecpiecee ooff a complecomplexx structure"structure" (Oxford(Oxford

AmericanAmerican 1058)1058) thatthat remairemainn iinn ththee membershimembershipp nonott bbyy coercioncoercion oror bbyy a laclackk ofof optionsoptions 9 bubutt bbyy consciouconsciouss choicechoice.. MirroringMirroring Berry'Berry'ss owownn decisiodecisionn ttoo returreturnn toto KentuckKentuckyy afterafter leavingleaving a promisinpromisingg teachinteachingg careercareer atat StanfordStanford andand laterlater NeNeww YorYorkk City,City, variousvarious characterscharacters iinn Berry'sBerry's fictionfiction (e.g.,(e.g., WheeleWheelerr CatlettCatlett,, AndAndyy Catlett,Catlett, andand MaMatt Feltner)Feltner),, leaveleave

PortPort WilliaWilliamm yeyett deciddecidee ttoo returreturnn anandd taktakee theitheirr placeplacess "in"in ththee ololdd patternpattern"" (Remembering(Remembering

164)164) ofof communitycommunity iinn placplacee (more(more onon ththee themthemee ooff returninreturningg toto thethe contextcontext ofof ththee patternpattern ooff communitycommunity later).later).

FoForr Berry,Berry, memory playplayss a crucialcrucial rolrolee iinn farminfarmingg anandd culture.culture. MemoryMemory isis essentialessential ttoo googoodd farminfarmingg iinn thathatt familiefamiliess thathatt havhavee "farmed"farmed lanlandd througthroughh twtwoo oror threethree generationgenerationss wilwilll possespossesss nonott jusjustt ththee lanlandd bubutt a remembererememberedd historhistoryy ofof ititss owownn mistakesmistakes anandd ooff ththee remedieremediess ooff thosthosee mistakesmistakes"" (Hom(Homee EconomicEconomicss 164)164) soso thathatt "the"the landland wouldwould nonott havhavee ttoo papayy foforr ththee coscostt ooff trial-and-errotrial-and-errorr educationeducation foforr everyevery neneww owner"owner" (Standing(Standing bbyy WordsWords 78).78). HighlyHighly specificspecific knowledge—botknowledge-bothh successesuccessess andand failures-offailures—of ththee complexcomplex interactioninteractionss betweebetweenn humanshumans,, animalsanimals,, plantsplants,, land,land, anandd climatclimatee inin particulaparticularr placeplacess mustmust bebe passepassedd alonalongg bbyy thosethose whwhoo havhavee spentspent timetime interactininteractingg witwithh thosthosee placesplaces ratheratherr thanthan absenteeabsentee ownerownerss oror bbyy ththee centralizedcentralized knowledgknowledgee ofof "experts""experts" whwhoo ofteoftenn possespossesss onlyonly generalgeneral oror theoreticatheoreticall knowledgeknowledge andand whwhoo oftenoften serveserve interestsinterests otherother thanthan thethe well-beingwell-being ofof ththee lanlandd andand community.community. LikewiseLikewise,, humahumann cultureculture musmustt bbee attunedattuned ttoo itsits memorymemory;; thethe exhilarationexhilaration ooff holdingholding "creeds"creeds andand schoolschoolss iinn abeyance"abeyance" temperetemperedd byby thethe acknowledgemenacknowledgementt thathatt thetheyy musmustt "never"never [be][be] forgottenforgotten"" (Whitman(Whitman 25).25). FoForr Berry,Berry, vesselsvessels ofof culturalcultural memorymemory suchsuch asas literatureliterature,, scripture,scripture, anandd artart serveserve asas repositorierepositoriess ofof livelivedd humahumann experiencexperiencee anandd interactiointeractionn witwithh ththee worldworld.. WisWisee studentsstudents ooff ththee humanhuman culturaculturall legaclegacyy thereforthereforee musmustt bbee willinwillingg "to"to learlearnfromn from themthem"" ratheratherr thathann simplysimply "about"about 1010 themthem"" (Hom(Homee EconomicEconomicss 79)79) lestlest theirtheir mistakemistakess bbee relived—ofterelived-oftenn aatt thethe expenseexpense ooff ththee sustainingsustaining lanlandd (mor(moree oonn Berry'Berry'ss relationshirelationshipp witwithh ththee paspastt below).below).

InIn Berry'Berry'ss fictionalfictional PortPort WilliamWilliam,, ththee memoriememoriess ofof thethe communitcommunityy araree inextricablyinextricably tietiedd ttoo ththee lanlandd itselfitself.. ReminiscenReminiscentt ofof AustraliaAustraliann AborigineAboriginess foforr whomwhom

"dreamtime"dreamtime storiesstories anandd ththee encompassinencompassingg terraiterrainn araree reciprocallyreciprocally mnemonic,mnemonic, experientiallyexperientially couplecoupledd inin a procesprocesss ooff mutuamutuall invocationinvocation"" andand foforr whowhomm "the"the lanlandd anandd ththee language..language .... araree inseparableinseparable"" (Abram(Abramss 177),177), Berry'Berry'ss depictiodepictionn ofof ththee intimateintimate tietiess betweenbetween landland anandd memormemoryy inin hihiss fiction-suchfiction—such aass hihiss accounaccountt ooff ArArtt Rowanberry'sRowanberry's "compound"compound mindmind"" iinn whicwhichh "something"something thathatt happenehappenedd woulwouldd reminremindd hihimm ofof somethinsomethingg thathatt hhee remembered,remembered, whicwhichh woulwouldd reminremindd hihimm ooff somethingsomething thathatt hihiss grandfathergrandfather remembered"­remembered"— isis inextricablyinextricably wovewovenn intointo thethe landland itself:itself: "He"He livelivedd inin ththee placeplace,, but the place was wherewhere the memories were, anandd hhee walkedwalked amonamongg themthem,, tracintracingg themthem outout overover ththee livinlivingg ground"ground"

(That(That DistanDistantt LanLandd 368368,, emphasiemphasiss added)added).. ForFor ththee PortPort WilliaWilliamm membershipmembership,, ththee landland servesserves asas a complecomplexx anandd interactiveinteractive repositorrepositoryy ooff memoriememoriess andand culturaculturall instructioninstruction nonott simplysimply containedcontained withiwithinn ththee consciousnesconsciousnesss ooff individualsindividuals,, bubutt continuallycontinually evokeevokedd aass membermemberss interactinteract witwithh ththee land.land. AnAndd althougalthoughh comparingcomparing aborigineaboriginess whwhoo havehave beenbeen dwellingdwelling iinn andand adaptinadaptingg toto particulaparticularr placeplacess foforr thousandsthousands ofof yearyearss (yet(yet whwhoo alsoalso appearappear ttoo havhavee initiallinitiallyy strugglestruggledd ttoo adapadaptt ttoo theitheirr placeplace,, FlanneryFlannery)) ttoo a communitycommunity ofof AngloAnglo farmerfarmerss whoswhosee residencresidencee iinn placplacee reachereachess bacbackk a mermeree handfuhandfull ooff generationsgenerations mamayy seemseem tenuoustenuous,, oneone ooff Berry'Berry'ss primarprimaryy themethemess throughoutthroughout hihiss worworkk iiss thethe challenginchallengingg projecprojectt ooff becominbecomingg nativnativee andand ultimatelultimatelyy belonginbelongingg ttoo placplacee (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 166)166)..

RecognizingRecognizing ththee difficultiesdifficulties ooff becominbecomingg nativnativee ttoo placeplace,, BerryBerry lamentlamentss thathatt "w"wee

[descendents[descendents ooff EuropeaEuropeann settlers]settlers] stillstill havhavee notnot,, iinn anyany meaningfumeaningfull wayway,, arrivedarrived iinn 1111 AmericaAmerica...... [upon[upon arrival]arrival] WeWe diddid notnot knowknow wherewhere wewe were,were, andand toto avoidavoid thethe humilityhumility andand thethe laborlabor ofof ourour ignorance,ignorance, wewe pretendedpretended toto bebe wherewhere wewe hadhad comecome from"from" (183,206).(183,206).

ForFor Berry,Berry, thethe pathpath toto becomingbecoming nativenative oror belongingbelonging toto placeplace lieslies inin insight, "deep"deep

intuitiveintuitive understanding"understanding" (Oxford(Oxford AmericanAmerican 872),872), gleanedgleaned fromfrom timetime spentspent inin closeclose

interactioninteraction withwith thethe landland andand fromfrom experiencesexperiences gainedgained livingliving inin place.place. BerryBerry believesbelieves thatthat

thisthis insightinsight bornborn ofof experienceexperience mustmust includeinclude reverence:reverence: "we"we mustmust learnlearn toto acknowledgeacknowledge

thatthat thethe creationcreation isis fullfull ofof mystery;mystery; wewe willwill nevernever entirelyentirely understandunderstand it.it. WeWe mustmust

abandonabandon arrogancearrogance andand standstand inin aweawe...... fo forr I dodo nonott doubtdoubt thatthat itit isis onlyonly onon thethe conditioncondition

ofof humilityhumility andand reverencereverence beforebefore thethe worldworld thatthat ourour speciesspecies willwill bbee ableable toto remainremain onon it"it"

(Long-Legged(Long-Legged HouseHouse 196).196). BerryBerry believesbelieves thatthat a shiftshift fromfrom a desiredesire forfor completecomplete

understandingunderstanding ofof thethe worldworld (a(a termterm BerryBerry prefersprefers toto "the"the environment"environment" oror "nature")"nature") toto a

reverential postureposture thatthat recognizerecognizess ththee inherentlinherentlyy limitedlimited humanhuman capacitycapacity ttoo comprehendcomprehend

thethe world'world'ss infinitinfinitee complexity.complexity. Berry'sBerry's callcall foforr a changechange frofromm "absolute"absolute owner,owner,

manager,manager, andand engineer"engineer" ttoo "steward""steward" (Life(Life isis a MiracleMiracle 8),8), oorr oneone thathatt "care[s]"care[s] forfor

somethingsomething thathatt doesdoes notnot belongbelong toto youyou"" (Grubb(Grubbss 95),95), involvesinvolves anan acknowledgmentacknowledgment ooff thethe

realityreality thathatt humanhumanss cannocannott comecome ttoo aann omniscienomniscientt understandinunderstandingg ofof ththee naturalnatural world,world,

anandd thathatt actinactingg "o"onn ththee assumptioassumptionn thathatt sursuree knowledgknowledgee iiss completcompletee knowledgeknowledge"" (Lif(Lifee isis

a MiracleMiracle 11)11) isis invariablyinvariably treacherous.treacherous.

IInn speakinspeakingg ooff reverencereverence,, iitt musmustt bbee notenotedd thathatt whilwhilee Berry'Berry'ss referencereferencess ttoo GodGod

anandd hihiss liberalliberal ususee ooff termtermss sucsuchh "creation,"creation,"" "reverence,"reverence,"" lanlandd aass "gift,"gift,"" anandd hihiss assertionassertion

thathatt "th"thee agrariaagrariann minmindd isis,, aatt bottombottom,, a religioureligiouss mindmind"" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 118118)) mamayy forfor

somsomee readerreaderss indicatindicatee a narrowlnarrowlyy definedefinedd senssensee ooff religiosityreligiosity.. Berry'Berry'ss senssensee ooff

"religious"religious"" iiss nonott necessarilnecessarilyy circumscribecircumscribedd bbyy a particulaparticularr denominatiodenominationn oorr creedcreed 1212 howevehoweverr andand hehe iiss inin factfact ofteoftenn criticalcritical ofof "organized""organized" religioreligionn (What(What araree PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 9595--

102)102).. BerrBerryy employemployss ththee tertermm "religious""religious" iinn whawhatt hhee termtermss a mormoree "primitive""primitive" sensesense asas

"the"the senssensee ofof thethe presencpresencee ofof mystermysteryy oror divinitydivinity iinn ththee worldworld,, oror eveneven ttoo thethe attitudesattitudes ofof wonderwonder ooff aweawe oror humilithumilityy beforbeforee ththee workworkss ofof creation"creation" (Continuous(Continuous HarmonyHarmony 3).3).

Berry'sBerry's sensesense ooff reverencereverence neeneedd nonott bbee confineconfinedd ttoo formaformall religiosityreligiosity.. A sensesense ooff mysterymystery oorr divinitdivinityy inspiredinspired byby ththee infiniteinfinite renewarenewall ooff liflifee anandd ththee complexitycomplexity ofof ththee worldworld maymay evokevokee feelingfeelingss ofof awawee anandd humilithumilityy thathatt BerryBerry woulwouldd consideconsiderr "religious""religious" yeyett areare accessibleaccessible ttoo alalll anandd araree nonott ththee exclusiveexclusive privilegprivilegee ooff anyany denominationaldenominational persuasion.persuasion.

GivenGiven Berry'Berry'ss visionvision ooff humanhumanss asas membersmembers ooff a communitcommunityy ofof liflifee iinn anan infinitelinfinitelyy complexcomplex worldworld,, BerrBerryy iiss concernedconcerned witwithh questionquestionss ofof propriety-humanpropriety—human attitudesattitudes andand actionactionss thathatt araree "appropriat"appropriatee oorr fitting"fitting" (Oxfor(Oxfordd AmericanAmerican 1360)1360) withiwithinn thethe contextcontext ooff communitycommunity.. FoForr BerryBerry,, proprietypropriety andand "good"good workwork"" musmustt bebe consideredconsidered jointlyjointly sincsincee humahumann aspirationaspirationss anandd worworkk musmustt bebe governegovernedd bbyy a sensesense ofof propriety-"thepropriety—"the fittingnesfittingnesss ofof ourour conducconductt ttoo ourour placplacee andand circumstances"circumstances" (Life(Life iiss a MiraclMiraclee 13).13). BerryBerry admitadmitss thathatt whilwhilee proprietproprietyy isis "an"an oldold termterm,, eveevenn aann ololdd fashionedfashioned one...itone .. .itss valuvaluee isis iinn itsits referencreferencee toto thethe facfactt thatthat wwee areare nonott alone"alone" andand thatthat "we"we cannocannott speakspeak oorr actact oror livelive ououtt ofof contextcontext"" (13).(13). ThThee "antithesis"antithesis ooff individualismindividualism"" (14)(14),, proprietproprietyy seeksseeks ttoo determinedetermine whatwhat isis appropriatappropriatee inin a givegivenn placplacee basebasedd onon humahumann capabilitiecapabilitiess anandd limitationslimitations,, andand thethe inherentinherent characteristicscharacteristics andand limitlimitss ooff particulaparticularr places.places.

Berry'Berry'ss essaysessays providprovidee variouvariouss agriculturalagricultural casecase studiesstudies whicwhichh hehe believesbelieves demonstratdemonstratee humahumann worworkk thathatt iiss properlproperlyy adapteadaptedd ttoo ththee characteristiccharacteristicss ooff placeplace.. BerryBerry praisepraisess ththee AmisAmishh useuse ooff horsehorsess inin theitheirr worworkk "because"because thetheyy araree livingliving creaturescreatures,, andand thereforthereforee fifitt harmoniouslharmoniouslyy intintoo a patterpatternn ofof relationshiprelationshipss thathatt araree necessarilynecessarily biological,biological, 1313 andand thathatt rhymerhyme analogicallyanalogically fromfrom ecosysteecosystemm ttoo cropcrop,, fromfrom fieldfield ttoo farmer. ... .ecosystem ecosystem,, farm,farm, field,field, crop,crop, horsehorse,, farmer,farmer, familyfamily,, anandd communitcommunityy araree inin certaincertain criticalcritical waywayss likelike eacheach other"other" (Standing(Standing bbyy WordWordss 75)75).. WhileWhile visitinvisitingg ththee mountainmountainss ofof PeruPeru,, BerryBerry admiresadmires localocall farmersfarmers'' "great"great carecare anandd frugalitfrugalityy iinn ththee ususee ofof landland;; evereveryy availablavailablee scrapscrap ofof landland,, nnoo mattematterr hohoww smallsmall iiss painstakinglpainstakinglyy useusedd andand conserved"conserved" (Gift(Gift ooff GoodGood LandLand

13).13). BerrBerryy alsalsoo examinesexamines ththee PapagPapagoo ofof ththee deserdesertt southwessouthwestt whwhoo "i"inn responsresponsee ttoo theirtheir meagemeagerr land.land .... .develope developedd a cultureculture thathatt wawass oneone ooff ththee grangrandd humahumann achievementsachievements.. IItt waswas intricatelyintricately respectfulrespectful ooff ththee meansmeans ofof lifelife,, surpassinglysurpassingly carefulcareful ofof allall ththee possibilitiepossibilitiess ofof survival,"survival," notinnotingg thatthat "the"the resulresultt wawass paradoxicalparadoxical:: iinn thesthesee almosalmostt impossibleimpossible circumstances,circumstances, ththee PapagoPapago achievedachieved...... a a societsocietyy ofof abundance"abundance" (51)(51).. FoForr BerryBerry,, proprietypropriety isis necessarnecessaryy forfor goodgood workwork,, worworkk thathatt iiss informeinformedd andand conditionedconditioned bbyy whawhatt isis properproper ratheratherr thathann whawhatt is possible withinwithin thethe contextcontext ooff particulaparticularr places.places.

BerryBerry declaredeclaress thathatt "to"to live,live, wwee musmustt gogo ttoo work..work .... wwee mustmust workwork inin a place,place,"" andand thatthat althoughalthough ththee industrialindustrial economeconomyy strivesstrives ttoo separateseparate "workers"workers frofromm thethe effecteffectss ooff theirtheir work.work .... .thei theirr workwork wilwilll havhavee a precisprecisee anandd practicapracticall influencinfluencee firstfirst onon ththee placplacee wherwheree itit isis beinbeingg done,done, andand thethenn oonn everyevery placplacee wherwheree ititss productproductss areare usedused,, oonn everyevery placplacee wherwheree itsits attitudeattitude towartowardd itsits productproductss iiss felt,felt, oonn everyevery placplacee ttoo whicwhichh ititss by-productby-productss areare carried"carried"

(Citizenship(Citizenship PapersPapers 33).33). TheThe realizatiorealizationn ooff Berry'Berry'ss agrariaagrariann visiovisionn iiss iinn whawhatt hhee termsterms

"good"good work,work,"" worworkk informedinformed bbyy ththee recognitiorecognitionn ooff vitavitall tietiess ttoo healthhealthyy landland,, dondonee withinwithin thethe contexcontextt ooff placplacee andand community,community, anandd informeinformedd bbyy memorymemory,, reverencereverence,, anandd propriety.propriety.

WhileWhile ouourr tietiess ttoo ththee lanlandd throughthrough agricultureagriculture araree vitalvital,, Berry'Berry'ss sensesense ofof worworkk mamayy bebe appliedapplied notnot onlonlyy ttoo farmingfarming bubutt ttoo allall worworkk donedone wellwell,, worworkk "tha"thatt isis,, carefulcareful,, considerate,considerate,

anandd lovingloving...o ... ofthef the wholewhole processprocess,, naturanaturall anandd culturalcultural"" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 144).144). AllAll 1414 workwork isis dondonee iinn some placeplace,, anandd foforr BerrBerryy "real"real workwork"" musmustt bbee consciousconscious ooff itsits effectseffects onon itsits placplacee aass welwelll aass ititss effeceffectt oonn otherother placesplaces.. BerrBerryy understandunderstandss GaryGary Snyder'sSnyder's "real"real workwork"" aass "loca"locall jobjobss ooff righrightt livelihoodlivelihood,, righrightt neighborhoodneighborhood,, andand caretaking"caretaking" (Standing(Standing bbyy WordsWords 158);158); a comprehensivecomprehensive worworkk thathatt respectrespectss ththee sourcesource ofof lifelife andand thethe interdependenceinterdependence ofof communitiescommunities anandd thathatt musmustt bbee practicepracticedd bbyy allall,, botbothh urbaurbann andand ruralrural populationspopulations.. BerrBerryy warnwarnss thathatt babadd worworkk thathatt disregardsdisregards itsits effectseffects oonn placeplacess oror seessees nature'nature'ss bountbountyy asas simplsimplyy abstractabstract "raw"raw material,material,"" "is"is botbothh anan insulinsultt ttoo ititss useuserr andand a dangerdanger ttoo itsits sourcesource"" (Home(Home EconomicEconomicss 144),144), andand thathatt whilwhilee "good"good worworkk isis ouourr salvationsalvation anandd ouourr joyjoy;; thathatt shoddyshoddy oorr dishonesdishonestt oror self-servingself-serving worworkk isis ouourr cursecurse andand ourour doom"doom"

(Unsettlin(Unsettlingg ofof AmericAmericaa 12)12)..

ThThee basibasicc principleprincipless ooff Berry'sBerry's "agrarian"agrarian argument"argument" maymay bbee thereforthereforee ascertainedascertained bbyy examiningexamining hishis definitiondefinition ooff a healthhealthyy humanhuman cultureculture.. FoForr Berry,Berry, cultureculture thatthat isis groundedgrounded iinn ththee tietiess ooff lanlandd andand community,community, thathatt involveinvolvess a communacommunall ordeorderr preservingpreserving itsits wisdomwisdom anandd memoriesmemories,, andand thathatt iiss governedgoverned byby a reverentiareverentiall sensesense proprietproprietyy inin placeplace isis ththee onlonlyy cultureculture thathatt wilwilll inin turturnn practicpracticee googoodd worworkk anandd thathatt hahass ananyy hophopee toto endureendure anandd preservpreservee itselitselff anandd ititss placplacee iinn ththee world.world.

BerrBerryy anandd ththee AcademyAcademy

A recentrecent flurryflurry ofof academiacademicc attention-includingattention—including The Essential Agrarian Reader,Reader,

(whic(whichh isis dedicateddedicated toto BerrBerryy anandd thathatt describesdescribes hihimm asas "a"ann inspirationinspiration andand indispensibleindispensible

guide.guide .... .an andd a stimulantstimulant forfor culturalcultural reformreform"" (Wirzba(Wirzba,, WhWhyy AgrarianisAgrarianismm MatterMatterss 20))20)),,

KimberlKimberlyy Smith'sSmith's WendelWendelll BerryBerry andand ththee AgrariaAgrariann Tradition:Tradition: A CommonCommon Grace,Grace,

WendellWendell BerrBerryy LifLifee anandd WorkWork,, anandd ConversationConversationss witwithh WendelWendelll Berry,Berry, seemsseems toto indicateindicate

recenrecentt interesinterestt inin Berry'sBerry's ideasideas andand works.works. KimberlKimberlyy SmithSmith notesnotes howeverhowever a generalgeneral 1515 neglecneglectt ooff Berry'Berry'ss thoughthoughtt byby ththee academyacademy:: "it"it [seems][seems] surprisingsurprising...tha ... thatt Berry'Berry'ss ideas,ideas, whicwhichh havhavee beebeenn circulatincirculatingg forfor oveoverr thirtthirtyy yearsyears,, haven'haven'tt alreadyalready generategeneratedd mormoree criticalcritical commentarycommentary"" (Smith(Smith 3)3).. SmithSmith affirmaffirmss thathatt "such"such inattentioinattentionn iiss ttoo bbee expectedexpected,, givengiven thethe statusstatus ooff agrariaagrariann ideologideologyy iinn ththee scholarlscholarlyy communitycommunity generally"generally" iinn whicwhichh a definitiodefinitionn ofof agrarianismagrarianism aass "reactionary"reactionary nostalginostalgiaa forfor a preindustrialpreindustrial,, noncommercianoncommerciall paspastt remainsremains academicacademic orthodoxyorthodoxy"" (3).(3). WhileWhile neo-agrarianeo-agrariann proponentproponentss "insist"insist thathatt agrarianisagrarianismm iiss a complexcomplex andand dynamicdynamic traditiotraditionn thathatt hahass generategeneratedd a wealtwealthh ofof progressivprogressivee ideas..ideas .... [and][and] thathatt iitt expressesexpresses valuesvalues manmanyy AmericanAmericanss embrace,embrace,"" SmithSmith notenotess thathatt "scholar"scholarss tentendd toto assumassumee thathatt agrarianagrarian ideologideologyy hahass littllittlee intellectuaintellectuall contentcontent ooff practicapracticall significance;significance; indeedindeed,, thetheyy havhavee beebeenn proclaiminproclaimingg ititss demisedemise foforr fiftfiftyy yearsyears"" (3-4)(3-4)..

DespitDespitee hihiss "numerous"numerous anandd ever-growingever-growing"" (Grubb(Grubbss 135)135) readership,readership, manmanyy withinwithin thethe academyacademy (with(with notablnotablee exceptionexceptionss citecitedd iinn thithiss workwork)) dismissdismiss Berry'sBerry's work,work, characterizingcharacterizing hihimm aass a "quaint"quaint reactionaryreactionary"" (White(White 181),181), a proponenproponentt ooff a nostalgicnostalgic yearninyearningg ttoo a bucolibucolicc paspastt thathatt neveneverr existed,existed, oror incorrectlyincorrectly understandunderstand hihiss agrarianagrarian argumentargument asas a calcalll ttoo flefleee ththee hectihecticc citycity ttoo thethe simplicitysimplicity ooff ththee countrycountry asas archaicarchaic andand provinciaprovinciall farmers.farmers. TheseThese criticscritics tentendd toto simplsimplyy relegatrelegatee BerrBerryy andand hihiss ideaideass ttoo ththee realmrealm ofof noblnoblee yeyett ultimatelultimatelyy impracticalimpractical "dead"dead endsends"" (180).(180). ThesThesee dismissaldismissalss howevehoweverr oftenoften stemstem fromfrom a superficialsuperficial understandinunderstandingg ooff Berry'Berry'ss ideas,ideas, andand a carefulcareful readinreadingg ofof Berry'sBerry's workworkss revealrevealss a visiovisionn thathatt iiss mucmuchh mormoree complecomplexx thathann simplysimply a desiredesire ttoo "tur"turnn bacbackk thethe clock,clock,"" a sentimentalizationsentimentalization ooff a "simple""simple" rurarurall lifestyle,lifestyle, oror a limitedlimited provincialprovincial worldviewworldview.. 1616 ThThee ProphetiPropheticc AmericaAmericann VoiceVoice:: BerrBerryy andand ththee PastPast

Berry'Berry'ss relationshirelationshipp witwithh thethe paspastt iinn hishis essaysessays,, poetrypoetry,, andand fictionfiction isis certainlycertainly mormoree complexcomplex thathann LawrencLawrencee Buell'Buell'ss characterizationcharacterization ooff Berry'sBerry's worworkk (which(which isis representativerepresentative ofof manymany withiwithinn ththee academyacademy)) asas simplysimply evokinevokingg a "virtuous"virtuous ruralisruralismm fromfrom whicwhichh AmericanAmericanss havhavee supposedlsupposedlyy lapsedlapsed"" (Buell,(Buell, EnvironmentaEnvironmentall ImaginatioImaginationn 55).55).

BerryBerry inin factfact doesdoes honohonorr thethe pastpast,, includinincludingg ththee ruralrural pastpast,, aass ththee sourcesource ofof language,language, culture,culture, andand ofof "knowledge"knowledge ooff whawhatt worksworks anandd whatwhat hasn'thasn't worked,"worked," "the"the sourcesource ooff nearlynearly allall ourour goodgood"" (Standing(Standing bbyy WordWordss 102),102), andand aass "a"a manuamanuall toto thethe world"world" (Grubs(Grubs 89).89).

HoweverHowever,, BerrBerryy isis alsalsoo highlhighlyy criticacriticall ofof ththee pastpast,, ooff paspastt attitudesattitudes towardtoward naturnaturee anandd pastpast treatmentreatmentt ooff communitiecommunitiess anandd landland,, andand doedoess nonott believebelieve thathatt ththee pastpast containcontainss modelsmodels entirelyentirely sufficiensufficientt toto serveserve currencurrentt needsneeds.. InIn hishis accountaccount ofof hihiss ownown KentuckyKentucky farmfarm asas wellwell iinn ththee fictionafictionall worlworldd ooff PortPort WilliamWilliam,, thethe "wraiths"wraiths ooff ththee pastpast"" (Unforeseen(Unforeseen WildernessWilderness

50)50),, i.e.i.e.,, ththee mistakemistakess ofof earlieearlierr inhabitantsinhabitants oror "firs"firstt arrivers,"arrivers," haunhauntt latelaterr generationgenerationss inin ththee forformm ofof diminisheddiminished landscapelandscapess anandd topsoitopsoill loss-theirloss—their destructivedestructive attitudesattitudes andand practicepracticess literallyliterally carvecarvedd intintoo ththee land.land.

InIn Berry'sBerry's novenovell A Place on Earth, MaMatt FeltnerFeltner lamentslaments ththee destructiodestructionn ooff ththee landland throughthrough variouvariouss generationsgenerations (includin(includingg hihiss own)own):: ""II expectexpect I'vI'vee seenseen halhalff ooff ththee topsoitopsoill gogo offoff ooff somesome farmfarmss aroundaround herheree inin mymy time....We'vtime .... We'vee beebeenn slowslow toto havhavee enoughenough sensesense toto farfarmm thisthis kinkindd ooff landland,, anandd laclackk plentplentyy yetyet.. MMyy daddydaddy hurhurtt somsomee ofof thesthesee hillsidehillsidess badlybadly iinn hishis timetime.. MadMadee somesome babadd mistakesmistakes.. I trietriedd toto learlearnn frofromm hishis,, anandd wenwentt righrightt oonn andand madmadee somesome babadd oneoness ooff mmyy own"own" (Place(Place oonn EartEarthh 180).180). IInn Berry'Berry'ss storystory "I"Itt Wasn'tWasn't Me,"Me,"

WheelerWheeler CatletCatlettt describedescribess ththee paspastt wastwastee ofof lanlandd anandd thethe assumedassumed "right"right toto ruin,ruin,"" oror thethe rightright ttoo governgovern one'sone's propertyproperty aass oneone wishewishess regardlessregardless ooff ththee consequences.consequences. ThisThis 1717 perceivedperceived "right"right ttoo ruin,ruin,"" inhereninherentt iinn Berry'sBerry's senssensee ofof "rugged"rugged individualism,individualism,"" iiss centralcentral ttoo ththee historicahistoricall ususee ooff landland inin AmericaAmerica:: "People"People havhavee beebeenn exercisingexercising thosthosee rightrightss herehere foforr a hundrehundredd anandd seventy-fiveseventy-five yearyearss oorr soso...... an andd iinn generalgeneral they'vthey'vee wastewastedd moremore thanthan

they'vthey'vee savedsaved"" (That(That DistanDistantt LanLandd 283).283).

ContrarContraryy ttoo hihiss portrayaportrayall byby somesome criticcriticss aass simplysimply wishingwishing toto returreturnn ttoo a virtuousvirtuous rurarurall pastpast,, BerrBerryy declaresdeclares thathatt "there"there iiss nnoo timtimee iinn historyhistory,, sincesince whitwhitee occupationoccupation beganbegan

iinn AmericAmericaa thathatt anyany sanesane anandd thoughtfuthoughtfull persopersonn woulwouldd wanwantt ttoo gogo bacbackk to,to, becausbecausee thatthat

historhistoryy hahass soso farfar beebeenn unsatisfactoryunsatisfactory"" (Grubb(Grubbss 102).102). InsteadInstead,, BerrBerryy looklookss ttoo hihiss hopehope

"tha"thatt iitt mighmightt bbee possiblpossiblee ttoo producproducee stablestable,, localllocallyy adapteadaptedd communitiescommunities iinn America,America,

eveevenn thougthoughh wwee haven'haven'tt dondonee itit"" (102).(102). FoForr Berry,Berry, ththee paspastt iiss toto bbee "judged"judged andand

correctedcorrected"" (Standing(Standing bbyy WordWordss 102)102) ratherrather thathann simplysimply beinbeingg copiedcopied oror categoricallycategorically

rejecterejectedd asas archaiarchaicc andand irrelevant—airrelevant-ann attitudeattitude hehe considerconsiderss immatureimmature andand oneone thathatt playsplays

intointo ththee handhandss ofof "the"the industriaindustriall economyeconomy"" whicwhichh capitalizescapitalizes onon a "hatred"hatred ofof ththee past"past" andand

a chronicchronic needneed forfor "innovation""innovation" viavia plannedplanned obsolescenceobsolescence andand byby sellingselling techno-fixestechno-fixes toto

problemsproblems thatthat ththee economeconomyy itselfitself hahass createdcreated (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 18).18). AccordinAccordingg ttoo Berry,Berry,

eveevenn manmanyy ooff thosthosee whwhoo studstudyy andand claimclaim ttoo paspasss alongalong ththee past'past'ss valuablvaluablee culturalcultural

inheritancesinheritances iinn thathatt "teachers"teachers anandd studentsstudents reareadd ththee greagreatt songssongs andand storiesstories ttoo learnlearn aboutabout

themthem,, nonott ttoo learlearnn fromfrom themthem"" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 79).79). BetweenBetween ththee extremesextremes ofof outrightoutright

rejectiorejectionn ooff ththee paspastt anandd futilefutile attemptattemptss ttoo recreatrecreatee itit,, BerrBerryy maintainmaintainss thathatt ththee paspastt mustmust

bbee judgejudgedd andand evaluatedevaluated criticallcriticallyy witwithh anan eyeyee ttoo ththee valuablvaluablee anandd oftenoften usefuusefull experienceexperience

(successes(successes anandd mistakesmistakes)) ofof thosthosee whwhoo inhabiteinhabitedd ththee worlworldd before.before.

AlonAlongg witwithh a generagenerall "hate"hatedd ooff ththee past,past,"" BerrBerryy condemnscondemns thethe categoricalcategorical

rejectiorejectionn ooff WesterWesternn thinkinthinkingg anandd culturculturee thatthat hhee perceiveperceivess asas fashionablefashionable amongstamongst thethe 1818 intellectualintellectual eliteelite.. BerrBerryy confirmconfirmss thathatt "there"there iiss nnoo reasoreasonn whwhyy oneone cultureculture can'tcan't learnlearn fromfrom another."another." HHee acknowledgeacknowledgess a significantsignificant personapersonall debdebtt ttoo BuddhisBuddhismm (Sex(Sex 95)95) andand recommendrecommendss thathatt "our"our schoolschoolss shouldshould begibeginn ttoo teacteachh ththee histories,histories, culturescultures,, artsarts,, andand languageslanguages oofthef the IslamiIslamicc nationsnations"" (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 21).21). BerrBerryy alsoalso acknowledgesacknowledges thethe influencinfluencee ooff AfricaAfricann cultureculture inin AmericAmericaa anandd iinn hihiss owownn thinkinthinkingg statingstating thathatt "in"in ththee efforteffort ttoo livlivee meaningfullmeaningfullyy anandd decentldecentlyy iinn AmericaAmerica,, a whitwhitee mamann simplysimply cannocannott learnlearn alalll thathatt hehe needneedss toto knoknoww fromfrom otheotherr AmericaAmericann whitwhitee menmen"" (Hidde(Hiddenn WounWoundd 78)78).. HHee alsalsoo lamentslaments ththee failurefailure ooff earlearlyy whitwhitee settlersettlerss ttoo learlearnn frofromm ththee NativNativee AmericansAmericans:: "that"that wwee failedfailed toto learlearnn fromfrom [Native[Native AmericansAmericans]] hohoww ttoo livlivee inin thithiss landland iiss a stupidity-astupidity—a racialracial stupidity­stupidity— thathatt wilwilll corrodecorrode ththee hearheartt ooff ouourr societsocietyy untiuntill ththee dadayy comescomes,, iiff iitt eveeverr does,does, whewhenn wewe dodo turtumn bacbackk ttoo learlearnn frofromm themthem"" (107).(107).

AlthougAlthoughh nonott aversaversee ttoo learninlearningg fromfrom anandd respectinrespectingg otherother culturescultures,, BerrBerryy statesstates thathatt "real"real pluralispluralismm extendextendss respect—norespect-nott tolerance—towartolerance-towardd allall rooted, locally adaptedadapted cultureculturess thathatt knoknoww whawhatt workworkss anandd whawhatt doesn'tdoesn't worworkk iinn a givegivenn placeplace"" (Grubbs(Grubbs 50,50, emphasiemphasiss added)added).. BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt "Tha"Thatt kindkind ooff pluralispluralismm doesn'tdoesn't existexist nownow.. InIn facfactt asas soonsoon aass a culturculturee becomebecomess rootedrooted,, ouourr ssoo calledcalled pluralispluralismm withdraws itsits respectrespect,, labelinglabeling itit provincialismprovincialism oorr anachronism."anachronism." (50).(50). BerrBerryy considerconsiderss currencurrentt "antipathy"antipathy towardtoward

WesternWestern cultureculture...ill-founde .. .ill-foundedd anandd destructive"destructive" (Standing(Standing bbyy WordsWords 141),141), anandd echoesechoes agrariaagrariann biologist/geneticisbiologist/geneticistt WeWess JacksonJackson,, whwhoo believebelievess thathatt fafarr fromfrom beinbeingg worthless,worthless,

"Western"Western Civilization...iCivilization .. .iss ricrichh andand fillefilledd witwithh hopehope"" (Jackson(Jackson 73)73).. BerrBerryy thereforthereforee combscombs ththee literaryliterary anandd spiritualspiritual legacielegaciess ooff ththee WestWest,, attemptinattemptingg ttoo gleagleann wisdomwisdom fromfrom alternativalternativee traditiontraditionss ooff communitycommunity,, care,care, anandd responsibilityresponsibility.. BerryBerry believebelievess thathatt thesethese traditiontraditionss havhavee ancienancientt rootrootss inin WesterWesternn culturculturee anandd havhavee co-existeco-existedd yeyett havhavee ofteoftenn beenbeen 1919 eclipseeclipsedd byby anan increasinglincreasinglyy pervasivpervasivee techno-centritechno-centricc culturculturee ofof disintegrationdisintegration thatthat alienatealienatess individualsindividuals andand communitiecommunitiess frofromm ththee surroundingsurrounding world.world.

FollowinFollowingg hihiss logilogicc ooff gleaningleaningg wisdowisdomm fromfrom ththee pastpast whilewhile rejectinrejectingg destructivedestructive ideaideass oorr tendencies,tendencies, BerrBerryy anandd otheotherr neo-agrarianneo-agrarianss acknowledgeacknowledge a considerablconsiderablee debtdebt toto

ththee intellectuaintellectuall legaclegacyy ofof agrarianisagrarianismm yeyett thetheyy dodo nonott feelfeel boundbound ttoo ititss paspastt incarnationsincarnations oror

attitudes.attitudes. LaLaww professoprofessorr andand neo-agrarianeo-agrariann advocateadvocate EriEricc FreyfoglFreyfoglee aptlyaptly employsemploys thethe metaphometaphorr ooff pruninpruningg ttoo describedescribe neo-agrarianism'neo-agrarianism'ss relationshirelationshipp withwith ththee past:

NeNeww Agrarianism...haAgrarianism ... hass pruneprunedd kekeyy elementselements frofromm olderolder agrariaagrariann waysways whilwhilee nourishinnourishingg otheotherr shootshootss anandd stimulatingstimulating neneww onesones.. GonGonee entirelentirelyy isis thethe ololdd slave-basedslave-based plantatioplantationn stranstrandd ooff agrarianismagrarianism;; a regionaregionall varianvariantt toto begibeginn withwith,, itit deviatedeviatedd markedlmarkedlyy frofromm ththee family-basefamily-basedd homesteahomesteadd ideal.ideal. StilStilll aroundaround bubutt mucmuchh cucutt bacbackk areare ththee onceonce powerfupowerfull assumptionsassumptions aboutabout gendegenderr roleroless withiwithinn ththee familfamilyy anandd ththee largelargerr householhouseholdd communitycommunity....O .... Onn ththee flourishingflourishing side,side, thertheree iiss ththee heighteneheightenedd interesinterestt todatodayy iinn landland conservationconservation,, whicwhichh hahass taketakenn oonn a distinctlydistinctly ecologicaecologicall castcast.. MuchMuch strengthened,strengthened, tootoo,, hahass beebeenn ththee NeNeww AgrariaAgrariann challengchallengee ttoo materialismmaterialism andand ttoo ththee dominancdominancee ooff ththee markemarkett iinn ssoo manmanyy aspectaspectss ooff lifelife.. AnAndd yetyet eveevenn witwithh ititss neneww shapeshapess anandd manifestationsmanifestations,, agrarianismagrarianism todatodayy remainremainss asas centerecenteredd aass eveeverr onon ititss corcoree concernsconcerns:: ththee landland,, naturanaturall fertilityfertility,, healthyhealthy families,families, andand ththee maintenancmaintenancee ooff durabldurablee linklinkss betweebetweenn peoplpeoplee andand place.place, (xvii)(xvii)

UnlikUnlikee ththee paspastt (an(andd oftenoften caricatured)caricatured) conceptionconceptionss ofof agrarianagrarianss asas wealthwealthyy landedlanded

southersouthernn slaveholders,slaveholders, ruggeruggedd individualistsindividualists,, oror conservativeconservative academicsacademics seekingseeking toto

preservpreservee a loslostt romanticizeromanticizedd cultureculture,, contemporarycontemporary agrarianagrarianss insistinsist thatthat neo-agrarianismneo-agrarianism

iiss anan evolvinevolvingg systemsystem ofof thoughtthought,, attitudesattitudes,, anandd actionsactions thatthat seeksseeks ttoo cascastt offoff counter-counter­

productivproductivee attitudeattitudess ofof ththee paspastt iinn orderorder ttoo fashiofashionn a wawayy ofof thinkinthinkingg thatthat iiss moremore widelywidely

applicableapplicable ttoo currencurrentt culturalcultural anandd environmentaenvironmentall challengeschallenges.. Neo-agrarianNeo-agrarianss strivestrive toto

forwardforward modemodess ooff thinkinthinkingg anandd livinlivingg thathatt araree adaptableadaptable ttoo botbothh rurarurall and urbaurbann settings:settings:

"with"with appropriatappropriatee modificationsmodifications,, agrarianagrarian waywayss araree suitablesuitable forfor a fafarr largelargerr numbernumber ofof 2200 familiesfamilies.. EvenEven thosthosee witwithh full-timfull-timee officofficee jobjobss cancan addadd significantsignificant agrarianagrarian elementselements toto theitheirr liveslives anandd locales."locales." (xxxvii).(xxxvii).

WhileWhile BerryBerry iiss oftenoften dismissedismissedd byby casualcasual criticcriticss aass anan articulatearticulate yetyet nostalgicnostalgic idealistidealist benbentt oonn revivinrevivingg a nonexistennonexistentt goldengolden eraera,, othersothers,, suchsuch asas DaviDavidd Orr,Orr, describedescribe hihimm iinn prophetipropheticc termsterms:: "Page"Page SmithSmith hahadd itit rightright,, I believebelieve,, whewhenn hhee describedescribedd WendellWendell

BerryBerry aass 'the prophetipropheticc AmericaAmericann voicvoicee ofof ouourr day.day.'' ThisThis perspectivperspectivee mamayy helhelpp ttoo explainexplain whwhyy hhee iiss botbothh widelwidelyy admireadmiredd anandd ignored."ignored." (Uses(Uses ooff ProphecProphecyy 176).176). RatherRather thanthan archaicarchaic andand nostalgicnostalgic,, OrrOrr referreferss ttoo BerrBerryy aass a propheprophett anandd a futurist,futurist, notinnotingg thathatt "prophets"prophets ddoo nonott jusjustt condemn,condemn, thetheyy intendintend ttoo movmovee uuss towartowardd bettebetterr possibilities....Prophetpossibilities .... Prophetss areare poisepoisedd betweebetweenn ththee paspastt andand a bettebetterr future."future." WhilWhilee otheotherr literaryliterary criticscritics alsalsoo grantgrant BerrBerryy a prophetipropheticc mantlemantle,, sardonicallsardonicallyy characterizincharacterizingg BerrBerryy asas preachinpreachingg "an"an agrarianagrarian jeremiad"jeremiad" nostalgicallnostalgicallyy hopefuhopefull thathatt "th"thee ololdd JeffersonianJeffersonian dream.dream .... .migh mightt stilstilll bbee achievedachieved aatt thisthis eleventheleventh hourhour"" (Buell(Buell,, EnvironmentaEnvironmentall ImaginatioImaginationn 5555;; EnvironmentaEnvironmentall CriticismCriticism 78)78),, accordinaccordingg ttoo OrrOrr,, "To"To dismisdismisss BerryBerry aass simplsimplyy nostalgic...missenostalgic ... missess ththee pointpoint.. HHee oughtought toto bbee reareadd asas mucmuchh asas a futurisfuturistt describingdescribing bettebetterr possibilitiespossibilities aass someonesomeone lookinlookingg bacbackk toto whawhatt onceonce hahadd been"been" (176).(176).

YeYett eveneven iiff BerryBerry isis,, asas iiff ofteoftenn charged,charged, intenintentt onon "turning"turning bacbackk ttoo ththee past,past,"" C.S.C.S.

LewiLewiss notenotess thatthat,, "We"We alalll wanwantt progressprogress.. ButBut progresprogresss meanmeanss gettinggetting nearenearerr ttoo ththee placeplace wherwheree yoyouu wanwantt ttoo bebe.. AnAndd ifif yoyouu havhavee taketakenn a wronwrongg turningturning,, thethenn ttoo gogo forwarforwardd doesdoes nonott getget yoyouu ananyy nearernearer.. IfIf yoyouu araree onon thethe wronwrongg roadroad,, progresprogresss meansmeans doindoingg anan about-turnabout-turn anandd walkinwalkingg bacbackk ttoo ththee righrightt roadroad;; andand iinn thathatt casecase ththee mamann whwhoo turnturnss bacbackk soonestsoonest iiss thethe mosmostt progressivprogressivee man."man." (Lewi(Lewiss 23)23).. IfIf approachedapproached frofromm Lewis'Lewis' definitiodefinitionn ofof progressivisprogressivismm asas lookinlookingg ttoo ththee wisdowisdomm ooff ththee paspastt whilwhilee chartingcharting anan appropriateappropriate coursecourse 2121 forfor ththee future,future, WendelWendelll Berry—ratheBerry-ratherr thathann a throwbackthrowback toto anan archaicarchaic past—ipast-iss inin factfact amongamong ththee mosmostt progressivprogressivee memenn amongamong usus..

TowTownn anandd CountryCountry:: InterdependenInterdependentt CommunitieCommunitiess andand thethe

SentimentalizatioSentimentalizationn ooff FarmingFarming

SomeSome criticcriticss ofof Berry'Berry'ss worworkk balbalkk aatt whawhatt thetheyy perceiveperceive asas hishis attemptattempt ttoo idealizeidealize a virtuousvirtuous ruralrural life,life, toto reviverevive farmingfarming asas anan honoredhonored occupation,occupation, andand toto promotepromote a massmass

'return'return ttoo ththee countrycountry'' asas a solutionsolution ttoo environmentalenvironmental anandd socialsocial illsills.. ThesThesee commentatorscommentators dismisdismisss hihimm aass simplsimplyy anotheranother additioadditionn ttoo a lonlongg linlinee ofof pastoralpastoral writerwriterss whwhoo idealizeidealize rustirusticc lifelife anandd whowho clinclingg ttoo a "nostalgia"nostalgia forfor ththee vanishinvanishingg 'countr'countryy wawayy ofof life'life' extendingextending bacbackk toto Anglo-SaxoAnglo-Saxonn timestimes"" (Buell,(Buell, EnvironmentaEnvironmentall ImaginatioImaginationn 161).161). ItIt musmustt bebe recognizedrecognized howevehoweverr thathatt foforr BerrBerryy ththee ideideaa ofof urbaurbann versuversuss rurarurall iiss anan artificialartificial dichotomydichotomy andand thathatt whilwhilee farminfarmingg andand rurarurall liflifee araree undoubtedlundoubtedlyy significantsignificant iinn Berry'Berry'ss neo-agrarianneo-agrarian thought,thought, hihiss fundamentalfundamental themthemee isis nonott farmingfarming peperr se,se, butbut communitycommunity.. RatheRatherr thanthan consideringconsidering urbaurbann anandd rurarurall environmentenvironmentss asas separateseparate andand autonomousautonomous,, Berry'sBerry's senssensee ofof interwoveinterwovenn anandd interdependentinterdependent communities-withcommunities—with membermemberss livinlivingg iinn proximityproximity,, mindfulmindful ooff inhereninherentt tiesties,, andand sharinsharingg a commonwealtcommonwealthh ooff healthhealthyy land—iland-iss ththee glueglue thatthat effectivelyeffectively bindsbinds Berry'Berry'ss agrarianagrarian conceptsconcepts andand thathatt makemakess themthem applicableapplicable beyonbeyondd ththee farm.farm. ForFor

BerryBerry,, community iiss ththee undergirdingundergirding framework,framework, ththee largelargerr patterpatternn iinn whicwhichh everythingeverything elseelse (includin(includingg farmerfarmerss and urbaurbann dwellersdwellers)) fits—whichfits-which,, asas previouslpreviouslyy mentioned,mentioned, BerryBerry expandsexpands ttoo includeinclude "human"human neighborsneighbors...bu ... butt also...wateralso ... water,, earth,earth, anandd airair,, thethe plantplantss andand animalsanimals,, alalll ththee creaturecreaturess witwithh whowhomm ourour localocall lifelife iiss sharedshared"" (Hidden(Hidden WounWoundd 129).129).

BeyondBeyond ththee family,family, "because"because familiefamiliess didiee out,out, andand...eve ... evenn anan extendedextended familyfamily isn'tisn't largelarge enougenoughh ttoo dodo alalll ththee necessarnecessaryy jobjobss ooff work,work,"" BerryBerry considersconsiders communitycommunity thethe 2222 "vessel""vessel" foforr ththee transmissiotransmissionn ooff knowledgknowledgee ooff hohoww ttoo properlproperlyy inhabiinhabitt particulaparticularr places,places,

"the"the organism...thaorganism ... thatt doedoess ththee rememberingremembering,, thatthat doedoess ththee teaching,"—"thteaching,"-"thee heartbeaheartbeatt ofof continuitycontinuity"" (Grubb(Grubbss 109,109, 115).115). IInn Berry'Berry'ss thoughtthought,, individuaindividuall andand eveneven familiafamiliall autonomyautonomy outsideoutside ooff thethe contextcontext ofof ththee interdependenceinterdependencess anandd responsibilitieresponsibilitiess ooff communalcommunal relationshipsrelationships iiss illusorillusoryy (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 111).111). IInn hihiss writingswritings,, particularlparticularlyy hishis fiction,fiction, ththee differencedifference betweebetweenn thosthosee withiwithinn communitcommunityy membershimembershipp andand withouwithoutt iitt iiss notnot thosethose whowho areare parpartt ofof a communitycommunity andand thosthosee whwhoo areare notnot,, bubutt betweebetweenn thosthosee whowho becombecomee consciousconscious ofof,, acceptaccept theitheirr placplacee withinwithin,, andand areare faithfufaithfull ttoo ththee "network"network ooff mutualmutual dependencdependencee anandd influenceinfluence"" (110)(110) thathatt constituteconstitutess communitycommunity,, andand thosthosee whwhoo failfail toto recognize,recognize, neglectneglect,, oror attemptattempt ttoo ignoreignore communalcommunal tiesties.. CommunityCommunity tietiess araree implicit,implicit, butbut inin ordeorderr forfor a communitycommunity ttoo bbee healthhealthyy thetheyy musmustt bebe recognized.recognized.

LivinLivingg iinn a "Bible-based"Bible-based culture"culture" (Grubbs(Grubbs 128),128), ththee membermemberss ofof Berry'sBerry's fictionalfictional

PortPort WilliaWilliamm possespossesss anan innateinnate knowledgknowledgee ooff variouvariouss BiblicaBiblicall ideasideas,, anandd iinn hihiss storystory "The"The

WilWildd Birds,Birds,"" Berry'Berry'ss fictionafictionall BurleBurleyy CoulterCoulter echoeechoess thethe apostleapostle Paul'Paul'ss affirmationaffirmation thatthat

"we"we areare membermemberss oneone ofof another"another" (Ephesian(Ephesianss 4:25),4:25), statingstating thathatt "we"we areare membermemberss ofof eacheach other.other. AlAlll ofof usus.. ThThee differencdifferencee ain'tain't iinn whowho isis a membememberr anandd whwhoo iiss notnot,, bubutt inin whowho knowsknows itit anandd whowho don't"don't" (That(That DistanDistantt LandLand 356).356). ThThee worworkk ofof Berry'Berry'ss fictiofictionn iiss notnot simplsimplyy ttoo portrayportray ththee inhereninherentt connectionsconnections betweebetweenn peoplpeoplee andand landland,, bubutt ttoo imaginimaginee a communitcommunityy inin whichwhich ththee humahumann membermemberss araree conscious ooff theitheirr membershimembershipp withiwithinn thethe patterpatternn ofof communitycommunity iinn placeplace,, acknowledgeacknowledge theitheirr placplacee withiwithinn ththee contexcontextt ooff thatthat membership,membership, andand remairemainn faithfufaithfull ttoo itit despitdespitee difficulty-adifficulty—a fidelitfidelityy basebasedd oonn theirtheir

"practice"practice ofof love...frolove ... fromm whichwhich allall elseelse springssprings"" (Grubb(Grubbss 55)55).. ThiThiss fidelitfidelityy ttoo communitycommunity isis a difficuldifficultt propositiopropositionn howevehoweverr givengiven ththee modermodernn WesterWesternn shiftshift towartowardd liberatedliberated 2323 individualismindividualism whicwhichh hahass resultedresulted iinn a glorificatioglorificationn ooff ththee selfself,, bubutt ofteoftenn a radicaradicall declinedecline ofof communitcommunityy tietiess andand obligationsobligations (Davis(Davis 140).140).

WithiWithinn ththee contextcontext ofof interconnecteinterconnectedd communitiescommunities,, conceptuaconceptuall delineationsdelineations betweenbetween urbaurbann andand ruralrural placeplacess anandd betweebetweenn pristinpristinee 'natural'natural'' andand human-influencedhuman-influenced environmentsenvironments begibeginn ttoo eroderodee aass intrinsicintrinsic interdependenciesinterdependencies araree recognizedrecognized.. IInn contrastcontrast toto whatwhat BuelBuelll characterizecharacterizess asas "first"first wavewave"" environmentalenvironmental thoughthoughtt whicwhichh tendtendss ttoo drawdraw sharpsharp distinctionsdistinctions betweebetweenn ththee positivepositive naturanaturall worlworldd (i.e.(i.e.,, wildernesswilderness)) anandd negativenegative human-constructedhuman-constructed oror influencedinfluenced environmentsenvironments (i.e.,(i.e., citiescities,, suburbs,suburbs, anandd farmlandfarmland)) andand thathatt generallgenerallyy characterizecharacterizess urbaurbann environmentsenvironments aass "non-places""non-places" (Buel(Buelll EnvironmentalEnvironmental

CriticismCriticism 88),88), BerrBerryy (althoug(althoughh certainlcertainlyy nonott uncriticauncriticall ooff citiescities)) seeksseeks ttoo redeemredeem urbanizedurbanized environmentsenvironments.. BerrBerryy acknowledgesacknowledges thethe possibilitpossibilityy ofof placplacee andand communitcommunityy inin urbaurbann areas:areas: "City"City peoplpeoplee havhavee places—havplaces-havee thethe earthearth underfoot—jusunderfoot-justt liklikee countrycountry peoplepeople.. InIn citcityy anandd countrycountry,, ththee mosmostt necessarynecessary jojobb ofof worworkk nonoww isis ttoo recoverecoverr thethe possibilitypossibility ofof neighborlinesneighborlinesss betweenbetween ourselveourselvess andand thethe otherother peoplpeoplee anandd otherother creaturescreatures whowho livelive wherwheree wwee do-bothdo—both oonn ththee earthearth andand inin ththee locallocal neighborhoodneighborhood"" (Grubb(Grubbss 22)22)..

BerrBerryy affirmsaffirms thathatt "there"there araree lotslots ofof googoodd reasonreasonss ttoo wanwantt ttoo livelive inin thethe citycity"" consideringconsidering themthem a vitavitall repositorrepositoryy ofof culturculturee andand statinstatingg thathatt livinlivingg iinn a "membership""membership" ofof neighborlinessneighborliness andand care,care, suchsuch aass iiss portrayeportrayedd iinn hihiss fiction,fiction, isis possiblpossiblee "i"inn a citcityy oror a

suburbsuburb oror wherevewhereverr yoyouu are"are" (206).(206).

WhilWhilee BerrBerryy seeksseeks ttoo redeemredeem urbaurbann environmentsenvironments toto rurarurall audiencesaudiences,, hhee alsoalso

workworkss toto redeeredeemm rurarurall environmentsenvironments ttoo urbanitesurbanites,, strivinstrivingg ttoo makmakee botbothh sidessides ooff thethe

allegedalleged urban/ruraurban/rurall dividdividee mindfumindfull andand respectfurespectfull ofof ththee interdependencieinterdependenciess thatthat inherentlyinherently

bindbind them.them. LikeLike environmentalism,environmentalism, whicwhichh hashas historicallhistoricallyy beebeenn primarilprimarilyy aann urbanurban 2424 phenomenonphenomenon andand thatthat strivesstrives toto protectprotect placesplaces thatthat areare notnot necessarilynecessarily geographicallygeographically proximate,proximate, neo-agrarianneo-agrarian advocatesadvocates describedescribe anan "urban"urban agrarianagrarian culture"culture" whosewhose scopescope notnot onlyonly includesincludes oftenoften distantdistant farmlandfarmland butbut "the"the carecare ofof allall livingliving spaces-residentialspaces—residential neighborhoods,neighborhoods, schools,schools, andand playgrounds,playgrounds, parks,parks, andand landfills,landfills, asas wellwell asas glaciers,glaciers, forests,forests, wetlands,wetlands, andand oceans-theoceans—the protectionprotection ofof allall thethe placesplaces thatthat maintainmaintain life"life" (Wirzba,(Wirzba, WhyWhy

AgrarianismAgrarianism MattersMatters 6).6). LikeLike environmentalistsenvironmentalists whowho argueargue thatthat allall peoplepeople havehave interestinterest inin thethe preservationpreservation ofof wildernesswilderness andand thethe environmentalenvironmental inin general,general, BerryBerry insistsinsists thatthat allall peoplepeople areare intimatelyintimately involvedinvolved inin agricultureagriculture andand inin maintainingmaintaining thethe wellwell beingbeing ofof ruralrural areasareas sincesince allall peoplepeople mustmust eateat toto survivesurvive inin thatthat "eating"eating isis anan agriculturalagricultural act"act" (What(What areare

PeoplePeople for?for? 145).145).

BerryBerry notesnotes thatthat "how"how wwee eateat determines,determines, toto a considerableconsiderable extent,extent, howhow thethe worldworld isis usedused"" (149).(149). ThoseThose livingliving inin citiescities thereforthereforee havehave vitalvital connectionsconnections andand responsibilitiesresponsibilities toto thethe surroundinsurroundingg countrcountryy andand vicvicee versversaa (Grubbs(Grubbs 22)22).. BerrBerryy lamentlamentss howevehoweverr thatthat currently,currently, givegivenn thathatt "the"the originoriginss ooff ththee productproductss araree typicalltypicallyy totooo distandistantt anandd tootoo scatteredscattered andand ththee processprocess ofof tradetrade,, manufacturingmanufacturing,, transportationtransportation,, andand marketingmarketing tootoo complicated..complicated .... wwee cannocannott livelive livelivess thathatt areare economicalleconomicallyy andand ecologicallyecologically responsible"responsible"

(Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 114).114). AAss aann antidotantidotee ttoo ththee currencurrentt foofoodd systesystemm whicwhichh BerryBerry condemncondemnss aass damagindamagingg ttoo ththee environmenenvironmentt anandd communitiescommunities,, expensiveexpensive,, anandd whichwhich leaveleavess urbaurbann populationpopulationss vulnerablvulnerablee ttoo disruptiondisruption,, BerrBerryy recommendrecommendss shorteninshorteningg supplysupply lineliness ssoo thathatt a citcityy iiss fefedd aass mucmuchh aass possiblpossiblee bbyy ititss owownn countryside—"buyingcountryside-"buying,, ssoo fafarr asas possiblepossible,, fresfreshh foofoodd thathatt iiss localllocallyy growgrownn anandd preparinpreparingg iitt aatt homehorne.. AnAndd iitt meansmeans,, whenwhen possiblepossible,, raisinraisingg a gardengarden"" (Hom(Hornee EconomicEconomicss 66;; GrubbGrubbss 22)22).. BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt eveneven growingrowingg vegetablevegetabless iinn smalsmalll plotplotss oorr apartmenapartmentt windowindoww boxeboxess enableenabless urbaniteurbanitess ttoo betterbetter 2525 understandunderstand anandd appreciateappreciate howhow foodfood iiss produceproducedd anandd ttoo recognizrecognizee theirtheir tietiess ttoo agricultureagriculture andand toto ththee wellwell beinbeingg ofof rurarurall places.places.

InIn Berry'sBerry's thoughtthought,, urbanitesurbanites,, consciousconscious ofof theitheirr connectionsconnections ttoo agricultureagriculture andand toto thethe surroundingsurrounding countrcountryy wilwilll tentendd ttoo vievieww "good"good farming"—whicfarming"-whichh BerrBerryy definedefiness asas

"proper"proper useuse anandd carcaree ofof anan immeasurablimmeasurablee giftgift"" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 144)-as144)—as essentiaessentiall andand honorablhonorablee work,work,

anan artart...... [that][that] growsgrows notnot onlyonly ououtt ooff factuafactuall knowledgknowledgee bubutt ououtt ooff culturalcultural tradition.tradition ... .learned.learned nonott onlyonly bbyy preceppreceptt bubutt bbyy exampleexample,, byby apprenticeshipapprenticeship...[requiring ... [requiring]] nonott merelmerelyy a competentcompetent knowledgknowledgee ofof factsfacts andand processesprocesses,, butbut alsoalso a complecomplexx sesett ofof attitudesattitudes,, a certaicertainn culturallyculturally evolvedevolved stance,stance, iinn ththee facfacee ofof ththee unknownunknown.. (Continuous(Continuous HarmonHarmonyy 94)94)

ClassicistClassicist VictoVictorr DaviDaviss HansoHansonn statesstates thathatt ""aa nation.nation .... .ca cann bebe judgejudgedd bbyy ththee wawayy itit treatstreats thosethose whwhoo producproducee itsits foodfood"" (Hanson(Hanson 8).8). WitWithh farminfarmingg recognizerecognizedd asas a complecomplexx andand necessarynecessary artart,, BerryBerry believebelievess thethe rolrolee ooff farminfarmingg andand ooff ththee goodgood farmefarmerr iinn societysociety wouldwould shiftshift fromfrom beingbeing consideredconsidered "a"a factorfactoryy workerworker"" oorr ""aa "hick,"hick,"" "withou"withoutt thethe dignity,dignity, knowledgeknowledge,, oror socialsocial respectabilitrespectabilityy ofof a businesbusinesss mamann oorr a membememberr ofof a professionprofession"" (Gift(Gift ooff GooGoodd LanLandd xx)) ttoo beinbeingg recognizerecognizedd anandd honorehonoredd asas "the"the trustetrusteee ofof ththee lifelife ofof ththee topsoil,topsoil, ththee keeperkeeper ofof ththee ruralrural community"community" (Continuou(Continuouss HarmonHarmonyy 128).128).

OfOf coursecourse,, asas criticscritics correctlycorrectly recognizerecognize,, farminfarmingg andand a rurarurall lifestylelifestyle isis easilyeasily idealized.idealized. BerrBerryy notenotess thatthat twotwo traditiontraditionss seeseemm ttoo accompanaccompanyy ththee ideaidea ooff farmingfarming:: "We've"We've gotgot a traditiotraditionn foforr ththee sentimentalizatiosentimentalizationn ooff farmersfarmers anandd we'vwe'vee gotgot anotheanotherr tradition-tradition— thesethese alwaysalways ggoo togethetogetherr whewhenn you'ryou'ree dealindealingg witwithh oppresseoppressedd people—fopeople-forr ththee denigrationdenigration ofof farmersfarmers.. TheTheyy existexist sideside bbyy sideside anandd they'rthey'ree ververyy dangeroudangerouss ttoo somebodysomebody whwhoo hashas farminfarmingg asas a subject"subject" (47).(47). ThThee tendenctendencyy ttoo "celebrate"celebrate ththee innocent liflifee ofof shepherdsshepherds andand shepherdessesshepherdesses iinn poemspoems,, placesplaces,, andand prosprosee romancesromances"" (Oxford(Oxford LiterarLiteraryy 186,186, emphasisemphasis 2626 addedadded)) iiss evidenevidentt throughouthroughoutt ththee pastorapastorall tradition.tradition. AddressinAddressingg ththee pastoralpastoral aass a genre,genre, literarliteraryy criticriticc DanDanaa PhilipPhilipss correctlcorrectlyy notenotess thathatt "on"onee ooff ththee limitationslimitations ofof ththee pastoral.pastoral .... .i iss ththee pastoral'pastoral'ss tendenctendencyy ttoo assumeassume thathatt ththee countrysidecountryside anandd ththee territorterritoryy areare mucmuchh simplersimpler placesplaces thathann ththee citycity oorr metropolismetropolis,, whewhenn iinn facfactt thetheyy aren't"aren't" (Phillips(Phillips 18).18). PhilipPhilipss citescites

LeoLeo Marx'sMarx's discussiodiscussionn ooff thethe "pastoral"pastoral impulse"impulse" asas "a"a desire,desire, inin ththee faceface ofof ththee growinggrowing powepowerr anandd complexitcomplexityy ooff organizedorganized societysociety,, ttoo disengagdisengagee fromfrom ththee dominantdominant culturculturee andand ttoo seekseek ououtt ththee basibasiss foforr a simplersimpler,, mormoree satisfyinsatisfyingg modmodee ofof liflifee inin a realrealmm 'closer,''closer,' asas wewe saysay ttoo nature,nature,"" anandd notenotess thathatt "i"iff anythinganything,, ththee citcityy isis ththee simplersimpler placplacee environmentallyenvironmentally oror,, ratherrather,, ecologically,ecologically, inin lighlightt ofof ththee facfactt (the(the historicalhistorical fact)fact) ooff ititss havinhavingg beebeenn mademade overover intointo a greenegreenerr andand mormoree pleasanpleasantt space,space, andand thereforetherefore a mormoree 'pastoral''pastoral' oneone"" (18).(18).

Berry'Berry'ss choicechoice ttoo returreturnn ttoo hihiss nativnativee placplacee seemseemss ttoo fitfit thethe traditionatraditionall pastoralpastoral molmoldd anandd mamayy bbee characterizecharacterizedd simplsimplyy aann enactmenenactmentt ooff ththee "pastoral"pastoral impulseimpulse"" toto

"disengage"disengage frofromm ththee dominandominantt cultureculture"" anandd seekseek ououtt a "simpler"simpler mormoree satisfyingsatisfying liflifee closercloser ttoo nature.nature."" BerrBerryy deniedeniess thisthis assumptionassumption howevehoweverr anandd iinn facfactt claimclaimss ththee opposite:opposite:

WhenWhen I aamm calledcalled,, aass toto mmyy astonishmenastonishmentt I sometimesometimess amam,, a devoteedevotee ofof "simplicity"simplicity"" (sinc(sincee I livlivee supposedlysupposedly aass a "simple"simple farmer"),farmer"), I aamm obligedobliged ttoo replreplyy thathatt I gavgavee uupp ththee simplsimplee liflifee whewhenn I lefleftt NeNeww YorYorkk CityCity iinn 19641964 anandd camcamee herehere.. IInn NeNeww YorkYork,, I livelivedd aass a passivpassivee consumer,consumer, supplyingsupplying nearlnearlyy alalll mmyy needneedss bbyy purchasepurchase,, whereawhereass herheree I supplysupply manmanyy ofof mmyy needsneeds frofromm thithiss placplacee bbyy mmyy worworkk (an(andd pleasurepleasure)) andand amam responsibleresponsible besidebesidess forfor ththee carecare ooff ththee placeplace.. (Wa(Wayy ooff IgnorancIgnorancee 48)48)

RatherRather thathann a simplification,simplification, BerrBerryy referreferss ttoo hihiss returninreturningg ttoo hihiss homhomee groundground asas a

"comp1exification""complexification" iinn thathatt despitedespite ththee exhilaratioexhilarationn ofof beginninbeginningg ttoo "see"see ththee placplacee witwithh a neneww claritclarityy andand a neneww understandingunderstanding"" hhee alsalsoo begabegann ttoo seesee hihiss placplacee iinn "a"a newnew seriousnessseriousness"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 177).177). BerrBerryy explainsexplains:: "When"When I livedlived iinn otherother placeplacess I lookedlooked onon theitheirr evilevilss withwith ththee curiouscurious eyeeye ooff a travelertraveler;; I wawass nonott responsiblresponsiblee foforr themthem;; itit 2727 costcost meme nothingnothing ttoo bbee a criticcritic,, forfor I hahadd nonott beebeenn therethere longlong,, andand I diddid nonott feelfeel thatthat I wouldwould staystay.. BuButt herehere,, nonoww thatthat I amam botbothh nativnativee anandd citizencitizen,, thertheree iiss nnoo immunityimmunity ttoo whatwhat isis wrongwrong"" (178).(178). RatheRatherr thathann escapinescapingg urbaurbann problemsproblems,, Berry'Berry'ss writinwritingg revealrevealss aann effectiveeffective reversal ooff ththee "pastoral"pastoral tendencytendency"" ooff movinmovingg frofromm complecomplexx citcityy ttoo ththee simplesimple countrycountry inin thathatt BerrBerryy believebelievess hihiss movingmoving intintoo ththee countrcountryy simplysimply putput hihimm inin contactcontact witwithh neneww andand ofteoftenn mormoree complecomplexx problemsproblems:: "there"there isn'tisn't ananyy peacefupeacefull placeplace....Peopl .... Peoplee ofteoftenn assumassumee thatthat there'there'ss somsomee placplacee wherwheree yoyouu cancan gegett awayaway frofromm ththee problemsproblems.. BuButt thertheree isn'isn'tt anyany suchsuch placeplace...... Peopl Peoplee whwhoo movmovee ttoo ththee countrycountry ttoo gegett ououtt ofof thethe wawarr reallreallyy araree movinmovingg ttoo thethe frontfront lineslines.. That'That'ss wherwheree mucmuchh ofof thethe damagdamagee isis beinbeingg donedone"" (Grubbs(Grubbs 112).112). ThisThis sentimentsentiment isis echoeechoedd byby Freyfogle:Freyfogle:

InIn ththee stockstock pastorapastorall taletale,, ththee fictionalfictional herohero escapeescapess frofromm a corruptecorruptedd citycity anandd fleefleess ttoo a pristinpristinee wholesomwholesomee worldworld,, thertheree ttoo begibeginn liflifee inin a neneww Eden.Eden. AgrariaAgrariann writerwriterss ooff recenrecentt decadedecadess havhavee hahadd a fafarr differendifferentt storystory toto recountrecount.. NoNott EdenEden bubutt a battle-wearbattle-wearyy lanlandd commonlcommonlyy greetgreetss ththee agrarianagrarian pilgripilgrimm today,today, a landland marremarredd bbyy erodederoded hillshills,, pollutepollutedd riversrivers,, andand biologicallbiologicallyy impoverisheimpoverishedd forestforestss (xxiii).(xxiii).

HardlHardlyy a VirgiliaVirgiliann pastorapastorall escapist,escapist, BerrBerryy believebelievess hihiss movmovee ttoo ththee countrcountryy placeplacedd hihimm inin a positionposition toto betterbetter observeobserve andand participateparticipate inin complexcomplex culturalcultural andand environmentalenvironmental challengeschallenges fromfrom whichwhich,, bbyy virtuvirtuee ofof ththee obfuscatinobfuscatingg influenceinfluence ooff globagloball retailerretailerss andand supermarketssupermarkets andand bbyy ththee privilegeprivilegedd positiopositionn ooff citiecitiess iinn a systemsystem ofof rurarurall colonialism,colonialism, urbaurbann dwellersdwellers havehave becomebecome largelylargely insulated.insulated.

BerryBerry acknowledgesacknowledges thathatt ththee worworkk ofof hihiss ownown farmfarm livingliving hahass alsoalso benefitebenefitedd himhim inin thathatt iitt hahass serveservedd asas a "necessary"necessary disciplinediscipline anandd correctivecorrective"" ttoo ththee tendenctendencyy toto sentimentalizesentimentalize farminfarmingg (Grubbs(Grubbs 47)47).. RatheRatherr thanthan romanticizinromanticizingg farmfarm lifelife anandd workwork,, BerryBerry speakspeakss ofof ththee lovlovee anandd oftenoften difficuldifficultt disciplinediscipline necessarynecessary toto completcompletee sucsuchh demandingdemanding work:work: "Once"Once yoyouu gegett intointo a relationshiprelationship witwithh eveneven soso mucmuchh asas a vegetablvegetablee garden,garden, youyou 2828 realizrealizee thathatt yoyouu havehave ttoo dodo ththee worworkk whethewhetherr youyou wanwantt ttoo oror notnot.. YoYouu mamayy havehave gogott intintoo itit becausbecausee ooff lovelove,, bubutt thertheree areare goingoingg ttoo bbee daydayss whewhenn yoyouu araree sicksick anandd you'ryou'ree goinggoing toto havehave ttoo ddoo youryour worworkk anyhowanyhow"" (42).(42). FoForr BerryBerry,, a "lov"lovee thathatt enforceenforcess carecare"" andand commitmentcommitment ttoo placeplace,, liklikee lovlovee betweebetweenn individuals,individuals, musmustt ggoo beyonbeyondd mermeree romanticromantic feelingsfeelings oror ththee thrilthrilll ofof initiainitiall infatuatioinfatuationn intintoo sustainesustainedd commitmencommitmentt anandd action,action,

"something"something yoyouu practicpracticee whethewhetherr yoyouu feelfeel liklikee iitt oorr notnot"" (42).(42). RecallinRecallingg ththee wordwordss ooff a neighborinneighboringg farmer:farmer: "They'll"They'll neveneverr ddoo wortworthh a damdamnn asas lonlongg asas they'vthey'vee gogott twotwo choices,"choices,"

BerryBerry considerconsiderss "eliminating"eliminating ththee secondsecond choicechoice,, [forsaking][forsaking] alalll othersothers"" aass essentialessential toto

maintaimaintainn marriagmarriagee relationrelationss betweenbetween individualindividualss anandd iinn turturnn betweebetweenn humanshumans andand land.land.

HeedinHeedingg hihiss neighbor'neighbor'ss adviceadvice "we"we [Berry[Berry andand hihiss wifwifee Tanya]Tanya] decidedecidedd thathatt thisthis placeplace

woulwouldd havhavee ttoo bbee ouourr fatefate andand thatthat we'we'dd staystay herheree nnoo mattematterr whawhatt happenehappenedd aass longlong aass lifelife

waswas possible...sincpossible ... sincee thenthen,, liflifee onon thithiss placplacee hahass hahadd a mucmuchh differendifferentt anandd fullerfuller meaningmeaning

forfor usus"" (13).(13).

ForFor Berry,Berry, thethe "good""good" farmefarmerr willinglwillinglyy enterenterss intointo thithiss markedlmarkedlyy unromantiunromanticc andand

demandingdemanding yetyet,, accordinaccordingg ttoo BerryBerry,, ultimatelultimatelyy meaningfumeaningfull relationshirelationshipp withwith ththee world:world:

"[those]"[those] whwhoo havhavee undertakeundertakenn toto cherischerishh ththee worlworldd anandd ddoo iitt nnoo damagedamage,, nonott becausbecausee theythey

araree duty-boundduty-bound,, bubutt becausbecausee thetheyy lovlovee ththee worlworldd anandd lovlovee theitheirr childrenchildren"" partakpartakee iinn a typetype

ofof worworkk thathatt "serves"serves ththee earthearth thetheyy livlivee oonn anandd fromfrom andand with...[anwith ... [andd thathatt isis]] pleasurablepleasurable

andand meaningfumeaningfull andand unendingunending"" (Unforeseen(Unforeseen WildernesWildernesss 33-34)33-34).. YetYet givegivenn ththee culturalcultural

anandd economieconomicc challengeschallenges suchsuch a liflifee currentlycurrently (and(and historicallyhistorically)) confronts:confronts:

"comparatively"comparatively fewfew whitwhitee peoplpeoplee havhavee eveeverr livelivedd thithiss wawayy iinn AmericaAmerica.. AnAndd foforr ththee onesones

whowho havhavee donedone so,so, oror whwhoo havhavee attemptedattempted ttoo dodo so,so, iitt hahass beebeenn difficultdifficult"" (34).(34). WhileWhile

affirmingaffirming thatthat hhee believebelievess "an"an ecologicallyecologically anandd culturallculturallyy responsiblresponsiblee agriculturagriculturee isis 2299 possible,"possible," BerryBerry acknowledgesacknowledges majomajorr obstacleobstacless ttoo googoodd farminfarmingg includinincludingg ththee currentcurrent

"low"low publipublicc standing"standing" ofof farmerfarmerss andand thathatt neneww smallsmall farmersfarmers strugglestruggle iinn a "farmer-killing"farmer-killing andand land-killingland-killing economy"economy" (Gift(Gift ooff GooGoodd LanLandd ixix,, x)x).. BerrBerryy declares:declares: "I"I wanwantt ttoo saysay poinpointt blanblankk whawhatt I hophopee iiss alreadyalready clear:clear: Though agrarianism proposes that everybodyeverybody has agrarian responsibilities, it does not propose that everyone should be a farmerfarmer or that we do not need cities" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 121,121, emphasiemphasiss added)added),, anandd thathatt "learning"learning farmingfarming iiss liklikee learninlearningg anan art;art; iitt taketakess a longlong timetime,, andand a lotlot ofof carefulcareful workwork"" (Grubb(Grubbss 8)8)..

Berry'Berry'ss worworkk (bot(bothh hihiss writinwritingg andand farming)farming) drawsdraws fromfrom a reservoireservoirr ooff insightsinsights gatheredgathered frofromm a lifetimelifetime ooff studyingstudying ththee culturaculturall repositorierepositoriess ooff literatureliterature anandd scripture,scripture, wisdomwisdom inheritedinherited fromfrom fellowfellow communitcommunityy membersmembers,, frofromm personapersonall experienceexperience gleanedgleaned fromfrom hihiss committedcommitted interactiointeractionn witwithh hihiss chosechosenn placeplace,, andand fromfrom otheotherr thinkerthinkerss andand farmersfarmers aroundaround thethe world.world. RatheRatherr thathann becominbecomingg boundbound bbyy provincialismprovincialism,, BerryBerry recognizesrecognizes a complexcomplex fabricfabric ofof connectionsconnections thathatt interweaveinterweave hishis placplacee andand hihiss thinkingthinking withwith ththee largerlarger world.world. FaFarr fromfrom a strictstrict provincialismprovincialism,, inin interactininteractingg witwithh anandd observingobserving hishis landland alongalong ththee KentuckyKentucky RiverRiver,, BerrBerryy notesnotes thathatt "the"the geographgeographyy ooff thithiss patchpatch ofof riverbanriverbankk takestakes inin mucmuchh ofof ththee geographgeographyy ofof ththee world.world .... .th thee geographgeographyy ofof thithiss placplacee isis airyairy andand starrystarry asas welwelll aass earthyearthy andand waterywatery.. IItt hahass beebeenn arrivedarrived aatt fromfrom a thousandthousand otherother places,places, somesome asas farawayfaraway aass ththee polespoles"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 163).163). AttuneAttunedd ttoo thethe connectionsconnections betweebetweenn hishis placplacee andand thethe largelargerr worldworld,, BerryBerry iiss ableable ttoo "look"look ououtt mymy

windowwindow andand seesee ththee worldworld"" (163).(163). BerrBerryy resistresistss ththee ideaidea ofof "thinking"thinking globally,"globally,"

characterizincharacterizingg thithiss familiarfamiliar environmentalenvironmental mantrmantraa aass a dangerousdangerous abstractionabstraction andand "a"a

distractiondistraction fromfrom thinking"thinking" (Grubbs(Grubbs 115),115), yeyett maintainmaintainss thathatt "if"if wwee couldcould thinthinkk locally,locally, wewe

wouldwould taktakee farfar betterbetter carecare ofof thingthingss thanthan wwee ddoo nownow.. ThThee righrightt locallocal questionsquestions wilwilll bbee thethe 3030 rightright globalglobal ones"ones" (Sex(Sex 19).19). WhileWhile literallyliterally groundedgrounded inin (and(and accordingaccording toto BerryBerry a productproduct of)of) thethe landland ofof hishis KentuckyKentucky farm,farm, Berry'sBerry's thoughtthought isis widelywidely applicableapplicable becausebecause itsits generalgeneral principlesprinciples addressaddress fundamentalfundamental questionsquestions andand difficultiesdifficulties encounteredencountered byby aUall humanshumans strivingstriving toto livelive meaningfullymeaningfully andand harmoniouslyharmoniously inin communitycommunity inin placeplace withinwithin thethe contextcontext ofof a worldworld whichwhich seemsseems atat onceonce beautiful,beautiful, benevolent,benevolent, unpredictableunpredictable,, andand dangerous.. THETHE PREEMINENTPREEMINENT AGRARIANAGRARIAN:: WENDELLWENDELL BERRBERRYY ANDAND

TWENTY-FIRSTTWENTY-FIRST CENTURYCENTURY AGRARIANISMAGRARIANISM

WendellWendell BerrBerryy andand thethe RisRisee ofof Neo-AgrarianismNeo-Agrarianism

LawLaw professorprofessor EricEric FreyfoglFreyfoglee notesnotes thathatt "with"with nono fanfarefanfare andand indeedindeed withwith hardlyhardly mucmuchh publicpublic noticenotice,, agrarianismagrarianism isis againagain onon thethe riserise"" (xxiii).(xxiii). DavidDavid OrrOrr characterizescharacterizes

BerryBerry aass "the"the preeminenpreeminentt agrarian,"agrarian," andand recognizerecognizess Berry'sBerry's formativeformative rolrolee inin thisthis renewalrenewal ofof interesinterestt iinn agrarianism,agrarianism, statingstating thathatt "from"from HesioHesiodd toto thethe presentpresent nono oneone hashas representedrepresented thethe agrarianagrarian causecause witwithh greatergreater eloquence,eloquence, logiclogic,, oror consistency"consistency" (Uses(Uses ofof ProphecyProphecy 171).171).

OrrOrr notenotess thatthat "Concern"Concern toto preservepreserve farmsfarms andand farmlandfarmland isis evidentevident iinn recentrecent citizencitizen initiativeinitiativess acrossacross ththee country.country. TheThe marketmarket forfor organicorganic foodfood isis risinrisingg bbyy doubledouble digitsdigits eacheach year.year. GardeningGardening programprogramss existexist inin virtualvirtual everyevery majormajor citycity andand inin manmanyy schools.schools. TheThe sustainablesustainable agricultureagriculture movementmovement,, ifif nonott yeyett a significantsignificant politicapoliticall force,force, hahass growngrown steadilysteadily forfor threethree decades."decades." (177).(177). SeveralSeveral populapopularr workworkss heraldingheralding agrarianagrarian ideasideas havehave alsoalso recentlyrecently garneredgarnered popularpopular interest.interest. NovelisNovelistt BarbaraBarbara Kingsolver'Kingsolver'ss recentrecent work,work,

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, detailsdetails heherr family'sfamily's attemptattempt atat eatingeating

locallylocally anandd producingproducing a significantsignificant shareshare ofof theitheirr ownown food.food. KingsolverKingsolver acknowledgesacknowledges

Berry'sBerry's influence,influence, statingstating thatthat "everything"everything we'vewe've saidsaid here,here, WendellWendell saidsaid itit first,first, inin a

quietquiet voicvoicee thatthat makesmakes thethe mountainsmountains tremble"tremble" (Kingsolver(Kingsolver 352).352). MichaelMichael Pollan'sPollan's

popularpopular workwork The Omnivore'sOmnivore 's Dilemma tracestraces thethe productionproduction,, distribution,distribution, andand

consumptionconsumption ofof commoncommon AmericanAmerican foodstuffs,foodstuffs, examiningexamining thethe social,social, environmental,environmental, andand 3232 ethicalethical implicationsimplications ooff industrializedindustrialized agricultureagriculture.. ContrastingContrasting modermodernn industrializedindustrialized farmingfarming witwithh farmfarmss rurunn accordingaccording ttoo "a"a politicapoliticall anandd aestheticaesthetic stancestance...descende ... descendedd fromfrom

VirgilVirgil througthroughh JeffersonJefferson...... [that[that is]is] alivealive and,and, ifif nonott welwelll exactlyexactly,, stillstill usefuluseful,, eveneven necessarynecessary"" (125)(125).. PollanPollan sharesharess manmanyy commoncommon viewpointviewpointss witwithh BerryBerry anandd approvinglyapprovingly citescites hihimm onon severalseveral occasions.occasions. TheseThese developmentsdevelopments seeseemm ttoo indicateindicate a groundswellgrounds well ooff interestinterest inin ththee "agrarian"agrarian argument"argument" BerrBerryy hahass beebeenn championinchampioningg foforr decades.decades.

DespiteDespite recenrecentt causecause forfor hope,hope, BerrBerryy andand otherother neo-agrarianneo-agrarianss stillstill facfacee formidableformidable challengeschallenges.. Neo-agrarianisNeo-agrarianismm opposesopposes thethe industrializeindustrializedd agriculturalagricultural systemsystem (as(as wellwell asas industrialindustrial capitalismcapitalism generallygenerally)) whicwhichh hahass developeddeveloped inin ththee UnitedUnited StatesStates sincesince ththee endend ooff thethe SecondSecond WorlWorldd WaWarr andand thathatt hahass beebeenn rapidlrapidlyy spreadinspreadingg abroad-particularlyabroad—particularly inin developingdeveloping countriescountries (Shiva(Shiva 121-139).121-139). ThThee nonoww predominatpredominatee industriaindustriall systemsystem,, basebasedd onon cheapcheap fossilfossil fuels,fuels, thethe comodificationcomodification ooff naturenature,, ththee neeneedd ttoo "ge"gett bigbig oorr gegett out,out,"" powerfulpowerful corporatecorporate influenceinfluence,, andand heavyheavy governmentgovernment subsidies,subsidies, hahass appeasedappeased "th"thee public'spublic's demanddemand forfor a dietdiet thatthat iiss aatt onconcee cheapcheap andand luxurious"luxurious" (Berry,(Berry, SexSex 31)31).. WhilWhilee thisthis systemsystem hashas beenbeen

lucrativelucrative forfor "agribusiness""agribusiness" corporations,corporations, agrarianagrarianss believbelievee thathatt iitt hahass beebeenn devastatindevastatingg toto ththee vitavitall culturalcultural andand ecologicalecological healthealthh ofof ththee countryside,countryside, toto thethe healthealthh ooff alalll whowho

consumconsumee industriaindustriall agriculture'sagriculture's productsproducts,, andand alalll whwhoo suffesufferr frofromm itsits pollutantpollutantss (Pollan(Pollan

100-108).100-108).

BerryBerry anandd ththee neo-agrarianneo-agrarianss challengechallenge ththee statusstatus ququoo ooff globagloball corporatecorporate

industrialism-whichindustrialism—which BerryBerry considersconsiders a latter-daylatter-day incarnatioincarnationn ofof ththee paspastt colonialiscolonialismm ofof

EuropeanEuropean monarchiemonarchiess (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 144)-questioning144)—questioning itsits basibasicc premisepremisess andand

contrastingcontrasting industriaindustriall ethicsethics anandd idealidealss witwithh thosthosee ofof agrarianism:agrarianism: ththee industriaindustriall ideaideall ofof

unlimitedunlimited growthgrowth andand acquisitionacquisition witwithh ththee agrariaagrariann ethicethic ofof sufficiency,sufficiency, andand ththee industrialindustrial 3333 tendencytendency towartowardd competitioncompetition witwithh ththee agrarianagrarian idealideal ofof cooperationcooperation anandd integration.integration.

BerryBerry claimsclaims thathatt "agrarianism"agrarianism...... i iss a culturculturee aatt ththee samesame thathatt iitt iiss aann economyeconomy [whereas][whereas] industrialisindustrialismm iiss anan economyeconomy beforbeforee iitt isis a culture"culture" (116)(116).. AccordinAccordingg ttoo Berry,Berry, agrarianismagrarianism iiss a culturculturee thathatt inherentlinherentlyy produceproducess a certaincertain typtypee ooff economyeconomy andand aann economyeconomy thatthat reciprocallreciprocallyy preservepreservess anandd reinforcereinforcess agrariaagrariann culture.culture. Conversely,Conversely, industriaindustriall culturculturee isis createcreatedd iinn ththee imagimagee ooff andand iiss subservientsubservient ttoo ththee industrialindustrial economyeconomy.. EitherEither wayway,, BerryBerry perceiveperceivess aann intimatintimatee linklink betweebetweenn culturculturee anandd economics—economieconomics-economicc idealidealss andand perspectivesperspectives invariablinvariablyy manifesmanifestt themselvesthemselves inin culturaculturall practicepractice.. BerrBerryy notenotess thathatt "to"to thethe bewildermentbewilderment ofof 'conservatives,''conservatives,'"" ththee idealsideals ooff thethe industrialindustrial economeconomyy sucsuchh asas unlimitedunlimited competitioncompetition,, unlimitedunlimited growth,growth, anandd ththee encouragementencouragement ofof "exorbitant"exorbitant oorr inordinateinordinate wants...cannowants ... cannott bbee confineconfinedd toto ththee 'marketplace''marketplace'"" (Standin(Standingg bbyy WordWordss 179).179). SinceSince industrialindustrial culturculturee simplysimply mirrormirrorss ththee industrialindustrial economyeconomy,, iitt iiss inevitablinevitablyy saturatesaturatedd withwith destructivedestructive industriaindustriall principleprincipless anandd tendencies.tendencies.

ForFor Berry,Berry, ththee wholesalwholesalee applicatioapplicationn ooff industrialindustrial principleprincipless ttoo humahumann cultureculture entailsentails diredire consequences.consequences. UnlimiteUnlimitedd competitioncompetition,, forfor exampleexample,, "as"as a rulinrulingg principlprinciplee andand a virtue,virtue, imposesimposes a logiclogic thatthat isis extremelyextremely difficult,difficult, perhapsperhaps impossibleimpossible toto control"control" (Home(Home

EconomicsEconomics 72)72).. AccordinAccordingg ttoo BerryBerry,, ththee ideaideall ooff competition,competition,

alwaysalways implies,implies, andand iinn facfactt requirerequiress thathatt anyany communitycommunity musmustt bbee divideddivided intointo a clasclasss ooff winnerwinnerss andand a clasclasss ofof losers..losers .... [however][however] ththee defendersdefenders ofof ththee ideaideall ofof competitioncompetition havhavee nevernever knowknownn whawhatt toto dodo witwithh oror foforr thethe losers.losers. TheThe loserloserss simplysimply accumulataccumulatee iinn humahumann dumpsdumps,, likelike storesstores ofof industrialindustrial wastewaste,, untiuntill thetheyy gaigainn enougenoughh miserymisery andand strengthstrength toto overpoweroverpower thethe winnerwinnerss (What(What areare PeoplPeoplee ForFor?? 130-131).130-131).

Further,Further, BerrBerryy believebelievess ththee idealideal ofof competitioncompetition resultsresults inin detrimentaldetrimental individualism,individualism, alienation,alienation, anandd dependencdependencee oonn entitieentitiess whoswhosee primarprimaryy concernconcern isis monetarymonetary profitprofit ratherrather thanthan ththee integritintegrityy ofof lanlandd andand communities:communities: "[unlimited"[unlimited competitioncompetition]] doedoess nonott hesitathesitatee atat 3434 ththee destructiondestruction ooff ththee lifelife ofof a familyfamily oorr ththee liflifee ofof a communitycommunity.. ItIt pitpitss neighboneighborr againstagainst neighborneighbor asas readilreadilyy asas iitt pitpitss buyebuyerr againsagainstt seller.seller. EverEveryy transactiotransactionn iiss meant ttoo involvinvolvee a winnerwinner andand a loserloser.. AndAnd forfor thisthis reasoreasonn ththee humahumann economyeconomy isis pittepittedd withouwithoutt limilimitt againstagainst nature"nature" (131).(131).

Berry'Berry'ss "agrarian"agrarian argumentargument"" challengechallengess culturaculturall normnormss shapedshaped bbyy industrialindustrial economiceconomic theortheoryy andand practicpracticee whicwhichh havhavee becombecomee ingraineingrainedd iinn ththee modermodernn psychpsychee andand institutionalizedinstitutionalized inin currentcurrent educationeducation anandd religionreligion.. BerrBerryy claimclaimss thatthat ththee "victory"victory ofof industrialismindustrialism overover agrarianism"agrarianism" (46)(46) alloweallowedd industrialisindustrialismm ttoo dominatedominate ththee livelivess ooff thethe majoritymajority ofof Americans,Americans, anandd thatthat industrialism'sindustrialism's destructivedestructive influencinfluencee iiss nonoww beinbeingg spreadspread abroadabroad bbyy globalglobal corporatecorporate colonialism.colonialism. WhilWhilee raisinraisingg ththee standarstandardd ofof livinlivingg forfor manymany withinwithin developeddeveloped nationsnations,, BerrBerryy notenotess thathatt industrialisindustrialismm hahass failefailedd ttoo producproducee thethe promisepromisedd "Earthly"Earthly Paradise..Paradise .. ..invented in vented anandd builbuiltt bbyy humahumann intelligencintelligencee andand industryindustry...... an andd bbyy machinesmachines"" (Unsettlin(Unsettlingg ooff AmericAmericaa 5555)) thatthat,, accordinaccordingg ttoo Bacon,Bacon,

"would"would providprovidee thethe meansmeans forfor improvinimprovingg ththee humahumann economieconomicc estateestate...... makin makingg uuss allall richrich beyondbeyond counting"counting" (Worster(Worster 170).170). TToo ththee contrary,contrary, BerrBerryy arguearguess thathatt thethe legaclegacyy ofof

industrialisindustrialismm iiss a traitraill ofof povertypoverty,, disintegrateddisintegrated communities,communities, anandd destroyedestroyedd oror poisonedpoisoned ecosystems.ecosystems. FurtherFurther,, BerrBerryy assertassertss thathatt industrialism'industrialism'ss "most"most marketedmarketed

commodity...satisfaction...icommodity ... satisfaction .. .iss neveneverr delivered"delivered" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 113).113). ThisThis sentimentsentiment

isis echoedechoed bbyy anthropologistanthropologist WadWadee DavisDavis,, whwhoo notenotess thathatt manmanyy individualsindividuals inin

'developing''developing' countriescountries areare "seduced"seduced bbyy emptemptyy promises,promises,"" anandd forsakforsakee traditionatraditionall culturalcultural

andand communitcommunityy tietiess andand contextcontextss foforr ththee sakesake ofof modernizationmodernization.. AccordinAccordingg ttoo Davis,Davis,

thesethese individualsindividuals ofteoftenn findfind themselvethemselvess oonn "the"the bottobottomm runrungg ooff anan economieconomicc ladderladder thatthat

goegoess nowherenowhere"" (156,157).(156,157). 3535 DespiteDespite itsits overwhelmingoverwhelming dominance,dominance, BerryBerry believebelievess thathatt ththee failurfailuree ooff large-scalelarge-scale industriaindustriall agricultureagriculture iiss inevitableinevitable givegivenn thathatt iitt iiss basedbased onon ththee shakyshaky foundatiofoundationn ofof a diminishingdiminishing supplysupply ooff cheacheapp fossilfossil fuelfuelss anandd thathatt iitt hahass beebeenn "spending"spending ththee naturanaturall capitalcapital builbuiltt uupp overover thousandthousandss ooff yearsyears inin ththee soil"soil" (Sex(Sex 143).143). FoForr agrarians,agrarians, thethe questioquestionn isis notnot whethewhetherr ththee presenpresentt systemsystem wilwilll failfail bubutt whethewhetherr itit wilwilll failfail quicklquicklyy andand catastrophicallycatastrophically oror slowlyslowly,, allowinallowingg a transitiontransition toto "agricultural"agricultural systemssystems basebasedd upouponn thethe ususee ofof humanhuman energyenergy andand locallocal resources"resources" whicwhichh BerrBerryy believebelievess "coul"couldd survivesurvive ththee sortsort ofof crisiscrisis thatthat manmanyy ofof thethemm alreadalreadyy havhavee survived,survived, whereawhereass ththee presenpresentt AmericaAmericann systemsystem ooff agricultureagriculture wilwilll faifaill ifif ththee fuefuell tanktankss runrun dry"dry" (Gif(Giftt ofof GoodGood LanLandd 95)95).. Berry'Berry'ss hophopee isis thatthat ththee systemsystem wilwilll "fail"fail intintoo a restoratiorestorationn ooff communitycommunity life—thalife-thatt isis,, intointo aann understandingunderstanding ofof ourour needneed ttoo helhelpp anandd comforcomfortt eacheach other"other" (137)(137).. Berry'Berry'ss vievieww ofof ththee inevitableinevitable failurefailure ofof industrialindustrial agriculturagriculturee (and(and thethe presenpresentt industriaindustriall economyeconomy)) iiss sharedshared bbyy intellectualintellectual inheritorinheritorss suchsuch aass OrOrrr whowho warnwarnss thathatt "If"If ththee transitiotransitionn frofromm fossilfossil fuelfuelss ttoo sunlighsunlightt iiss madmadee badly,badly, withouwithoutt foresightforesight oorr planning...iplanning .. .itt coulcouldd welwelll meameann supplsupplyy interruptions,interruptions, shortageshortagess ofof oneone kinkindd oorr anotheanotherr andand economiceconomic collapsecollapse"" (Earth(Earth iinn MinMindd 188).188). LikLikee BerryBerry,, OrOrrr proposeproposess a rediscoverrediscoveryy ooff "tried-and-true"tried-and-true waywayss ofof doingdoing thingsthings"" (195)(195),, a "twenty-first"twenty-first centurycentury agrarianismagrarianism"" thathatt includesincludes sustainablesustainable agricultureagriculture andand forestry,forestry, re-thinkinre-thinkingg transportation,transportation, economieeconomiess ooff place,place, reinhabitinreinhabitingg "rural"rural areaareass iinn aann orderly,orderly, knowledgeableknowledgeable,, andand sustainablesustainable fashion,fashion,"" anandd a "greening"greening"" ofof citiescities "to"to fifitt moremore closelcloselyy theitheirr surroundingsurrounding regions"regions" (195-202).(195-202).

NoNott simplysimply contentcontent toto awaitawait ththee anticipatedanticipated demisdemisee ofof ththee oil-fueleoil-fueledd industrialindustrial economy,economy, neo-agrarianneo-agrarianss havhavee begunbegun ttoo promotpromotee alternativealternative economieeconomiess ofof direct­direct- marketinmarketingg whicwhichh "sell"sell theitheirr productproductss directldirectlyy ttoo foodfood customercustomerss throughthrough variousvarious 3366 marketinmarketingg arrangements-farmers'arrangements—farmers' marketsmarkets,, communitcommunityy supportedsupported agricultureagriculture arrangementarrangementss (CSAs)(CSAs),, directdirect salesaless ofofff ththee farmfarm,, homhomee deliveries,deliveries, anandd variousvarious InternetInternet networknetworkss thathatt directldirectlyy linlinkk producerproducerss andand consumers"consumers" (Kirschenman(Kirschenmannn 102-103).102-103). WhileWhile thesethese direct-markedirect-markett farmsfarms "remai"remainn a tintinyy portioportionn ofof ththee foodfood andand agricultureagriculture system"system"

(103),(103), thetheyy havhavee increasedincreased significantly.significantly. YeYett whilwhilee thithiss neneww markemarkett offersoffers hopehope ttoo smallsmall farmerfarmerss anandd a renewarenewall ooff mormoree sustainablsustainablee small-scalesmall-scale agricultureagriculture,, a loominloomingg challengchallengee isis thathatt ththee neneww markemarkett "will"will bbee quicklquicklyy co-opteco-optedd bbyy largelargerr competitorcompetitorss witwithh mormoree economiceconomic clout"clout" (Donahu(Donahuee 44)44).. ThisThis tendenctendencyy iiss documentedocumentedd iinn Pollan'Pollan'ss accountaccount ofof "Big"Big

Organic"-largeOrganic"—large scalescale organiorganicc farmsfarms thathatt producproducee organicorganic productproductss forfor largelarge corporatecorporate retailerretailerss suchsuch aass WholWholee FoodsFoods (134-184).(134-184).

AgrariaAgrariann advocateadvocatess howevehoweverr poinpointt ttoo economiceconomic studiestudiess indicatingindicating a shiftshift towardtoward

"a"a conversationalconversational marketplace"marketplace" iinn whicwhichh ratheratherr thathann simplsimplyy beinbeingg soldsold toto,, customerscustomers increasinglincreasinglyy seeseekk opportunitieopportunitiess ttoo havhavee a "conversation"conversation"" abouaboutt whawhatt thetheyy araree buyingbuying

(Kirschenman(Kirschenmannn 112).112). ThesThesee studiestudiess alsoalso indicateindicate a shiftshift iinn whicwhichh consumersconsumers favorfavor

"trustworth"trustworthyy anandd authenticauthentic producerproducerss anandd productsproducts"" anandd a "close"close ttoo homehome connection"connection"

(112)(112).. Neo-agrarianNeo-agrarianss arguarguee thathatt inin sucsuchh a climateclimate,, "i"itt becomebecomess extremelyextremely difficuldifficultt forfor largelarge consolidatedconsolidated firms,firms, whoswhosee marketinmarketingg advantageadvantage isis basebasedd oonn beinbeingg ththee lowestlowest costcost suppliersupplier ofof aann undifferentiated,undifferentiated, mass-producemass-producedd commoditcommodityy ttoo providprovidee suchsuch marketingmarketing relationships,relationships,"" ssoo thathatt "th"thee comparativcomparativee advantagadvantagee consequentlconsequentlyy goegoess ttoo ththee agrarianagrarian farmersfarmers ofof ththee future"future" (114).(114). YeYett whilwhilee publipublicc interestinterest iinn direcdirectt marketinmarketingg andand inin relationshiprelationshipss witwithh locallocal farmerfarmerss hahass thuthuss fafarr proveprovenn a booboonn ttoo currentcurrent proponentproponentss ofof agrariaagrariann idealsideals,, whethewhetherr larglargee corporationcorporationss wilwilll bbee successfulsuccessful iinn capitalizincapitalizingg onon marketmarket 3377 shiftsshifts,, co-optingco-opting oorr mimickinmimickingg agrarianagrarian idealsideals anandd extendinextendingg theitheirr hegemonichegemonic influenceinfluence intintoo currencurrentt agrariaagrariann modesmodes ofof productioproductionn andand distributiodistributionn remainremainss ttoo bebe seen.seen.

AlsAlsoo nonott simplysimply contencontentt ttoo sisitt idlidlyy asidasidee whilwhilee ththee markemarkett taketakess itit course,course, aass thethe preeminenpreeminentt voicvoicee ofof neo-agrarianisneo-agrarianismm BerrBerryy offerofferss agrarianagrarian alternativesalternatives ttoo ththee industrialindustrial idealsideals ooff unlimiteunlimitedd growtgrowthh andand competition.competition. Berry'Berry'ss alternativealternative ttoo ththee industriaindustriall ideaideall ofof unlimiteunlimitedd industriaindustriall competitiocompetitionn iiss a cooperativcooperativee culturculturee ofof neighborneighborss whoswhosee "concerns"concerns

andand enterpriseenterprisess araree nonott fragmentedfragmented,, scatterescatteredd out,out, atat variancvariancee oror iinn contentioncontention withwith oneone other,"other," bubutt inin whicwhichh neighborneighborss recognizrecognizee theitheirr mutuamutuall interdependenceinterdependence,, andand iinn whichwhich "the"the peoplpeoplee anandd theitheirr worworkk anandd theitheirr countrcountryy araree membermemberss ofof eaceachh otherother andand ofof ththee culture"culture"

(Unsettlin(Unsettlingg ofof AmericAmericaa 47)47).. MemberMemberss ofof Berry'Berry'ss cooperativcooperativee cultureculture woulwouldd nonott onlyonly

cooperatcooperatee witwithh eaceachh otherother,, bubutt strivstrivee ttoo cooperatcooperatee witwithh naturnaturee andand ititss processeprocessess ratherrather

thanthan attemptinattemptingg ttoo controcontroll oorr "conquer""conquer" iitt (Continuous(Continuous HarmonHarmonyy 94).94). Berry'Berry'ss idealideal ofof

cooperativcooperativee culturculturee operateoperatess primarilprimarilyy onon a localocall scalscalee andand isis basebasedd onon whawhatt BerryBerry

characterizecharacterizess aass ththee firstfirst principlprinciplee ofof a localocall economyeconomy:: ththee trustrustt anandd responsibilitresponsibilityy ofof

neighborsneighbors,, peoplpeoplee whwhoo knoknoww anandd carcaree foforr ononee anotheranother andand whosewhose interesinterestt iiss inin

maintaininmaintainingg ththee welwelll beingbeing ofof theitheirr communitycommunity anandd place.place.

MaintainingMaintaining ththee importanceimportance ofof privateprivate propertpropertyy ownership,ownership, BerrBerryy iiss carefulcareful toto

distinguisdistinguishh hihiss cooperativcooperativee agrarianismagrarianism fromfrom socialismsocialism whichwhich hehe considersconsiders nnoo bettebetterr thanthan

industriaindustriall capitalismcapitalism iinn preservinpreservingg ththee landland anandd rurarurall placesplaces:: "Communists"Communists andand capitalistscapitalists

areare alikealike inin theitheirr contemptcontempt foforr countrycountry peoplepeople,, countrycountry lifelife,, anandd countrcountryy placesplaces.. TheyThey havehave

exploiteexploitedd ththee countrysidecountryside witwithh equalequal greegreedd anandd disregarddisregard"" (Anothe(Anotherr TurTurnn ooff ththee CrankCrank

15-16).15-16). ThiThiss isis sentimensentimentt echoeechoedd bbyy environmentaenvironmentall historiahistoriann DonaldDonald WorsterWorster:: "The"The

humahumann economeconomyy requirerequiress foforr itsits long-terlong-termm successsuccess thathatt ititss architectsarchitects acknowledgeacknowledge theirtheir 3838 dependencedependence oonn ththee greategreaterr economeconomyy ooff naturenature,, preservinpreservingg ititss healthhealth anandd respectingrespecting itsits benefitsbenefits.. BByy thithiss standardstandard everyevery modermodernn economyeconomy,, whethewhetherr builbuiltt onon ththee principleprincipless ofof

AdamAdam SmithSmith oror KarKarll MarxMarx,, isis aann unmitigateunmitigatedd disasterdisaster"" (175(175;; McNeiMcNeill 131-134).131-134).

ExamplesExamples ooff neighborneighborss engaginengagingg iinn commocommonn worworkk inin Berry'Berry'ss fictiofictionn shedshed lightlight oonn hihiss senssensee ooff a cooperativecooperative culture.culture. MuchMuch oofthef the worworkk inin Berry'sBerry's fictionafictionall PorPortt WilliamWilliam isis performeperformedd communallycommunally bbyy neighborsneighbors:: "here"here [i[inn PorPortt William]...neighborWilliam] ... neighborss werweree alwaysalways workinworkingg togethertogether"" (Tha(Thatt DistanDistantt LanLandd 200).200). CommunalCommunal workwork provideprovidess opportunitiesopportunities forfor menmen,, womenwomen,, andand childrenchildren ofof variouvariouss familiesfamilies ttoo socializesocialize andand ttoo learnlearn-— andand forfor elderselders toto passpass alongalong farminfarmingg techniquetechniquess anandd agri-cultureagri-culture ttoo ththee younyoungg (200-201)(200-201).. Berry'Berry'ss senssensee ofof sharedshared workwork iiss a typtypee ofof currencycurrency,, a mediumediumm ofof exchangeexchange bindinbindingg neighborneighborss throughthrough mutuamutuall interdependenceinterdependence,, asas WheeleWheelerr CatletCatlettt explainexplainss ttoo EltoEltonn PennPenn:: "you"you don'don'tt sensendd a billbill.. YoYouu don'tdon't,, iiff yoyouu cancan helhelpp itit,, keekeepp anan accountaccount.. OnceOnce ththee accountaccount isis keptkept,, andand ththee billbill presentedpresented,, ththee friendshipfriendship ends,ends, ththee neighborhooneighborhoodd isis finished.finished."" (288).(288). BerrBerryy isis carefulcareful notnot ttoo glamorizglamorizee oorr romanticizeromanticize ththee farfarmm worworkk dondonee byby neighborneighborss iinn hihiss fiction,fiction, whicwhichh hehe portrayportrayss aass ofteoftenn repetitivrepetitivee anandd physicallphysicallyy demandingdemanding,, yetyet,, contrarycontrary ttoo whawhatt BerryBerry believebelievess hahass becombecomee a widespreawidespreadd socialsocial stigmatizationstigmatization ooff allall physicaphysicall worworkk aass degradingdegrading drudgerydrudgery (Wha(Whatt areare PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 141),141), hihiss portrayaportrayall ofof commoncommon worworkk isis nonott purpuree miserymisery andand isis ofteoftenn accompaniedaccompanied bbyy gamesgames,, laughterlaughter,, conversationconversation,, andand singingsinging (A(A PlacPlacee onon

EarthEarth 259-260).259-260).

Berry'sBerry's essaysessays providprovidee exampleexampless ofof communalcommunal work,work, describingdescribing thethe socialsocial workwork ofof paspastt residentresidentss ofof hihiss nativnativee PortPort Royal,Royal, KentuckyKentucky:: "These"These peoplpeoplee workeworkedd hardhard...thei ... theirr worworkk wawass minglemingledd witwithh theitheirr amusement;amusement; sometimesometimess itit wawass theirtheir amusement.amusement. TalkTalk waswas ververyy importantimportant:: TheyThey workeworkedd togethetogetherr andand talked"talked" (Home(Home EconomicEconomicss 182).182). AmishAmish authorauthor 3939 DavidDavid KlineKline describedescribess similarsimilar sociasociall worworkk amongstamongst hihiss "supportive"supportive community,"community," andand speaksspeaks ofof ththee pleasurepleasuress hhee drawdrawss fromfrom suchsuch worworkk sucsuchh asas workinworkingg inin a diversediverse landscape,landscape, seeingseeing abundanabundantt wildlifewildlife,, andand a workingworking atat a leisurelleisurelyy pacpacee allowinallowingg "quiet"quiet time:time: a timtimee toto listelistenn ttoo GodGod andand hihiss CreationCreation"" (193).(193). BerrBerryy contrastcontrastss socialsocial cooperativecooperative workwork toto industriaindustriall agricultureagriculture whicwhichh useusess workerworkerss aass iiff thetheyy werweree machinemachiness oror slavesslaves (Unsettling(Unsettling ooff AmericAmericaa 139;139; LifLifee iiss a MiraclMiraclee 6;6; CitizenshipCitizenship PaperPaperss 161-162).161-162).

MosMostt ofof Berry'Berry'ss exampleexampless ofof a culturculturee ofof neighborlneighborlyy cooperatiocooperationn involvinvolvee carecare anandd worworkk betweebetweenn farfarmm familiefamiliess oorr betweebetweenn localocall producerproducerss anandd localocall consumers,consumers, whichwhich begbegss ththee questionquestion ofof outsidoutsidee tradetrade:: hohoww woulwouldd a focufocuss oonn locallocal cooperationcooperation betweenbetween neighborneighborss translattranslatee intintoo interactionsinteractions extendingextending beyonbeyondd ththee limitlimitss ofof ththee localocall regioregionn oror eveneven betweebetweenn countries?countries? BerrBerryy acknowledgeacknowledgess thathatt "of"of coursecourse,, everythineverythingg needeneededd locallylocally cannocannott bbee produceproducedd locally,locally,"" necessitatinnecessitatingg tradetrade witwithh neighborinneighboringg communitiecommunitiess (and(and byby inferenceinference neighborinneighboringg countries)countries),, bubutt assertassertss thathatt "The"The principlprinciplee ofof neighborhoodneighborhood aatt homehome alwaysalways impliesimplies ththee principleprinciple ofof charitycharity abroad"abroad" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 75).75). FoForr BerryBerry,, thethe healthealthh anandd prosperitprosperityy ofof ththee locallocal economeconomyy iiss ththee necessarnecessaryy basibasiss ofof faifairr andand mutuallymutually beneficiabeneficiall tradtradee abroadabroad:: "[the"[the locallocal economy]economy] doedoess nonott importimport productsproducts thathatt iitt cancan producproducee forfor itselfitself.. AnAndd itit doedoess nonott exportexport locallocal productsproducts untiuntill localocall needsneeds havhavee beebeenn met.met.

ThThee economieconomicc productproductss ooff a viablviablee communitcommunityy araree understoodunderstood eithereither aass belonginbelongingg ttoo thethe community'scommunity's subsistencesubsistence oorr aass surplussurplus,, andand onlonlyy ththee surplussurplus iiss considereconsideredd ttoo bbee marketedmarketed abroadabroad"" (75).(75). BerrBerryy advocatesadvocates replacinreplacingg coloniacoloniall economieseconomies iinn whicwhichh peripheralperipheral communitiecommunitiess existexist solelysolely ttoo exportexport raraww materialmaterialss ttoo a distandistantt center-whichcenter—which BerryBerry characterizecharacterizess asas destructivedestructive ooff localocall economies,economies, culture,culture, andand ecosystemsecosystems (Home(Home

EconomicEconomicss 186;186; AnotheAnotherr TurnTurn ooff ththee CrankCrank 54)-with54)—with economieseconomies iinn whicwhichh locallocal needsneeds 4040 araree memett firstfirst andand onlyonly surplusurpluss iiss exportedexported.. ThiThiss leadsleads ttoo Berry'Berry'ss nextnext principlprinciplee ofof locallocal economy:economy: subsistence,subsistence, andand ththee accompanyingaccompanying ethiethicc ooff sufficiency.sufficiency.

Berry'sBerry's agrariaagrariann economeconomyy iiss firstfirst anandd foremosforemostt a subsistencesubsistence economyeconomy.. ForFor

Berry,Berry, subsistencsubsistencee farmingfarming meanmeanss meetinmeetingg householhouseholdd andand locallocal needneedss beforbeforee export,export,

whicwhichh hhee believebelievess "is"is ththee ververyy definitiodefinitionn ooff googoodd farming"farming" (Gift(Gift ooff GooGoodd LanLandd 10).10).

ObservinObservingg thethe increasinglincreasinglyy commocommonn yeyett "utterly"utterly strange"strange" (Way(Way ooff IgnorancIgnorancee 97)97)

phenomenophenomenonn ofof farmersfarmers producinproducingg larglargee amountamountss ooff foodfood forfor exportexport whilwhilee purchasingpurchasing

theitheirr ownown foofoodd atat a supermarkesupermarkett "just"just liklikee citycity peoplepeople"" (Gift(Gift ooff GoodGood LanLandd 124),124), BerryBerry

believebelievess thathatt farmerfarmerss (a(ass welwelll aass nonfarmersnonfarmers)) shouldshould bbee asas self-sufficientself-sufficient iinn theitheirr ownown

foofoodd productioproductionn aass possiblpossiblee ratheratherr thathann relyinrelyingg oonn "outside"outside sourcesourcess thathatt musmustt bebe

purchased"purchased" (74).(74). SuchSuch self-sufficiencyself-sufficiency wawass Berry'Berry'ss goalgoal whenwhen hhee movemovedd ttoo hihiss farmfarm:: "I"I

intenintendd toto raisraisee oonn mmyy ownown lanlandd enoughenough foofoodd foforr mmyy familyfamily.. WithiWithinn ththee obviousobvious

limitationslimitations,, I wantwant mmyy homhomee ttoo bbee a self-sufficientself-sufficient placeplace"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 88).88). ForFor

BerryBerry,, thithiss principlprinciplee alsalsoo extendextendss ttoo urbaurbann areasareas:: "A"Att everyevery levelevell ooff ththee agriculturalagricultural

system,system, ththee subsistencsubsistencee principlprinciplee shoulshouldd operateoperate.. ThThee locallocal consumeconsumerr populatiopopulationn iinn townstowns

anandd citiecitiess shouldshould subsist,subsist, asas mucmuchh aass possiblepossible,, frofromm thethe producproducee ofof ththee localitlocalityy oorr region"region"

(Hom(Homee EconomicEconomicss 125).125). BerrBerryy pointpointss ttoo examplesexamples ooff paspastt citiescities thatthat produceproducedd mucmuchh ofof

theitheirr owownn foofoodd supply:supply: "at"at ononee timtimee towtownn anandd citcityy lotslots routinelroutinelyy includedincluded gardengarden spacespace

anandd oftenoften includedincluded penpenss andand buildingbuildingss ttoo accommodateaccommodate milmilkk cows,cows, fatteningfattening hogs,hogs, andand

flockflockss ooff poultrypoultry"" (Unsettling(Unsettling ooff AmericAmericaa 31;31; SteinberSteinbergg 157-172).157-172).

RecentRecent commentarcommentaryy oonn Berry'Berry'ss ideas—particularlideas-particularlyy post-9/1post-9/111 andand hurricanehurricane

Katrina—recognizeKatrina-recognizess ththee wisdowisdomm ooff self-sufficiencself-sufficiencyy anandd shortershorter supplysupply lineslines:: "a"a stablestable

foofoodd systemsystem,, mucmuchh liklikee a stablestable anandd resilienresilientt habitathabitat,, dependdependss oonn a varietvarietyy ofof cropscrops growngrown 4141 oveoverr diversdiversee landscapes....Historlandscapes .... Historyy hahass showshownn repeatedlrepeatedlyy thathatt aass regionregionss growgrow andand consumconsumee theitheirr owownn foofoodd anandd relrelyy asas littllittlee aass possiblpossiblee oonn foofoodd importsimports,, theitheirr foodfood supplysupply becomesbecomes moremore secure"secure" (Wirzba(Wirzba,, WhWhyy AgrarianisAgrarianismm MatterMatterss 13).13). AAnn examplexamplee ofof thethe failurefailure ttoo dodo soso iiss chroniclechronicledd bbyy iinn JareJaredd DiamonDiamondd iinn hihiss observationobservationss ooff ththee collapsecollapse ooff thethe

AnasazAnasazii societysociety atat ChacoChaco Canyon,Canyon, NeNeww MexicoMexico,, whwhoo afterafter exhaustingexhausting ththee agriculturalagricultural andand timbetimberr potentiapotentiall ofof theitheirr ownown placplacee camcamee ttoo relrelyy fullfullyy onon ththee importationimportation ofof vitalvital

suppliessupplies fromfrom "outlying"outlying satellitsatellitee settlements"settlements" (Diamond(Diamond 149).149). AccordinAccordingg toto Diamond,Diamond, thithiss precariouprecariouss dependencedependence oonn outsidoutsidee sourcessources ooff basibasicc necessitienecessitiess suchsuch asas foofoodd becambecamee a kekeyy factofactorr inin Chaco'sChaco's demise.demise.

AccordinAccordingg ttoo OrrOrr,, "A"A societysociety fefedd bbyy a fefeww megafarmmegafarmss iiss farfar mormoree vulnerablvulnerablee toto

manmanyy kindkindss ooff disruptiondisruption thathann ononee witwithh manymany smallersmaller anandd widelwidelyy disperseddispersed farms.farms ...... A Ann ecologicalecological vievieww ooff securitysecurity woulwouldd leadlead uuss toto rebuilrebuildd familyfamily farms,farms, localocall enterprises,enterprises,

communitcommunityy prosperityprosperity,, andand regionaregionall economies"economies" (9-1(9-111 289)289).. IInn hihiss olderolder worksworks,, (Long-(Long-

LeggeLeggedd HousHousee 8888;; GiftGift ooff GooGoodd LanLandd 74,74, publishepublishedd inin 19691969 andand 1981,1981, respectively),respectively),

BerryBerry defendedefendedd hihiss ideasideas ooff subsistencesubsistence farmingfarming anandd locallocal supplysupply againstagainst criticscritics whowho

mighmightt dismisdismisss hihiss proposalproposalss aass "quaint""quaint" oror "nostalgic.""nostalgic." HisHis mormoree recenrecentt writingwritingss howeverhowever

contaicontainn nnoo suchsuch anticipatedanticipated defensedefense,, bubutt presenpresentt hihiss ideaideass asas effectiveeffective tooltoolss ofof security-security—

nationanationall andand otherwise:otherwise:

WWee nonoww havhavee a clearclear,, inescapablinescapablee choicechoice thathatt wwee musmustt makemake.. WWee cancan continucontinuee ttoo promotpromotee a globalglobal economieconomicc systemsystem ooff unlimiteunlimitedd "free"free trade,"trade," amonamongg corporationscorporations,, helheldd togethetogetherr bbyy lonlongg andand highlhighlyy vulnerablvulnerablee lineslines ofof communicationcommunication anandd supply,supply, bubutt now recognizinrecognizingg thathatt suchsuch a systemsystem willwill havhavee ttoo bbee protecteprotectedd bbyy a hugelhugelyy expensivexpensivee policpolicee forceforce thathatt wilwilll bebe worldwide.worldwide .... .o orr wwee cancan promotpromotee a decentralizeddecentralized worlworldd economyeconomy whatwhat woulwouldd havhavee thethe aiaimm ofof assurinassuringg ttoo everyevery nationationn anandd regioregionn a local self­self- sufficiencysufficiency iinn life-supportinglife-supporting goods.goods. ThiThiss woulwouldd nonott eliminateeliminate internationainternationall tradetrade,, bubutt iitt woulwouldd tentendd towartowardd a tradtradee inin surplusessurpluses afterafter locallocal needneedss havhavee beebeenn metmet.. (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 19)19) 4422

WhilWhilee BerrBerryy hahass alwayalwayss beebeenn confidenconfidentt iinn hihiss "agraria"agrariann argument,argument,"" ththee aboveabove excerptexcerpt frofromm "Thoughts"Thoughts inin ththee PresencPresencee ooff FearFear"" (2001)(2001),, whicwhichh dealdealss withwith ththee 9/119/11 terroristterrorist attacksattacks,, employsemploys statementstatementss sucsuchh aass "W"Wee nonoww havhavee a clearclear,, inescapableinescapable choice,"choice," andand anan italicizeitalicizedd "now""now" ttoo lenlendd rhetoricarhetoricall urgencurgencyy ttoo hihiss cascasee forfor shorteningshortening supplysupply lines,lines, andand toto presenpresentt hihiss ideaideass aass appropriatappropriatee anandd pragmaticpragmatic alternativesalternatives toto extendedextended supplysupply lineliness mademade increasinglyincreasingly dangeroudangerouss bbyy threatthreatss suchsuch aass naturanaturall disasterdisasterss anandd globalglobal terrorism.terrorism.

FinallyFinally,, Berry'Berry'ss agrarianagrarian economyeconomy isis characterizecharacterizedd bbyy aann ethiethicc ooff sufficiency.sufficiency. PastPast

ChristiaChristiann traditiontraditionss werweree groundedgrounded inin BiblicaBiblicall injunctionsinjunctions "against"against avariceavarice anandd self­self- aggrandizementaggrandizement"" (Denee(Deneenn 303)303).. Further,Further, "large"large accumulationaccumulationss ooff lanlandd were,were, andand are,are, forbiddenforbidden becausbecausee thethe dispossessiodispossessionn andand privatioprivationn ooff somesome cannotcannot bbee acceptableacceptable oror thethe normanormall resulresultt ooff ththee economieconomicc activityactivity ooff othersothers,, forfor that..that. ... destroysdestroys ththee community"community"

(Berry(Berry WhatWhat araree PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 99).99). AccordinAccordingg ttoo LockLockee howeverhowever,, witwithh ththee inventioinventionn ofof moneymoney,, "a"a contrivanccontrivancee thathatt alloweallowedd humanhumanss ttoo circumventcircumvent thethe onetimonetimee limitatiolimitationn onon

accumulation...unlimiteaccumulation ... unlimitedd acquisitioacquisitionn becambecamee botbothh possiblpossiblee andand desirable"desirable" (Denee(Deneenn 302).302).

EnshrineEnshrinedd iinn ththee industriaindustriall capitaliscapitalistt mantrmantraa ooff "infinite"infinite growth,growth,"" anandd designeddesigned ttoo "[offer"[offer

aa]] materiamateriall meanmeanss ooff fulfillinfulfillingg a spiritual.. ..craving" craving" (Unsettlin(Unsettlingg ofof AmericAmericaa 94),94),

accordingaccording ttoo BerryBerry,, "we"we honohonorr greegreedd anandd wastwastee witwithh ththee namename ofof economy.economy .... .an andd wewe

sanctifysanctify allall thithiss asas Christian,Christian, thougthoughh ththee GospelsGospels supporsupportt nonnonee ofof iitt bbyy ssoo mucmuchh asas a lineline

oorr wordword"" (Wa(Wayy oofIgnorancef Ignorance 147).147). YeYett accordingaccording ttoo BerryBerry,, ththee enendd resultresult ooff ththee modernmodern

sanctifiedsanctified industrialindustrial economyeconomy isis a conditioconditionn iinn whicwhichh "we"we havehave manmanyy commodities,commodities, butbut

littlelittle satisfaction,satisfaction, littllittlee sensesense ooff ththee sufficiencsufficiencyy ooff anything"anything" (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 113)113),,

anandd inin whicwhichh ththee modermodernn consumeconsumerr "is"is probablprobablyy ththee mosmostt unhappyunhappy averageaverage citizencitizen inin thethe 4433 historhistoryy ooff thethe world.world .... .fo forr alalll hihiss leisurleisuree anandd recreationrecreation,, hhee feelfeelss badbad,, hehe lookslooks badbad,, hhee isis overweight,overweight, hihiss healthealthh isis poorpoor"" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 20).20).

BerryBerry attemptattemptss ttoo revivrevivee ththee traditiotraditionn ofof sufficiencysufficiency byby promotinpromotingg anan ideaideall ooff "the"the maximumaximumm ooff well-beinwell-beingg witwithh thethe minimuminimumm ofof consumptionconsumption"" (Hom(Homee EconomicEconomicss 72)72),, andand bbyy posinposingg ththee evocativevocativee question:question: "How"How mucmuchh iiss enough?"enough?" (Gift(Gift ofof GoodGood LanLandd 142).142).

BerrBerryy extolextolss ththee exampleexampless ofof individualindividualss anandd groupgroupss whwhoo havhavee adoptedadopted a sufficiencysufficiency ethicethic sucsuchh aass a grougroupp ooff AndeaAndeann farmersfarmers whoswhosee "governing"governing concepconceptt ofof agriculture...iagriculture .. .iss enough,enough, a long-termlong-term sufficiency"sufficiency" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericaAmerica 176),176), andand smallsmall farmersfarmers whowho "begin"begin 'to'to risrisee up,up,'' nonott ttoo 'the'the top,top,'' bubutt ttoo a sufficiencysufficiency ofof abilitabilityy anandd goods"goods" (What(What areare PeoplPeoplee for?for?

27).27). BerrBerryy affirmaffirmss thathatt a statstatee ooff "total"total consumptionconsumption"" resultresultss notnot onlonlyy inin "a"a statestate ofof helpleshelplesss dependencedependence onon thingthingss anandd servicesservices andand ideasideas anandd motivemotivess thathatt wwee havhavee forgottenforgotten hohoww ttoo providprovidee ourselves,ourselves,"" bubutt likelike otherother conservatioconservationn thinkersthinkers,, thathatt "all"all meaningfulmeaningful contaccontactt betweebetweenn ourselveourselvess andand ththee eartearthh iiss brokenbroken"" andand thathatt destructiondestruction ooff ththee naturalnatural worlworldd isis inevitableinevitable (Continuous(Continuous HarmonHarmonyy 74).74). BerryBerry believebelievess thathatt materiamateriall acquisitionacquisition anandd happineshappinesss areare nonott codependencodependentt (126),(126), anandd hhee promotepromotess a renewarenewall ofof ththee bondbondss toto family,family, communitycommunity,, God,God, andand toto ththee naturanaturall worlworldd aass fulfillinfulfillingg alternativealternativess ttoo whawhatt hehe perceiveperceivess asas ththee falsfalsee promisepromisess ofof jojoyy anandd satisfactionsatisfaction iinn consumerismconsumerism marketedmarketed bbyy thethe industriaindustriall economy.economy.

ToTo realizrealizee hihiss agrariaagrariann visiovisionn BerrBerryy proposeproposess a fruitfulfruitful alliancealliance betweenbetween conservationistsconservationists andand agrariansagrarians.. DeclarinDeclaringg himselhimselff a "conservationist."conservationist.. ... [and][and] a wildernesswilderness advocateadvocate"" (165(165)) (preferrin(preferringg ththee tertermm "conservationist""conservationist" ttoo "environmentalist"),"environmentalist"), BerryBerry supportsupportss ththee conservationisconservationistt goagoall ofof preservinpreservingg wilderneswildernesss andand hahass publishepublishedd variousvarious essayessayss justifyinjustifyingg ththee neeneedd forfor wilderneswildernesss preservatiopreservationn (Unsettlin(Unsettlingg ofof AmericAmericaa 29-30,29-30, 130;130; 4444 GiftGift ofof GoodGood LanLandd 178;178; StandinStandingg byby WordsWords 194;194; HomHomee EconomicEconomicss 17,17, 146).146). BerryBerry criticizecriticizess ththee currentcurrent conservationconservation movemenmovementt howevehoweverr forfor itsits failurefailure ttoo adequatelyadequately addresaddresss economicseconomics,, notinnotingg thathatt "the"the mosmostt significansignificantt weaknesweaknesss ooff thethe conservationconservation movementmovement iiss itsits failurfailuree ttoo produceproduce oror espouseespouse aann economieconomicc ideaidea capablecapable ofof correctincorrectingg thethe economiceconomic ideideaa ooff ththee industrialistsindustrialists"" (114)(114).. InIn failingfailing ttoo espouseespouse aann alternativalternativee economiceconomic modelmodel,, mosmostt conservatioconservationn concernconcernss seemseem thereforthereforee "exterior"exterior ttoo daildailyy life"life" (123).(123). BerryBerry thereforthereforee callscalls foforr a "countervailin"countervailingg economieconomicc ideideaa bbyy whicwhichh wwee mighmightt correctcorrect

[industrialism],"[industrialism]," anandd declaredeclaress thathatt "we"we wilwilll nonott havhavee ttoo looklook harhardd toto findfind itit,, foforr therethere isis onlonlyy oneone,, anandd thathatt iiss agrarianismagrarianism"" (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 115).115). LamentinLamentingg ththee "tragic""tragic" andand

"unnecessary"unnecessary"" conflicconflictt betweebetweenn conservationists,conservationists, farmersfarmers,, anandd ranchersranchers,, BerrBerryy callscalls forfor a partnershipartnershipp betweebetweenn conservationistsconservationists anandd agrariansagrarians againsagainstt a commocommonn adversary:adversary:

I thinkthink thethe twotwo sidessides needneed toto enterenter intointo one conversation.conversation. TheyThey havehave gotgot toto taltalkk ttoo ononee another.another. ConservationistConservationistss havhavee gogott ttoo knoknoww andand dealdeal competentlcompetentlyy witwithh ththee methodmethodss andand economicseconomics ooff lanlandd useuse.. LanLandd usersusers havehave gogott ttoo recognizrecognizee ththee urgencyurgency,, eveevenn ththee economieconomicc urgencyurgency,, ofof thethe requirementrequirementss ooff conservation.conservation. FailinFailingg thisthis,, thesthesee twtwoo sidessides wilwilll simplysimply concedconcedee aann easyeasy victorvictoryy ttoo theitheirr commoncommon enemyenemy,, ththee thirthirdd side,side, thethe corporatcorporatee totalitarianistotalitarianismm whicwhichh iiss nonoww rapidlrapidlyy consolidatinconsolidatingg aass "the"the globalglobal economyeconomy"" anandd whicwhichh wilwilll utterlutterlyy dominatdominatee botbothh ththee naturanaturall worlworldd andand itsits humahumann communitiescommunities.. (174)(174)

BerrBerryy believebelievess "the"the efforeffortt ofof conservatioconservationn couldcould bbee enlargeenlargedd anandd strengthened"strengthened" (122(122)) byby anan alliancalliancee witwithh agrarianism,agrarianism, anandd thathatt peoplpeoplee anandd organizationorganizationss "now"now workingworking toto savesave somethingsomething ooff value..value .... [such[such asas]] agriculturaagriculturall landland,, familfamilyy farmfarmss andand ranches,ranches, communities,communities, childrenchildren andand childhoodchildhood,, localocall schoolsschools,, localocall communitiescommunities,, localocall foofoodd marketsmarkets,, livestocklivestock breedbreedss andand domestidomesticc planplantt varietiesvarieties,, finfinee ololdd buildingsbuildings,, scenicscenic roadsroads,, andand ssoo onon"" areare oftenoften battlingbattling "the"the samesame enemiesenemies aass ththee conservatioconservationn movement,movement,"" andand ththee twotwo movementmovementss areare thereforthereforee inin factfact "natura"naturall alliesallies"" (124).(124). 4545 AAnn AlliancAlliancee witwithh Caesar:Caesar: BerrBerryy oonn EducatioEducationn anandd ReligionReligion

WhilWhilee mucmuchh ooff Berry'Berry'ss criticismcriticism targettargetss "the"the globagloball industrialisindustrialismm ofof thethe corporationscorporations"" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 122),122), BerrBerryy alsoalso levelslevels critiquescritiques aatt modermodernn educationaleducational systemssystems andand mainstreamainstreamm ChristianityChristianity foforr ignoring,ignoring, abettingabetting,, andand perpetuatinperpetuatingg thethe destructivedestructive effecteffectss ooff ththee industriaindustriall economy.economy. AccordinAccordingg ttoo BerryBerry,, bbyy perpetuatinperpetuatingg a transientransientt cultureculture ooff "urban"urban nomads,nomads,"" modernmodern educatioeducationn undercutsundercuts ththee integritintegrityy andand possibilitpossibilityy ooff durabldurablee communitcommunityy life.life. AccordingAccording ttoo BerryBerry,, modermodernn educationeducation operatesoperates undeunderr ththee assumptioassumptionn thathatt communitycommunity hahass nnoo valuvaluee "tha"thatt counts inin ananyy practicapracticall oror powerfupowerfull wayway"" (Wha(Whatt araree PeoplPeoplee for?for? 179).179). WitWithh dominantdominant culturaculturall idealsideals definingdefining successfusuccessfull individualindividualss aass "'upwardly"'upwardly mobilemobile'' transients,transients,"" freefree ofof communitycommunity ties,ties, andand

"who"who wilwilll permipermitt nnoo staystay oorr placplacee ttoo interruptinterrupt theirtheir personapersonall advance,"advance," BerrBerryy lamentslaments thethe tendencytendency,, particularlyparticularly iinn rurarurall areas,areas, foforr collegescolleges anandd universitieuniversitiess ttoo "uproot"uproot ththee bestbest brainbrainss andand talentstalents,, ttoo direcdirectt thethemm awaawayy frofromm homhomee intintoo exploitativexploitativee careercareerss iinn oneone oror anotheranother ooff ththee professionsprofessions,, anandd soso ttoo makmakee thethemm predatorpredatorss ofof communitiescommunities andand homelandshomelands,, theitheirr owownn asas welwelll aass otherother people'speople's"" (Home(Home EconomicEconomicss 51).51).

BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt thithiss rurarurall (and(and urbanurban)) "brain"brain draindrain"" isis botbothh a functionfunction ofof culturalcultural idealidealss thathatt promotpromotee individualindividual upwarupwardd mobilitmobilityy aatt ththee expenseexpense ooff communitiescommunities andand ""aa powerfupowerfull superstitiosuperstitionn thathatt peoplpeoplee anandd conditionconditionss areare improveimprovedd inevitablyinevitably byby educationeducation"" (Se(Sexx 24)24).. ThiThiss sentimentsentiment isis echoedechoed bbyy OrrOrr whwhoo notenotess thathatt "conventional"conventional wisdowisdomm holdholdss thathatt allall educatioeducationn iiss good,good, anandd thathatt ththee mormoree ooff iitt ononee hashas,, ththee better,better,"" andand whwhoo alongalong withwith BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt "withou"withoutt significansignificantt precautionsprecautions,, educatioeducationn cancan equipequip peoplpeoplee merelmerelyy ttoo bbee mormoree effectiveeffective vandalvandalss ofof ththee earthearth"" (Earth(Earth inin MindMind 5).5). RatheRatherr thanthan beinbeingg inherentlinherentlyy beneficialbeneficial,, educatioeducationn mamayy iinn factfact becombecomee highlhighlyy destructivdestructivee ooff thethe 4646 communitycommunity whicwhichh iitt ofteoftenn professeprofessess toto "serve"-a"serve"—a tendenctendencyy notenotedd bbyy DavisDavis whwhoo claimsclaims thatthat whilewhile educatioeducationn iiss oftenoften "held"held outout asas ththee kekeyy ttoo modernizationmodernization"" iinn developingdeveloping nationsnations,, ifif iitt iiss nonott tailoredtailored toto thethe needsneeds ofof locallocal communitiescommunities,, modermodemn educationeducation iiss oftenoften catastrophiccatastrophic ttoo indigenousindigenous peoplepeopless inin thathatt itit ofteoftenn resultresultss iinn younyoungg peoplpeoplee abandoningabandoning theirtheir familfamilyy tiesties andand traditionatraditionall cultureculturess onlonlyy toto seekseek workwork inin alreadalreadyy overcrowdedovercrowded citiescities

(155-157).(155-157).

BerryBerry believebelievess thathatt modermodemn educationeducation failfailss toto producproducee itsits promisepromisedd improvementsimprovements becausebecause ooff itsits failurefailure ttoo perforperformm whawhatt hhee seessees aass ititss function:function: "to"to serve-bothserve—both ththee livingliving humanhuman communitcommunityy inin itsits naturalnatural householhouseholdd oror neighborhooneighborhoodd anandd ththee precioupreciouss culturalcultural possessionspossessions thatthat ththee livinlivingg communitycommunity inheritsinherits oorr shouldshould inheritinherit"" (Home(Home EconomicEconomicss 52).52).

BerrBerryy alsalsoo believebelievess thathatt modermodernn educationeducation failfailss ttoo fulfilfulfilll ititss rolrolee "to"to preservpreservee andand paspasss onon ththee essentiaessentiall humanhuman means—thmeans-thee thoughtthoughtss anandd wordwordss andand workworkss anandd waywayss anandd standardsstandards anandd hopehopess withouwithoutt whicwhichh wwee areare nonott humanhuman"" (88-89)(88-89).. BerryBerry accuseaccusess modemmodern educationaleducational institutioninstitutionss ofof educatingeducating younyoungg peoplpeoplee toto permanentlpermanentlyy leavleavee theitheirr homehome communitiescommunities andand toto disregarddisregard theitheirr culturalcultural inheritances.inheritances. FoForr Berry,Berry, modernmodern educatioeducationn hahass simplysimply becomebecome commodifiecommodifiedd andand governmengovernmentt subsidizedsubsidized jojobb trainingtraining,, "something"something ttoo bbee bought inin orderorder ttoo makmakee moneymoney"" (52)(52).. BerrBerryy believebelievess thatthat educationaleducational institutioninstitutionss havhavee abetteabettedd industrialindustrial idealsideals byby puttinputtingg youngyoung peoplpeoplee oonn "career"career tracks"tracks" whicwhichh tentendd ttoo sendsend thethemm awaawayy fromfrom theirtheir homhomee placeplacess anandd turturnn theitheirr attentioattentionn fromfrom ththee immediatimmediatee needneedss ooff localocall communitiescommunities toto ththee abstractionabstractionss ofof industrialindustrial economicseconomics.. HHee describesdescribes educationaeducationall institutioninstitutionss asas factoriesfactories whoswhosee "products""products" areare individualindividualss frefreee ooff communitycommunity tietiess andand preparepreparedd ttoo taketake theitheirr placeplacess inin ththee machinermachineryy ooff ththee industrialindustrial economyeconomy:: "education"education iiss nonott properlproperlyy anan industry,industry, andand itsits propeproperr ususee iiss nonott ttoo serveserve industriesindustries,, eithereither bbyy job-traininjob-trainingg oror byby 4747 industry-subsidizeindustry-subsidizedd research.research. ItItss propeproperr ususee iiss ttoo enableenable citizenscitizens toto livelive liveslives thathatt areare economicallyeconomically,, politicallypolitically,, socially,socially, andand culturallyculturally responsible"responsible" (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 21)21)..

IItt mustmust bebe notednoted howevehoweverr thathatt Berry'sBerry's calcalll foforr educationeducation ttoo serveserve itsits locallocal communitycommunity anandd hihiss criticiscriticismm ofof educationaleducational anandd culturalcultural normnormss thatthat encourageencourage youngyoung peoplpeoplee (particularly(particularly fromfrom rurarurall backgroundsbackgrounds)) ttoo permanentlpermanentlyy leaveleave theitheirr homehome communitiescommunities doesdoes nonott meameann thathatt hhee advocateadvocatess a highlhighlyy parochiaparochiall worldvieworldvieww iinn whichwhich younyoungg peoplpeoplee woulwouldd neveneverr stepstep outsideoutside ththee boundboundss ofof theitheirr homhomee communitiescommunities.. BerryBerry himselhimselff temporariltemporarilyy leftleft hihiss homelanhomelandd ttoo completecomplete parpartt ooff hihiss educatioeducationn atat StanforStanfordd andand livelivedd forfor twtwoo yearyearss oonn a GuggenheimGuggenheim fellowshipfellowship inin FlorenceFlorence,, ItalyItaly.. WhilWhilee livinlivingg inin Italy,Italy,

BerrBerryy observeobservedd "a"a wawayy ooff farminfarmingg thathatt wawass lovingllovinglyy adapteadaptedd ttoo itsits placeplace.. IItt wawass highlyhighly diversifieddiversified.. IItt wastewastedd nothingnothing.. ItIt waswas scaledscaled ttoo permipermitt closeclose attentioattentionn ttoo details.details. ItIt waswas beautiful.beautiful."" (175).(175). HeHe describesdescribes hihiss timetime iinn ItalItalyy aass "profoundly"profoundly instructiveinstructive"" (176(176)) andand pivotapivotall inin hihiss decisiondecision ttoo returreturnn ttoo hihiss homhomee placeplace.. SincSincee hishis settlingsettling inin KentuckyKentucky,, BerryBerry hashas returnereturnedd ttoo EuropEuropee andand hahass alsalsoo travelletravelledd toto SouthSouth AmericAmericaa ttoo observeobserve formsforms ofof agricultureagriculture whicwhichh hhee hahass foundfound instructionainstructionall andand inspiring.inspiring.

RatheRatherr thanthan anan ofteoftenn caricaturecaricaturedd versioversionn ooff Berry'sBerry's ideasideas iinn whichwhich youngyoung peoplepeople areare permanentlpermanentlyy anandd inescapablinescapablyy bounboundd ttoo ththee drudgerdrudgeryy andand "intellectual"intellectual death"death" (Long­(Long-

LeggedLegged HouseHouse,, 175)175) ooff theitheirr homhomee communitiescommunities,, BerrBerryy pointpointss toto ththee traditionaltraditional themetheme ofof returreturnn inin whichwhich "throughout"throughout mosmostt ofof ouourr literature,literature, ththee normanormall thingthing wawass forfor thethe generationgenerationss ttoo succeedsucceed ononee anotheranother inin placeplace"" citincitingg exampleexampless suchsuch asas OdysseusOdysseus'' desiredesire toto returreturnn homhomee afterafter ththee exploitsexploits ooff TroyTroy,, ththee OldOld TestamentTestament parablparablee ooff ththee prodigaprodigall son,son, andand

Wordsworth'sWordsworth's "Michael""Michael" aass examplesexamples ooff ththee nornormm ofof returreturnn inin ththee WesterWesternn literaryliterary cannoncannon (Wha(Whatt areare PeoplPeoplee for?for? 160-162).160-162). JosepJosephh CampbelCampbelll confirmsconfirms thithiss themthemee inin hishis 4848 accounaccountt ooff ththee archetypaarchetypall herheroo whowho journeyjourneyss intintoo ththee perilperilss anandd wonderswonders ooff ththee outsideoutside worlworldd yeyett whwhoo ultimatelyultimately returnsreturns ttoo hishis communitcommunityy witwithh a booboonn gainedgained fromfrom ththee outside:outside:

"Th"Thee fullfull roundround,, ththee normnorm ofof ththee monomyth,monomyth, requirerequiress thathatt thethe herohero shallshall nonoww begibeginn thethe laborlabor ooff bringinbringingg ththee runeruness ooff wisdomwisdom,, ththee GoldenGolden FleeceFleece,, oorr hihiss sleepingsleeping princessprincess,, backback intointo ththee kingdomkingdom ooff humanityhumanity,, wherwheree thethe booboonn mamayy redounredoundd ttoo ththee renewinrenewingg ooff thethe communitycommunity"" (Campbell(Campbell 179).179). RatheRatherr thathann a magicamagicall elixirelixir,, iinn Berry'Berry'ss argumentargument boonsboons gainedgained bbyy younyoungg peoplpeoplee iinn theitheirr sojournsojourn intintoo ththee worlworldd anandd whicwhichh areare iinn turturnn broughtbrought bacbackk foforr ththee benefibenefitt ofof ththee communitcommunityy includincludee propeproperr educatioeducationn (which(which recognizerecognizess andand valuevaluess community)community),, insightsinsights andand inspirationinspiration gainedgained frofromm otherother communities,communities, anandd anan appreciationappreciation forfor diversitdiversityy whicwhichh woulwouldd worworkk ttoo curcurbb tendencietendenciess towartowardd xenophobixenophobiaa oror provincialisprovincialismm anandd ttoo createcreate nonott simplysimply communitiescommunities,, bubutt "good communities"communities" (Grubbs(Grubbs

102).102).

AccordinAccordingg ttoo BerryBerry,, ththee ancienancientt themthemee ofof returnreturn hahass beebeenn "forgotten"forgotten oror repudiatedrepudiated"" iinn favorfavor ooff a "new"new norm,norm,"" "institutionalized"institutionalized nonott inin greagreatt communalcommunal stories,stories, bubutt iinn ththee educationaleducational systemsystem"" iinn whicwhichh younyoungg peoplpeoplee leavleavee theirtheir homehome placeplacess (both(both ruralrural andand urbanurban)) anandd ddoo nonott return-"thereturn—"the child'child'ss destinydestiny iiss nonott ttoo succeedsucceed ththee parentsparents,, bubutt toto outmodoutmodee themthem"" (What(What areare PeoplPeoplee for?for? 162).162). AccordinAccordingg ttoo ththee newnew norm,norm, "schools"schools areare nono longelongerr orientedoriented ttoo a culturaculturall inheritanceinheritance thathatt iitt isis theitheirr dutdutyy ttoo paspasss oonn unimpairedunimpaired,, bubutt toto ththee career,career, whicwhichh isis ttoo saysay ththee futurefuture,, ofof ththee childchild"" (162-163).(162-163). InIn thithiss neneww mode,mode,

"parents...ar"parents ... aree nonoww findinfindingg theitheirr childrechildrenn aann encumbranceencumbrance atat homehome"" (163),(163), ththee ololdd areare simplysimply jettisonejettisonedd aass uselessuseless,, paspastt theitheirr timtimee ofof "social"social utilityutility"" (Continuous(Continuous HarmonyHarmony 135).135).

RatheRatherr thathann mutuamutuall interdependenceinterdependence,, "peopl"peoplee areare nnoo longerlonger usefuluseful ttoo oneone another..another. ... [and][and] thethe centripetacentripetall forceforce ooff familfamilyy anandd communitcommunityy fails,fails, anandd peoplpeoplee falfalll intintoo dependencdependencee onon 4499 exterioexteriorr economieseconomies anandd organizationsorganizations"" (What(What areare PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 164).164). LikeLike Orr,Orr, whowho advocatesadvocates a reformedreformed educatioeducationn thathatt seeksseeks ttoo understanunderstandd itsits effectseffects "on"on reareall peoplpeoplee andand theitheirr communitiescommunities"" (Eart(Earthh iinn MinMindd 13),13), BerrBerryy seekseekss ttoo reforreformm educationaleducational systemssystems toto recognizrecognizee theitheirr responsibilitresponsibilityy ttoo servservee localocall communitiecommunitiess andand ttoo fulfillingfulfilling theitheirr rolrolee inin a normnorm ofof return.return.

IInn additioadditionn ttoo currencurrentt educationaeducationall systemssystems,, BerrBerryy faultsfaults contemporarcontemporaryy ChristianityChristianity foforr itsits divorcdivorcee ooff economiceconomic concernconcernss fromfrom moralitymorality.. InIn hihiss discussiondiscussion ofof ththee riserise ofof materialistimaterialisticc economieconomicc thinkinthinkingg andand ititss rolrolee iinn "the"the modermodernn environmentalenvironmental crisis,"crisis," emineneminentt environmentaenvironmentall historiahistoriann DonalDonaldd WorsteWorsterr notenotess thathatt historically,historically,

ReligionReligion,, oonn ththee wholewhole,, actedacted ttoo checcheckk thathatt materialismmaterialism,, ttoo questioquestionn humanhuman arrogance,arrogance, anandd ttoo holholdd iinn fearfufearfull suspicionsuspicion ththee dangerousdangerous powerpowerss ofof greed.greed. Religion,Religion, includinincludingg ChristianityChristianity,, stoostoodd firmlfirmlyy againsagainstt a reductive,reductive, mechanistimechanisticc vievieww ofof ththee worldworld.. ItIt pointepointedd ttoo a subordinatesubordinate anandd restrainedrestrained rolrolee foforr humanhumanss iinn ththee cosmoscosmos.. AndAnd,, mosmostt importantlyimportantly forfor thethe sakesake ooff thethe biospherebiosphere,, iitt taughtaughtt peoplpeoplee thathatt thertheree araree highehigherr purposepurposess iinn lifelife thanthan consumptionconsumption (176).(176).

DespiteDespite whatevewhateverr resistancresistancee ChristianityChristianity maymay havehave historicallhistoricallyy voicevoicedd ttoo thethe idealsideals embracedembraced bbyy AdaAdamm Smith-inspireSmith-inspiredd industrialindustrial capitalismcapitalism,, BerryBerry notenotess thatthat "organized"organized

ChristianitChristianityy seems,seems, inin generalgeneral,, toto havhavee madmadee peacpeacee witwithh 'the'the economyeconomy'' byby divorcingdivorcing itselitselff frofromm economiceconomic issues"issues" (What(What areare PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 95).95). YeYett whilwhilee muchmuch ofof contemporarycontemporary ChristianitChristianityy mamayy divorcedivorce itselitselff fromfrom takintakingg moramorall standsstands onon economiceconomic issues,issues, accordinaccordingg ttoo BerrBerryy ththee "organized""organized" churchchurch "is"is economicalleconomicallyy compelled"compelled" ttoo makemake peacepeace witwithh "the"the military-industriamilitary-industriall economyeconomy anandd itsits 'scientific''scientific' destructiodestructionn ofof lifelife"" (Sex(Sex

99)99):: "Lik"Likee ananyy otherother publipublicc institutioinstitutionn soso organizedorganized,, ththee organizeorganizedd churcchurchh isis dependantdependant oonn 'the'the economy'economy';; iitt cannocannott survivesurvive apartapart frofromm thosthosee economieconomicc practicepracticess thathatt ititss truthtruth forbidsforbids anandd ititss vocatiovocationn iiss ttoo correctcorrect"" (Wha(Whatt araree PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 96).96). BerrBerryy notenotess thathatt "i"iff itit 5050 comecomess ttoo a choicchoicee betweenbetween thethe exterminatioexterminationn ofof ththee fowlsfowls ofof ththee airair andand thethe lilieslilies ofof thethe

fieldfield anandd ththee exterminatioexterminationn ooff a buildinbuildingg fund,fund, ththee organizeorganizedd churcchurchh willwill elect-indeed,elect—indeed,

hahass alreadalreadyy elected-toelected—to savesave ththee buildinbuildingg fund,fund,"" musinmusingg thatthat "No"No wonderwonder soso manymany

sermonssermons areare devotedevotedd exclusivelyexclusively ttoo 'spiritual'spiritual'' subjects"subjects" (96).(96).

IInn hishis indictmentindictment ofof contemporarycontemporary ChristianityChristianity,, BerryBerry criticizescriticizes thethe concepconceptt ooff a

paipaidd clergyclergy anandd accusesaccuses ththee churcchurchh ooff "excerpt[ing]"excerpt[ing] sanctitsanctityy frofromm thethe humahumann economy"economy"

bbyy allowingallowing "the"the professionaprofessionall class...tclass ... too serveserve itselfitself inin ititss worworkk andand ttoo serveserve GoGodd byby

givingivingg ththee churcchurchh itsits tetenn percentpercent"" (96)(96).. BerrBerryy statestatess (somewhat(somewhat cynicallycynically)) thathatt ththee churchchurch

generallgenerallyy doedoess nonott concerconcernn itselitselff withwith whawhatt typtypee ofof worworkk iiss donedone outsideoutside ititss doorsdoors,, oorr howhow

destructivdestructivee thathatt worworkk mamayy bbee ooff ththee sanctitysanctity ofof ththee creatiocreationn asas lonlongg asas membermemberss areare

makingmaking regularegularr contributions.contributions. FoForr BerryBerry,, ththee resulresultt ofof ththee separationseparation ofof moralitmoralityy fromfrom

workwork iiss thathatt modermodemn Christianity,Christianity, foforr ththee mosmostt partpart,, hahass "stood"stood silentlsilentlyy bbyy whilwhilee a

predatorpredatoryy economeconomyy hahass ravageravagedd ththee worldworld,, destroyeddestroyed itsits naturanaturall beautbeautyy andand health,health,

divideddivided andand plundereplunderedd ititss humahumann communitiecommunitiess andand householdshouseholds"" (Se(Sexx 115).115). BerrBerryy makesmakes

thethe stinginstingingg accusatioaccusationn thathatt ititss owownn fundamentafundamentall doctrinedoctriness toto ththee contrarycontrary,, "[modem"[modern

Christianity]Christianity] hashas flownflown ththee flagflag andand chantechantedd ththee slogansloganss ooff empireempire.. ItIt hahass assumedassumed withwith

ththee economisteconomistss thathatt 'economi'economicc forces'forces' automaticallautomaticallyy worworkk forfor goodgood....I ... .Itt hahass assumedassumed

witwithh almostalmost everybodeverybodyy thathatt 'progress''progress' iiss good,good, thathatt itit iiss goodgood ttoo bbee modemmodern andand uupp withwith

thethe times.times. ItIt hahass admireadmiredd CaesarCaesar andand comfortedcomforted hihimm inin hihiss depredationsdepredations andand defaults"defaults"

(115)(115).. NotinNotingg thathatt despitdespitee ChristianityChristianity beinbeingg "fashionabl"fashionablee aatt presenpresentt iinn ththee UnitedUnited

States ...... I knoknoww ofof nnoo ChristianChristian nationationn anandd nnoo ChristiaChristiann leadeleaderr fromfrom whoswhosee conductconduct thethe

teachingteachingss ooff ChristChrist coulcouldd bbee inferredinferred"" (Peacemakers(Peacemakers 3-4),3-4), andand thathatt "in"in itsits ddee factofacto

alliancealliance witwithh CaesarCaesar,, ChristianitChristianityy conniveconnivess directlydirectly inin ththee murdemurderr ooff Creation"Creation" (Se(Sexx 115).115). 5151 DespiteDespite hishis profoundprofound critiquescritiques ofof contemporarycontemporary Christianity'sChristianity's divorcedivorce ofof spiritualityspirituality fromfrom economicseconomics andand itsits neglectneglect ofof thethe creation,creation, BerryBerry declaresdeclares himselfhimself "a"a manman ofof faith,"faith," (Way(Way ofof IgnoranceIgnorance 128;128; GrubbsGrubbs 78),78), andand placesplaces profoundprofound hopehope inin thethe possibilitiespossibilities ofof Christianity.Christianity. DespiteDespite hishis criticismscriticisms ofof organizedorganized religion,religion, hehe believesbelieves thatthat individualsindividuals shouldshould notnot slipslip intointo a "church"church ofof one,"one," whichwhich forfor BerryBerry isis simplysimply anotheranother formform ofof individualismindividualism (Continuous(Continuous HarmonyHarmony 9).9). LikeLike fellowfellow agrarianagrarian WesWes JacksonJackson whowho believesbelieves thatthat "an"an individualindividual shouldshould workwork outout hishis religiousreligious lifelife withinwithin thethe contextcontext ofof hishis ownown culture"culture" (Jackson(Jackson 66),66), BerryBerry doesdoes notnot believebelieve inin simplysimply abandoningabandoning ChristianityChristianity inin favorfavor ofof religiousreligious traditionstraditions thatthat seemseem moremore ecologicallyecologically salutary,salutary, statingstating that,that,

therethere areare anan enormousenormous numbernumber ofof people-andpeople—and I amam oneone ofof them-whosethem—whose nativenative religion,religion, forfor betterbetter oror worse,worse, isis Christianity.Christianity. WeWe areare borbornn toto it;it; wewe begabegann ttoo learnlearn aboutabout itit beforbeforee wewe becamebecame conscious;conscious; itit is,is, whateverwhatever wewe thinkthink ofof it,it, anan intimatintimatee belonginbelongingg ofof ourour being;being; itit informsinforms ourour consciousness,consciousness, ourour languagelanguage andand ourour dreams.dreams. WWee cancan turnturn awayaway fromfrom itit oror againstagainst itit,, bubutt thathatt wilwilll onlyonly binbindd uuss tightltightlyy ttoo a reducereducedd versioversionn ofof itit.. (Sex(Sex 95-9695-96))

RatheRatherr thathann simplysimply abandoninabandoningg ChristianityChristianity forfor greenergreener EasternEastern oror indigenousindigenous spiritualspiritual pasturespastures,, BerrBerryy advocateadvocatess a ChristiaChristiann renewarenewall groundegroundedd iinn itsits ownown foundationalfoundational textstexts

(whil(whilee allowingallowing informativinformativee influencesinfluences)) iinn lighlightt ooff pressinpressingg ecologicalecological realitierealitiess andand challengeschallenges..

ReligiouReligiouss studiestudiess scholascholarr ThomaThomass BerrBerryy pointpointss ttoo a serieseriess ooff transcendencestranscendences

whicwhichh hhee believebelievess shifshiftt Christianity'Christianity'ss focufocuss frofromm ththee immediatimmediatee physicaphysicall worlworldd ttoo a

distandistantt ethereaethereall realrealmm anandd causcausee a "pervasiv"pervasivee resentmenresentmentt againsagainstt ththee humahumann condition"condition"

(Thoma(Thomass BerrBerryy 28)28).. SimilarlySimilarly,, WendelWendelll BerrBerryy believebelievess "tha"thatt ChristianityChristianity,, aass usuallyusually

presentepresentedd bbyy ititss organizationsorganizations,, iiss nonott earthy enough,enough,"" anandd thathatt ratheratherr thathann operatingoperating

whollwhollyy withiwithinn aann intangiblintangiblee "spiritual"spiritual"" realmrealm,, ""aa valivalidd spirituaspirituall lifelife,, iinn thithiss worldworld,, mustmust 5252 havhavee a practicpracticee andand a practicality-itpracticality—it mustmust havehave a materiamateriall resultresult"" (Gif(Giftt ofof GooGoodd LandLand

267)267).. IInn imagininimaginingg a mormoree "earthy""earthy" ChristianityChristianity BerrBerryy pointpointss ttoo ththee challengchallengee ofof a deeplydeeply seatedseated dualism,dualism, "a"a radicaradicall discontinuitydiscontinuity betweebetweenn CreatorCreator anandd creature,creature, spirispiritt anandd matter,matter, religionreligion anandd naturenature,, religioreligionn andand economy,economy, worshipworship andand workwork,, andand soso onon"" (Sex(Sex 105).105). ThisThis dualism,dualism, manifestemanifestedd iinn itsits mosmostt fundamentafundamentall versioversionn aass ththee dualisdualismm ofof bodbodyy andand sousoull is,is, accordinaccordingg ttoo BerryBerry,, "the"the mosmostt destructivdestructivee diseasedisease thathatt afflictsafflicts usus"" (l05).(105). PredicatePredicatedd oonn a hierarchyhierarchy ofof ththee spiritspirit oveoverr ththee bodybody,, oorr ththee spirituaspirituall oveoverr ththee physicalphysical,, BerrBerryy notenotess thatthat ththee physicaphysicall iiss helheldd iinn contempcontemptt aass inferioinferiorr andand maymay bbee destroyedestroyedd "fo"forr 'salvation,''salvation,' forfor profitprofit,, forfor 'victory,''victory,' oror foforr fun"fun" (107).(107).

BerryBerry advocatesadvocates a renewerenewedd appreciationappreciation foforr ththee physicaphysicall basebasedd iinn parpartt onon a rereadinrereadingg ofof foundationalfoundational BiblicaBiblicall textstexts.. GenesisGenesis 2:2:77 statesstates thathatt "The"The LordLord GodGod formedformed mamann ofof thethe dustdust ooff ththee groundground,, andand breathebreathedd intointo hihiss nostrilsnostrils ththee breatbreathh ooff lifelife:: andand manman becamebecame a livingliving soul."soul." AfflictedAfflicted witwithh a hierarchicalhierarchical dualismdualism ofof bodbodyy oveoverr soul,soul, BerryBerry concludesconcludes thatthat manmanyy havehave reareadd thithiss verseverse ttoo signifysignify thatthat humanhumanss consisconsistt ooff a physicalphysical bodybody intintoo whicwhichh a soulsoul "like"like a letterletter intointo aann envelope"envelope" hahass beebeenn placedplaced,, representerepresentedd byby thethe formulaformula "man"man = bodbody y + soul"soul" (106).(106). However,However, BerrBerryy readreadss thithiss passagepassage asas GodGod

"[forming]"[forming] ththee mamann ooff dustdust,, thenthen,, bbyy breathinbreathingg HisHis breatbreathh intintoo itit,, HHee madmadee ththee dusdustt live"live"

(106).(106). TheThe dust,dust, thereforetherefore,, "formed"formed asas mamann andand madmadee ttoo livelive,, dididd nonott embody a soul;soul; itit became a soul,"soul," ththee ontologontologyy ooff mamann mormoree accuratelyaccurately representerepresentedd bbyy ththee formulaformula "soul"soul = dustdust + breathbreath"" (106)(106).. FoForr BerryBerry,, "humanity"humanity iiss thuthuss presentepresentedd ttoo usus,, iinn AdamAdam,, nonott aass a creaturecreature ofof twtwoo discretediscrete partpartss temporariltemporarilyy gluedglued togethetogetherr bubutt asas a singlesingle mysterymystery"" (106).(106).

ConceivinConceivingg ooff ththee dustdust (representative(representative ooff ththee otherwiseotherwise despisedespisedd "physical")"physical") asas anan 5353 integralintegral parpartt ofof ththee "living"living soul"soul" BerrBerryy viewviewss itit aass a divindivinee gifgiftt toto bbee reverencereverencedd ratherrather thanthan a curscursee ttoo bbee despiseddespised oror exploited.exploited.

Berry'sBerry's reverencreverencee foforr "the"the dustdust"" ofof creationcreation iiss reflectereflectedd inin hihiss reverencreverencee forfor thethe humanhuman bodybody,, ththee bodbodyy ooff otherother creaturescreatures,, anandd ththee topsoitopsoill whicwhichh hehe referreferss toto aass "very"very

Christ-likChrist-likee iinn itsits passivitpassivityy anandd beneficencbeneficencee anandd iinn ththee penetratinpenetratingg energyenergy thatthat issueissuess outout ooff ititss peaceableness.peaceableness ... .it.it iiss enrichedenriched byby alalll thingthingss thathatt didiee anandd enteenterr intintoo it. ... .it itss fertilityfertility isis alwayalwayss buildinbuildingg uupp ououtt ofof deatdeathh intintoo promisepromise"" (Long-Legge(Long-Leggedd HousHousee 204).204). ForFor BerryBerry,, soil,soil, likelike humanhumanss anandd alalll otheotherr formformss ooff life,life, isis aann amalgamatioamalgamationn ofof dustdust andand liflifee thatthat iiss bothboth divindivinee gifgiftt anandd life-givinlife-givingg mysterymystery.. ThThee membershimembershipp ofof Berry'Berry'ss fictionafictionall PorPortt William,William, strivstrivee ttoo fulfilfulfilll theitheirr roleroless aass "trustee"trustee[s [s] ] ooff thethe liflifee ooff ththee topsoiltopsoil"" (Continuous(Continuous HarmonyHarmony

128)128) honoringhonoring itit aass a gifgiftt "that"that wwee didn'didn'tt make,"make," anandd preservinpreservingg itit forfor ththee benefitbenefit ooff "the"the linlinee ooff succession"succession" (Tha(Thatt DistanDistantt LanLandd 228)228).. ContrastedContrasted toto a locallocal "preacher""preacher" whowho attemptsattempts ttoo consolconsolee ththee FeltneFeltnerr familfamilyy afterafter ththee loslosss ofof theitheirr sonson witwithh promisepromisess ooff a

"Heavenl"Heavenlyy City,City,"" transcendentranscendentt andand "free"free ooff ththee worldworld"" ((AA PlacPlacee oonn EartEarthh 99),99), membersmembers ooff Berry'Berry'ss fictionafictionall communitcommunityy believbelievee inin GoGodd anandd anan afterlife,afterlife, yetyet strivestrive ttoo bbee faithfulfaithful toto theitheirr "plac"placee oonn earth,earth,"" recognizinrecognizingg ititss challengechallengess andand dangerdangerss whilwhilee takintakingg solacsolacee iinn itsits sustainingsustaining powerpower,, itsits beautybeauty,, andand ititss pleasurespleasures.. WirzbWirzbaa describedescribess thithiss "faithfulness"faithfulness ttoo thethe worldworld"" aass ththee willingneswillingnesss "to"to trustrustt anandd accepacceptt responsibilitresponsibilityy foforr ththee giftegiftedd andand gracedgraced charactercharacter ooff experienceexperience,, ttoo immerseimmerse ourselveourselvess intintoo ththee flofloww ooff experiencexperiencee anandd therethere findfind ourselvesourselves maintainedmaintained bbyy meaninmeaningg anandd lovlovee thathatt wwee ddoo nonott controlcontrol,, andand foforr ththee mostmost part,part, dodo notnot deservedeserve"" (Placin(Placingg ththee SoulSoul 95)95).. ThiThiss sentimensentimentt iiss echoedechoed bbyy Berry'Berry'ss charactercharacter

WheeleWheelerr CatletCatlettt whowho describesdescribes ththee community'community'ss belovebelovedd lanlandd asas "not"not purelypurely goodgood...... bu butt googoodd enoughenough,, bettebetterr thathann wwee deservedeserve"" (That(That DistanDistantt LanLandd 355).355). 5454 TracinTracingg religioureligiouss anandd philosophicalphilosophical conceptionsconceptions betweebetweenn ththee relationshirelationshipp ooff thethe sousoull andand ththee surroundingsurrounding worlworldd througthroughh timetime,, WirzbWirzbaa describedescribess a tensiotensionn betweebetweenn twotwo

ChristiaChristiann conceptionsconceptions ooff ththee worldworld:: ththee first,first, "borrowing"borrowing heavilyheavily frofromm thethe HebreHebreww faithfaith ououtt ooff whicwhichh ChristianitChristianityy grew,"grew," inin whicwhichh "God"God hahass createcreatedd a worlworldd thathatt iiss goodgood andand toto bbee cherishecherishedd aass aann expressioexpressionn ooff worshiworshipp andand gratitudegratitude ttoo God,"God," anandd ththee otheotherr iinn whichwhich thethe worlworldd "is"is ththee sitsitee ofof soso mucmuchh sinsin anandd wrong-doinwrong-doingg thathatt iitt needneedss ttoo bbee transformedtransformed

(perhap(perhapss destroyed)destroyed) andand rebuilrebuiltt soso thathatt iitt mighmightt bettebetterr reflecreflectt God'God'ss intentiointentionn anandd rule"rule"

(84)(84).. BerryBerry believebelievess thathatt withinwithin mainstreamainstreamm ChristianityChristianity ththee lattelatterr vievieww ooff ththee worldworld hashas virtuallvirtuallyy eclipsedeclipsed ththee former,former, yeyett ththee sensesense ofof ththee worlworldd aass giftgift ttoo bbee cherishedcherished iiss justifiedjustified byby scriptures,scriptures, mormoree soso thathann ththee ideaidea ooff a debasedebasedd physicaphysicall world—whicworld-whichh hhee believebelievess hashas playeplayedd convenientlconvenientlyy intintoo thethe instrumentalinstrumental viewview ofof naturenature espousedespoused bbyy industrialindustrial capitalism.capitalism. BerrBerryy seeksseeks toto titipp thethe scalescale bacbackk towardtoward a reverencreverencee forfor thethe world.world. RatherRather thathann "lofty"lofty soulssouls trappetrappedd temporariltemporarilyy inin lowllowlyy bodiebodiess inin a dispirited,dispirited, desperatedesperate,, unlovableunlovable world,"world," BerryBerry strivestrivess ttoo reinvigoratereinvigorate ChristianChristian beliebelieff thathatt "we"we areare livinlivingg souls,souls, God'God'ss dustdust andand God'sGod's breath,breath, actingacting ourour partpartss amonamongg otherother creaturescreatures allall mademade ooff ththee samesame dustdust andand breatbreathh aass ourselvesourselves"" (Sex(Sex 109-110).109-110).

BerrBerryy dismissesdismisses argumentargumentss thathatt insisinsistt onon "the"the culpabilityculpability ooff ChristianitChristianityy inin thethe destructiondestruction ooff ththee naturanaturall worldworld andand ththee uselessnesuselessnesss ofof ChristianitChristianityy iinn anyany efforteffort ttoo correctcorrect thathatt destructiondestruction"" (Sex(Sex 93-94)93-94) asas shallowshallow clicheclicMss ooff ththee conservationconservation movemenmovementt andand citescites

LynLynnn White'White'ss seminalseminal articlearticle "The"The HistoricaHistoricall RootRootss ofof ouourr EcologicalEcological CrisisCrisis"" asas ththee mostmost populapopularr anandd widelwidelyy reareadd examplexamplee ofof suchsuch anan argument.argument. BerrBerryy accuseaccusess suchsuch argumentsarguments ofof relyinrelyingg totooo heavilheavilyy oonn BiblicaBiblicall injunctioninjunctionss foundfound iinn ththee boobookk ooff GenesiGenesiss givinggiving humanshumans

"dominion""dominion" oveoverr creationcreation witwithh a chargchargee ttoo "subdue""subdue" ththee earth.earth. BerrBerryy notenotess thatthat 5555 consideredconsidered withininwithinin thethe contextcontext ofof thethe BiblicalBiblical creationcreation narrative,narrative, thesethese injunctionsinjunctions "can"can givegive usus onlyonly limitedlimited help"help" sincesince theythey werewere "given"given toto AdamAdam andand EveEve inin thethe timetime ofof theirtheir innocence,innocence, andand itit seemsseems certaincertain thatthat thethe wordword 'subdue''subdue' wouldwould havehave hadhad a differentdifferent intentintent andand sensesense forfor themthem atat thatthat timetime thanthan itit couldcould havehave forfor them,them, oror forfor us,us, afterafter thethe Fall"Fall" (Gift(Gift ofof GoodGood LandLand 268).268). LikeLike otherother modernmodern ChristianChristian thinkers,thinkers, BerryBerry attemptsattempts toto reinterpretreinterpret whatwhat hashas oftenoften beenbeen characterizedcharacterized asas Genesis'Genesis' God-givenGod-given licenselicense toto destructivelydestructively dominatedominate naturenature citingciting MormonMormon essayistessayist HughHugh NibleyNibley whowho wrotewrote thatthat "man's"man's dominiondominion isis a callcall toto service,service, notnot a licenselicense toto exterminate"exterminate" (What(What areare PeoplePeople for?for? 99).99). BerryBerry believesbelieves thatthat criticscritics (as(as wellwell asas Christians)Christians) whowho dwelldwell onon thethe ideaidea ofof "dominion""dominion" asas freefree useuse "have"have notnot masteredmastered thethe firstfirst rulerule ofof thethe criticismcriticism ofof books:books: youyou havehave toto readread themthem beforebefore youyou criticizecriticize them"them" (Sex(Sex 94)94) sincesince BerryBerry believesbelieves thatthat a readingreading ofof GenesisGenesis asas grantinggranting "unconditional"unconditional permissionpermission toto humankindhumankind toto useuse thethe worldworld asas itit pleasespleases isis...... contradicte contradictedd bbyy virtuallvirtuallyy allall ththee restrest ofof thethe BibleBible"" (What(What areare PeoplPeoplee for?for? 98).98).

InIn anan efforteffort toto findfind a moremore usefuluseful BiblicalBiblical modelmodel ofof humanhuman interactioninteraction witwithh thethe worldworld thathann Genesis,Genesis, BerrBerryy looklookss ttoo thethe storystory ofof thethe givinggiving ofof ththee PromisedPromised LandLand toto thethe ancientancient IsraeliteIsraelitess whicwhichh hhee believesbelieves ttoo bbee mormoree "serviceable""serviceable" sincesince itit isis a storystory ofof "a"a divindivinee gifgiftt ttoo a.a/allen fallen people,"people," andand forfor BerryBerry representsrepresents "the"the definitiondefinition ofof anan ecologicalecological disciplinediscipline"" (Gif(Giftt ooff GooGoodd LanLandd 269)269).. FirsFirstt anandd foremosforemostt BerrBerryy pointpointss ttoo Israel'Israel'ss senssensee ofof ththee lanlandd aass giftgift,, "not"not a frefreee oorr deservedeservedd giftgift,, bubutt a gifgiftt givegivenn upouponn certaicertainn rigorousrigorous conditionsconditions"" (270).(270). IsraeIsraell iiss alloweallowedd ttoo possepossess ththee landland,, bubutt mustmust rememberememberr thathatt thetheyy diddid nonott creatcreatee iitt anandd araree givegivenn stricstrictt warningwarningss againsagainstt "the"the follfollyy ooff sayinsayingg thathatt 'M'Myy powepowerr andand ththee mighmightt ooff minminee hanhandd hathathh gottegottenn mmee thithiss wealthwealth'' (Deuteronom(Deuteronomyy 8:17)8: 17)"" (270)(270).. BerryBerry believebelievess thathatt deepldeeplyy implicateimplicatedd iinn ththee ververyy definitiodefinitionn ooff a gifgiftt ooff googoodd lanlandd "i"iss a specificspecific 5656 warningwarning againsagainstt hubris whicwhichh iiss ththee greagreatt ecologicalecological sin,sin,"" andand thathatt ththee PromisedPromised LandLand isis notnot a permanenpermanentt giftgift,, bubutt isis givegivenn onlonlyy foforr a timetime,, anandd onlonlyy foforr soso longlong asas iitt isis properlyproperly usedused"" (270-271,(270-271, emphasisemphasis added)added)..

FoForr ancienancientt IsraelIsrael,, reminderreminderss ooff ththee propeproperr ususee ooff giftegiftedd lanlandd werweree includedincluded iinn itsits elaborateelaborate SabbathSabbath observanceobservancess includinincludingg a commancommandd ttoo allowallow fieldfieldss ttoo liliee fallowfallow everyevery

seventseventhh yearyear,, "and"and a SabbatSabbathh ofof SabbathsSabbaths everyevery fifteenthfifteenth yearyear,, a 'year'year ooff jubilee,jubilee,'' duringduring

which.which .... .th thee lanlandd woulwouldd bbee returnereturnedd ttoo ititss originaoriginall ownersowners,, aass iiff ttoo freefree ifif ofof ththee taintaintt ofof tradtradee anandd ththee conceitconceit ooff humahumann ownershipownership"" (271)(271).. IsraeIsraell wawass ttoo recognizrecognizee thathatt ththee landland musmustt nonott bbee considereconsideredd a rewardreward sincesince "the"the peoplpeoplee chosechosenn forfor thithiss gifgiftt ddoo nonott deservdeservee it,it,

foforr thetheyy areare 'a'a stiff-neckedstiff-necked peoplepeople'' whwhoo havhavee beebeenn wickewickedd andand faithless"faithless" (271).(271).

AccordinAccordingg ttoo Berry,Berry, IsraelIsrael coulcouldd onlyonly provprovee itselitselff worthworthyy ofof thethe lanlandd bbyy beinbeingg "faithful,"faithful,

gratefulgrateful,, andand humble,humble,"" anandd bbyy beinbeingg neighborlyneighborly,, "they"they musmustt bbee justjust,, kinkindd toto ononee another,another,

generougenerouss ttoo strangersstrangers,, honeshonestt inin tradingtrading,, etc."etc." (272)(272).. AnAndd whilwhilee thesthesee seemseem onlyonly socialsocial

virtuesvirtues,, BerrBerryy recognizerecognizess theitheirr deedeepp "ecological"ecological anandd agriculturaagriculturall implicationsimplications"" sincesince thethe

communitcommunityy isis understoounderstoodd ttoo exisexistt nonott jusjustt inin spacespace,, bubutt alsalsoo iinn time,time, andand thathatt IsraeIsraell mustmust

taktakee carcaree ooff ititss landland,, "which"which iiss neveneverr a possessionpossession,, bubutt aann inheritancinheritancee ttoo thethe livingliving,, asas itit

wilwilll bbee ttoo ththee unbornunborn"" (272).(272).

BerrBerryy alsalsoo recognizerecognizess iinn ancienancientt Israel'Israel'ss connectionconnection ttoo itsits lanlandd "an"an elaborateelaborate

understandinunderstandingg ooff charitycharity"" a charitcharityy nonott limitelimitedd ttoo fellofelloww IsraelitesIsraelites,, bubutt expandedexpanded iinn thethe

NeNeww TestamenTestamentt ttoo includeinclude alalll creation:creation: "It"It cannocannott bbee selectivselectivee becausbecausee betweebetweenn anyany twotwo

humanshumans,, oorr ananyy twtwoo creatures,creatures, allall CreatioCreationn existexistss asas a bond..bond .... [charity][charity] cannotcannot stopstop untiluntil

iitt includesincludes allall CreationCreation,, foforr allall creaturescreatures araree partpartss ofof a wholwholee upouponn whicwhichh eaceachh isis

dependentdependent,, anandd iitt isis a contradictiocontradictionn ttoo lovlovee youyourr neighboneighborr anandd despisdespisee ththee greatgreat 5757 inheritancinheritancee oonn whicwhichh lifelife dependsdepends"" (273)(273).. Berry'Berry'ss argumenargumentt ofof ththee extensionextension ofof Christ'sChrist's commancommandd ooff neighborlneighborlyy lovlovee ttoo ththee naturanaturall worlworldd joinjoinss a choruschorus ofof similarsimilar ChristianChristian thoughthoughtt founfoundd inin ththee teachingteachingss ooff SainSaintt FranciFranciss ooff AssisAssisii andand AlberAlbertt SchweitzerSchweitzer aass welwelll asas bbyy mormoree recenrecentt ChristianChristian thinkersthinkers:: "T"Too lovlovee ouourr neighborneighborss aass ourselveourselvess hahass implicitimplicit ecologicalecological content....Chriscontent. ... Christt calledcalled followerfollowerss ttoo growgrow iinn lovlovee bbyy extendinextendingg ththee boundariesboundaries ofof theitheirr senssensee ofof communitycommunity anandd kinship.kinship .... .t too embraceembrace alalll peoplespeoples,, eveevenn theirtheir enemiesenemies....B ....By y furtherfurther extensioextensionn thethe calcalll toto lovlovee one'one'ss neighboneighborr cacann bbee seenseen ttoo includincludee a senssensee ofof kinshikinshipp witwithh ththee entireentire communitcommunityy ooff life"life" (Misch(Mischee 594).594).

DifferinDifferingg fromfrom thosthosee whwhoo dismisdismisss ChristiaChristiann theologytheology anandd ethicsethics asas uselesuselesss toto correctcorrect environmentalenvironmental destructiondestruction,, oror whwhoo overtlovertlyy oror implicitlyimplicitly callcall fofor-believingr believing

ChristianChristianss ttoo abandonabandon theirtheir faitfaithh iinn favofavorr ofof religioureligiouss oror philosophicaphilosophicall systemssystems whicwhichh areare perceiveperceivedd asas mormoree ecologicallecologicallyy salutary,salutary, BerrBerryy seeksseeks ttoo brinbringg ttoo lighlightt andand ttoo reinvigoratereinvigorate anan alternativalternativee ChristianChristian traditiotraditionn borbornn ofof ththee samesame scripturesscriptures anandd teachingteachingss yeyett radicallyradically differendifferentt iinn ititss approachapproach ttoo ththee naturanaturall worldworld.. ThisThis possibilitpossibilityy iiss tacitltacitlyy recognizerecognizedd byby

LynLynnn WhitWhitee iinn hihiss regardregard foforr ththee traditiotraditionn anandd teachingteachingss ofof St.St. FranciFranciss whowhomm hehe characterizescharacterizes aass "th"thee greatestgreatest radicaradicall iinn ChristiaChristiann historhistoryy sincesince Christ"Christ" (13).(13). AlthoughAlthough

WhitWhitee concludeconcludess thathatt St.St. FrancisFrancis'' puspushh foforr a mormoree charitablcharitablee treatmentreatmentt ofof naturenature failefailedd inin hihiss ownown timetime,, a recenrecentt ChristiaChristiann culturalcultural renaissancrenaissancee iinn whicwhichh BerryBerry hahass playeplayedd a significansignificantt rolrolee (an(andd inin whicwhichh St.St. FranciFranciss waswas madmadee ththee patropatronn saintsaint ofof ecologyecology bbyy PopePope

JohJohnn PauPaull II),II), demonstratedemonstratess thathatt St.St. FrancisFrancis'' legacylegacy isis farfar fromfrom extincextinctt andand thathatt a sophisticatedsophisticated andand ecologicallyecologically informeinformedd ChristiaChristiann environmentalenvironmental ethicethic mamayy inin facfactt springspring fromfrom ththee samesame scripturascripturall fontfont asas anan environmentallenvironmentallyy destructivdestructivee one-aone—a possibilitpossibilityy thathatt isis 5858 generallgenerallyy ignoreignoredd bbyy thosthosee whwhoo simplysimply ususee White'sWhite's essayessay asas ammunitionammunition againstagainst thethe possibilitpossibilityy ooff a ChristianChristian environmentalenvironmental ethic.ethic.

ThrougThroughh hihiss writingswritings BerrBerryy hahass unleasheunleashedd a barragbarragee ooff ardentardent critiquecritiquess againstagainst whatwhat hhee perceiveperceivess asas ththee illillss ooff contemporarcontemporaryy Christianity—itChristianity-itss divorcdivorcee ofof spiritualityspirituality fromfrom economiceconomicss andand ititss neglecneglectt ofof andand complicitcomplicityy witwithh industriaindustriall capitalismcapitalism inin thethe destructiodestructionn ofof ththee naturanaturall worldworld.. YeYett bbyy virtuvirtuee ooff hihiss positiopositionn aass a ChristianChristian 'insider''insider'

(althoug(althoughh hhee confesseconfessess thathatt hhee hahass alwayalwayss feltfelt anan outsideoutsiderr ttoo "the"the sectssects andand denominationsdenominations"" GrubbGrubbss 118),118), anandd bbyy groundinggrounding hihiss viewviewss inin biblicabiblicall scripture,scripture, Berry'sBerry's alternativalternativee visiovisionn ooff thethe traditiontradition hahass becombecomee increasinglincreasinglyy welwelll receivereceivedd bbyy thosthosee seekingseeking religiousreligious perspectiveperspectivess anandd ethicethicss amenablamenablee ttoo a ecologicalecological imperativeimperativess andand groundegroundedd inin biblicabiblicall thoughtthought,, bubutt likelike BerrBerryy areare unwillinunwillingg ttoo abandoabandonn ChristianityChristianity altogether.altogether.

AttentioAttentionn fromfrom magazinemagaziness suchsuch aass thethe evangelicalevangelical Christianity Today (whic(whichh describesdescribes

BerrBerryy aass "inspiring"inspiring a neneww generatiogenerationn ofof ChristiansChristians toto carecare foforr ththee land"land" (Sutterfield)),(Sutterfield)), interviewsinterviews andand articlearticless oonn BerrBerryy iinn The Christian Century, anandd hihiss 20020055 receipreceiptt ofof thethe

ConferenceConference oonn ChristianitChristianityy anandd Literature'Literature'ss LifetimeLifetime AchievementAchievement Award,Award, indicateindicate thethe positivpositivee receptioreceptionn ooff Berry'Berry'ss ideaideass amongstamongst ChristiaChristiann thinkerthinkerss whwhoo seeseekk a revitalizerevitalizedd yetyet scripturallscripturallyy groundegroundedd ChristianChristian ethiethicc capablcapablee ooff providinprovidingg a markedlmarkedlyy ChristianChristian voicvoicee toto a choruschorus ofof concernconcern overover recentrecent culturalcultural andand environmentalenvironmental challenges.challenges.

AgrarianisAgrarianismm anandd CountercultureCounterculture

AnotheAnotherr persistenpersistentt challengechallenge ttoo neo-agrarianism'neo-agrarianism'ss broadbroad acceptanceacceptance isis thethe threatthreat ofof itsits culturalcultural marginalizationmarginalization duduee ttoo a lingerinlingeringg associationassociation betweebetweenn neo-traditionalneo-traditional modemodess ofof agriculturaagriculturall productioproductionn anandd distributiodistributionn witwithh thethe 1960s1960s inspireinspiredd counterculture.counterculture.

ManManyy withiwithinn ththee culturaculturall mainstreammainstream perceivperceivee counterculturcounterculturee 'hippies''hippies' (and(and perhapperhapss byby 5599 inferencinferencee neo-agrariansneo-agrarians)) aass aliealienn andand consideconsiderr theitheirr viewviewss outout ofof touctouchh withwith mainstreammainstream sensibilitiessensibilities anandd concernsconcerns.. IndeeIndeedd manmanyy ofof Berry'Berry'ss earlearlyy workworkss appearedappeared iinn a timtimee whenwhen counterculturecounterculture devoteesdevotees hahadd begubegunn ttoo preacpreachh a "back"back ttoo ththee landland"" ethiethicc ooff voluntaryvoluntary simplicitsimplicityy anandd gatheregatheredd iinn communecommuness ttoo attempattemptt a harmoniouharmoniouss existenceexistence betweebetweenn oneone anotheanotherr anandd ththee landland.. AlthougAlthoughh BerrBerryy acknowledgeacknowledgess hihiss farfarmm upbringinupbringingg aass hishis formativeformative influencinfluencee ratheratherr thathann ththee revolutionarrevolutionaryy counterculture,counterculture, Berry'Berry'ss thoughthoughtt hahass mucmuchh inin commoncommon witwithh counterculturalcountercultural idealsideals.. HistoriaHistoriann WarreWarrenn Belasco'Belasco'ss work Appetite forfor

Change: How the Counterculture Took on the Food Industry describesdescribes a latelate 1960s1960s

"greening""greening" ooff a theretofortheretoforee primarilprimarilyy urban-centereurban-centeredd counterculturcounterculturee witwithh aann increasedincreased emphasiemphasiss oonn environmentaenvironmentall awarenessawareness anandd agriculturagriculturee productioproductionn andand distribution.distribution.

SeveraSeverall kekeyy agrariaagrariann tenanttenantss werweree presenpresentt iinn ththee counterculturalcountercultural movemenmovementt ofof thethe

1960s1960s anandd 1970s.1970s. CounterculturaCounterculturall 'revolutionaries''revolutionaries' believebelievedd thathatt widespreawidespreadd adoptioadoptionn ofof small-scalsmall-scalee gardeninggardening coulcouldd bbee a subversivesubversive socialsocial influenceinfluence thathatt woulwouldd weakenweaken corporatcorporatee influencinfluencee oonn ththee publipublicc andand facilitatefacilitate a revolutiorevolutionn iinn ththee wawayy thathatt peoplepeople interacteinteractedd witwithh naturnaturee anandd oneone anotheranother.. ThesThesee subversivesubversive gardenersgardeners believedbelieved thathatt thatthat

"any"any urbaurbann vegetablvegetablee patcpatchh couldcould seemseem...... a 'conspirac'conspiracyy ooff ththee soil'"soil"' (Belasco(Belasco 21)-a21)—a concepconceptt embraceembracedd bbyy BerrBerryy (Gif(Giftt ofof GoodGood LanLandd 167-168).167-168). CounterculturCounterculturee advocatesadvocates recognizerecognizedd ththee centracentrall rolrolee ofof foodfood iinn "bringing"bringing peoplpeoplee togethetogetherr inin ththee shorshortt rurunn anandd inin raisinraisingg people'people'ss awarenesawarenesss foforr ththee longlong runrun"" (Belasc(Belascoo 78)78) andand embracedembraced "organic""organic" gardeningardeningg principleprincipless anandd practicepracticess advocatedadvocated bbyy organicorganic forerunneforerunnerr SirSir AlberAlbertt Howard­Howard— a respectedrespected BritishBritish agronomistagronomist andand earlyearly organicorganic advocateadvocate whowho hashas alsoalso beenbeen a tremendoutremendouss influencinfluencee oonn BerryBerry.. Nineteen-sixtieNineteen-sixtiess counterculturecounterculture advocateadvocatess expressedexpressed a distaidistainn foforr chemicalschemicals,, plasticsplastics,, anandd anythinganything deemedeemedd "artificial,"artificial,"" preferrinpreferringg "naturalness""naturalness" 6060 bothboth aass a diediett anandd "a"a liberatedliberated statstatee ofof mindmind"" (40(40)) anandd liklikee BerrBerryy anandd otherother neo-agrarians,neo-agrarians, manymany withiwithinn ththee counterculturcounterculturee anticipatedanticipated ththee collapscollapsee ooff ththee industrialindustrial economyeconomy.. MostMost hippiehippiess werweree convincedconvinced thathatt anan apocalyptiapocalypticc changechange wawass immanenimmanentt anandd manymany soughtsought refugrefugee iinn ththee countrysidcountrysidee ttoo waiwaitt ououtt ththee comincomingg stormstormss ofof crisiscrisis.. ManManyy "radical"radical naturalistsnaturalists"" adopteadoptedd survivalistsurvivalist mindsetmind setss andand soughsoughtt ttoo "return"return ttoo thethe primitiveprimitive"" (40).(40).

ThesThesee "back"back ttoo ththee landland"" advocatesadvocates vieweviewedd theitheirr returreturnn ttoo ththee countrcountryy nonott asas aann escapeescape butbut

"a"a necessarnecessaryy firsfirstt step"step" ttoo remakremakee societysociety withouwithoutt ththee destructivdestructivee influenceinfluence ofof industrialism.industrialism.

YeYett whilwhilee a counterculturcounterculturee swingswing towartowardd ecologyecology andand organicorganic agricultureagriculture mademade manmanyy counterculturacounterculturall idealsideals mesmeshh witwithh Berry'Berry'ss agrarianismagrarianism,, otherother aspectaspectss ofof counterculturecounterculture suchsuch asas widwidee experimentatioexperimentationn witwithh drugsdrugs andand sexualsexual promiscuitpromiscuityy runrun countercounter ttoo Berry'Berry'ss idealidealss ooff communitcommunityy disciplinediscipline anandd fidelity.fidelity. PresumablPresumablyy respondingresponding toto ththee thethenn prevalenprevalentt influencinfluencee ofof ththee counterculturecounterculture,, BerryBerry notenotess iinn hishis 19701970 worworkk A

Continuous Harmony thathatt "th"thee culturaculturall rolrolee ofof botbothh hallucinogenhallucinogenss anandd intoxicantsintoxicants,, inin societiessocieties thathatt havhavee effectiveleffectivelyy disciplineddisciplined theitheirr useuse,, hahass beebeenn strictlystrictly limited.limited .... .fo forr thethe apprehensioapprehensionn ofof religioureligiouss oror visionarvisionaryy truth,truth,"" andand hhee criticizescriticizes youthyouth culture'sculture's indiscriminatindiscriminatee andand undisciplineundisciplinedd ususee ooff drugdrugss "in"in a wawayy ververyy similarsimilar toto ththee wawayy itsits parentparent culturculturee useusess alcoholalcohol:: aatt randomrandom,, aass a socialsocial symbosymboll andand crutch,crutch, anandd witwithh ththee emphasisemphasis uponupon ththee factfact andand quantitquantityy ooff ususee ratheratherr thathann ththee qualitqualityy andand ththee contentcontent ofof thethe experience"experience" (Continuou(Continuouss HarmonHarmonyy 105).105). Similarly,Similarly, BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt sexualsexual fidelitfidelityy isis essentialessential withiwithinn ththee contexcontextt ofof community,community, sincesince sexuality,sexuality, whicwhichh BerrBerryy referreferss ttoo asas "form"form ooff energyenergy,, oneone ooff ththee mosmostt powerfulpowerful"" musmustt ooff necessitnecessityy bbee disciplined:disciplined:

AAtt ththee rooroott ofof cultureculture musmustt bbee ththee realizatiorealizationn thathatt uncontrolleuncontrolledd energyenergy isis disorderly-thatdisorderly—that iinn naturenature alalll energiesenergies movmovee inin forms;forms; thatthat,, thereforetherefore,, inin a 6161 humahumann ordeorderr energieenergiess musmustt bbee givegivenn forms...irresponsiblforms .. .irresponsiblee sexualitysexuality wouldwould underminunderminee ananyy possibilitpossibilityy ooff cultureculture sincesince iitt implieimpliess a hierarchhierarchyy basedbased upouponn brutbrutee strength,strength, cunning,cunning, regardlesregardlesss ooff valuvaluee anandd ofof consequence.consequence. (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 122)122)

UltimatelyUltimately (a(ass BerrBerryy mamayy havhavee predicted)predicted),, BelascBelascoo notenotess thathatt withinwithin thethe counterculture,counterculture, thisthis freefree experimentationexperimentation witwithh drugdrugss anandd sexsex "eventually"eventually proved...destructivproved ... destructivee ofof communitycommunity"" (78).(78).

AnotheAnotherr criticacriticall differencdifferencee betweebetweenn agrarianagrarian thoughthoughtt anandd ththee radicalradical counterculturcounterculturee isis neo-agrarianism'sneo-agrarianism's assertioassertionn (at(at leasleastt iinn ititss currentcurrent AmericaAmericann incarnation)incarnation) ofof ththee WesterWesternn anandd Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian traditiontraditionss asas culturaculturall reservoirsreservoirs usefuusefull ttoo necessarynecessary changechange.. MosMostt inin ththee counterculturecounterculture rejecterejectedd ChristianitChristianityy anandd WesternWestern thoughthoughtt aass ththee rootroot causecause ofof societasocietall anandd ecologicalecological harmharm,, preferrinpreferringg insteainsteadd ttoo embraceembrace EasterEasternn modemodess ofof thoughthoughtt anandd spiritualityspirituality.. WhilWhilee BerrBerryy iiss criticacriticall ofof mucmuchh ofof WesterWesternn andand Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian thoughthoughtt (a(ass evidencedevidenced bbyy hihiss aforementioneaforementionedd critiquescritiques ofof currentcurrent economiceconomicss andand

Christianity),Christianity), Berry'Berry'ss evocatioevocationn ooff traditionatraditionall ChristianChristian andand WesterWesternn languagelanguage andand themesthemes makemakess neo-agrarianeo-agrariann thoughthoughtt mormoree palatablpalatablee ttoo culturallculturallyy mainstreamainstreamm audiences.audiences.

InIn anan attemptattempt toto distancdistancee itselitselff frofromm counterculturcounterculturee associationsassociations andand marginalizationmarginalization,, recenrecentt worworkk bbyy neo-agrarianeo-agrariann popularizerpopularizerss hahass tendetendedd toto emphasizemphasizee thethe movement'smovement's 'normalcy''normalcy' anandd hahass workeworkedd ttoo detacdetachh agrarianisagrarianismm fromfrom associationassociationss withwith hippiehippiess anandd otheotherr residuaresiduall influenceinfluencess ooff ththee 1960s1960s counterculturecounterculture.. BarbarBarbaraa Kingsolver'sKingsolver's

Animal Vegetable Miracle includeincludess a chaptechapterr entitleentitledd "Life"Life iinn a ReRedd State"State" iinn whicwhichh sheshe detaildetailss ththee worworkk ofof AppalachiaAppalachiann HarvestHarvest,, a co-operativeco-operative ofof organicorganic farmersfarmers strugglingstruggling toto markemarkett itsits producproducee iinn southeastersoutheasternn supermarketsupermarket chainschains.. KingsolveKingsolverr differentiatedifferentiatess thesethese working-clasworking-classs organiorganicc farmerfarmerss fromfrom populapopularr caricaturescaricatures ofof thosthosee thoughtthought toto bbee involvedinvolved inin organiorganicc farmingfarming:: "Mr"Mr.. Natural...dreadlockedNatural...dreadlocked,, BirkenstockedBirkenstocked,, standingstanding atat ththee checkoutcheckout 6262 witwithh hihiss bottlbottlee ooff Intestinal-JoIntestinal-Joyy BrandBrand wheatgraswheatgrasss juicejuice,, edgingedging closecloserr ttoo peepeerr iinn mmyy cart,cart, reekinreekingg faintlfaintlyy ooff garlicgarlic,, anandd a keennesskeenness ttoo savesave mmee fromfrom somesome food-karmfood-karmaa errorerror"" (204).(204).

KingsolveKingsolverr detaildetailss ththee appearanceappearance ooff AppalachiaAppalachiann HarvesHarvestt farmersfarmers:: "Red"Red WinWingg workwork bootsboots,, barbershobarbershopp haircutshaircuts,, Levi'Levi'ss witwithh a littlelittle mumudd onon ththee cuffscuffs,, memenn anandd womewomenn whowho probablprobablyy ggoo ttoo churcchurchh oonn SundaySunday bubutt keekeepp theitheirr religioreligionn ttoo themselvesthemselves"" (204-205).(204-205).

Kingsolver'Kingsolver'ss mentiomentionn ooff ththee farmersfarmers'' working-clasworking-classs articlearticless ofof clothing-workclothing—work bootbootss andand

LevisLevis blubluee jeanjeanss (which(which ironicallironicallyy werweree formerlformerlyy associateassociatedd witwithh "psychedelia,"psychedelia, youthfulyouthful irreverenceirreverence,, anandd casuacasuall sexuality"sexuality" (Belasco(Belasco 178))-their178))—their clean-cuclean-cutt appearance,appearance, andand herher mentiomentionn ofof "church"church oonn Sunday"Sunday" serveserve aass signifiersignifierss ooff a neo-agrarianeo-agrariann sensibilitysensibility sheshe worksworks ttoo portraportrayy aass 'normal'normal'' anandd 'mainstream,''mainstream,' ratheratherr thathann 'hippie''hippie' oror urban-academicurban-academic,, anandd thatthat iiss beneficiabeneficiall ttoo rurarurall (an(andd urbanurban)) communitiecommunitiess andand compatiblcompatiblee witwithh rurarurall values.values.

Similarly,Similarly, afteafterr visitinvisitingg anan organicorganic farmfarm iinn whicwhichh free-rangfree-rangee chickenchickenss araree soldsold directldirectlyy ttoo ththee publicpublic,, MichaeMichaell PollePollenn notenotess ththee diversitdiversityy ofof ththee peoplpeoplee purchasinpurchasingg thethe chickenschickens:: "a"a schoolteacherschoolteacher,, severalseveral retireesretirees,, a younyoungg momomm witwithh herher towheadedtowheaded twins,twins, a mechanicmechanic,, aann operoperaa singer,singer, a furniturefurniture makermaker,, [and][and] a womawomann whwhoo workeworkedd inin a metalmetal fabricationfabrication plantplant"" (241)(241).. PollaPollann addaddss thathatt ththee farm'sfarm's customerscustomers werweree nonott "the"the well-heeledwell-heeled urbaurbann foodiefoodiess generallygenerally thoughthoughtt ttoo bbee ththee marketmarket forfor organicorganic oorr artisanaartisanall food.food. TherTheree waswas plentplentyy ooff polyestepolyesterr iinn thithiss crowcrowdd anandd a lotlot mormoree ChevroletsChevrolets thathann VolvosVolvos inin ththee parkingparking lot"lot" (241).(241). HighlightinHighlightingg traditionatraditionall signifiersignifierss ooff ththee middlmiddlee classclass suchsuch asas "polyester""polyester" andand

"Chevrolets,"Chevrolets,"" Pollan'Pollan'ss observationobservationss strivestrive ttoo reinforcreinforcee a messagmessagee thathatt thosthosee whwhoo areare concerneconcernedd abouaboutt foodfood productioproductionn anandd whwhoo areare drivindrivingg alternativalternativee modemodess ooff agriculturalagricultural distributiodistributionn proposeproposedd bbyy neo-agrarianeo-agrariann reformerreformerss araree nonott simplysimply economiceconomic andand cultureculture eliteselites,, oorr counterculturcounterculturee 'hippies,'hippies,'' bubutt 'norma'normall peoplepeople'' ofof ththee middlemiddle andand workingworking classclass 6363 whwhoo araree concerneconcernedd aboutabout dangeroudangerouss foodfood industryindustry practicepracticess anandd areare seekingseeking healthierhealthier optionsoptions thathatt supporsupportt locallocal communitiecommunitiess (242).(242).

WhileWhile sharingsharing variouvariouss commoncommon idealsideals witwithh counterculturalcountercultural reformerreformerss suchsuch aass anan ecologicalecological senssensee ofof community,community, a focufocuss onon organicorganic foofoodd productionproduction,, interestinterest inin alternativealternative modemodess ooff foofoodd distributiondistribution,, anandd a sensesense thathatt ththee currencurrentt systesystemm isis doomedoomedd ttoo failure,failure,

BerrBerryy andand ththee neo-agrarianneo-agrarianss seeseekk a middlmiddlee groungroundd iinn whicwhichh attitudesattitudes ooff respecrespectt andand carecare ooff ththee naturanaturall worlworldd anandd ititss variousvarious communitiecommunitiess araree paramountparamount.. WhilWhilee BerrBerryy criticizescriticizes anandd ifif necessarnecessaryy seekseekss ttoo correccorrectt ChristianChristian andand WesterWesternn traditionstraditions,, thetheyy areare stillstill maintainemaintainedd asas viablviablee avenueavenuess ooff thoughthoughtt anandd reform.reform. InIn hihiss formulatioformulationn ooff a contemporarcontemporaryy agrarianagrarian argument,argument, BerrBerryy excludeexcludess ththee mormoree radicaradicall counterculturalcountercultural elementelementss sucsuchh asas widespreawidespreadd experimentatioexperimentationn witwithh drugsdrugs anandd sex,sex, whilwhilee latter-daylatter-day agrarianagrarianss worworkk toto portraportrayy agrarianagrarian valuesvalues aass culturallculturallyy mainstreammainstream.. AlthoughAlthough agrariansagrarians seekseek a desirabledesirable culturaculturall middlemiddle groungroundd anandd mamayy bbee ableable ttoo convincconvincee a mainstreammainstream audienceaudience thathatt theitheirr valuevaluess areare inin factfact compatiblcompatiblee witwithh thosethose heldheld byby manmanyy AmericansAmericans,, oneone ofof agrarianism'sagrarianism's largestlargest anandd mosmostt persistenpersistentt challengechallengess iiss itsits radicaradicall rejectiorejectionn ooff thethe economieconomicc principleprincipless upouponn whicwhichh ththee 'developed'developed worldworld'' hahass comcomee toto bbee based.based.

InIn aann economyeconomy thathatt BerryBerry anandd ththee neo-agrarianneo-agrarianss believebelieve ttoo bbee builbuiltt upouponn thethe illusionillusion ooff "limitless"limitless economiceconomic growthgrowth"" (Goo(Goodd LandLand 169),169), thethe unabateunabatedd thirstthirst forfor "profits"profits aatt ananyy costcost"" (Wha(Whatt araree PeoplPeoplee for?for? 131),131), andand "the"the rulerule...... t too follofolloww one'sone's ownown interestinterest asas farfar asas possiblepossible"" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 22),22), anandd thathatt reliereliess onon "a"a symbiosissymbiosis ofof unlimitedunlimited greegreedd a ththee totopp anandd a lazylazy,, passivepassive,, anandd self-indulgentself-indulgent consumptivenesconsumptivenesss aatt bottombottom"" (What(What araree PeoplePeople forfor?? 127),127), ananyy callcall foforr a circumscriptiocircumscriptionn ofof ththee influencinfluencee ofof thethe "free"free market,"market," oorr a reigninreigningg inin ooff competitivcompetitivee andand consumptiveconsumptive impulseimpulsess thathatt drivedrive iitt areare inherentlinherentlyy a 6464 threathreatt ttoo ththee fundamentalfundamental integritintegrityy ofof thathatt system.system. IInn a culturalcultural climatclimatee iinn whichwhich

American-branAmerican-brandd capitalismcapitalism hahass appearedappeared toto havehave emergedemerged triumphantriumphantt overover variouvariouss formsforms ofof collectivismcollectivism (Sander(Sanderss 223)223),, foforr manymany,, industriaindustriall capitalismcapitalism hahass comcomee ttoo bbee intrinsicallyintrinsically equateequatedd witwithh patriotismpatriotism,, righteousnessrighteousness,, anandd ofteoftenn citecitedd aass prooprooff ooff a tacitacitt providentialprovidential approvaapprovall ofof thosthosee governingoverningg economieconomicc principlesprinciples.. FoForr thosthosee whwhoo espouseespouse thesthesee beliefs,beliefs,

Berry'sBerry's assertioassertionn thathatt whilwhilee ththee principleprincipless upouponn whicwhichh industrialindustrial capitaliscapitalismm iiss builbuiltt "can"can enrichenrich anandd empowerempower ththee fefeww (fo(forr a while).while) .... .the theyy wilwilll soonesoonerr oror latelaterr ruinruin uuss all,all,"" (Sex(Sex 12)12) anandd hihiss questioninquestioningg ooff "why"why GoGodd mighmightt particularlparticularlyy favorfavor a nationationn whoswhosee economeconomyy isis foundefoundedd foursquarfoursquaree oonn thethe sevenseven deadlydeadly sins"sins" (85),(85), seemsseems unpatriotiunpatrioticc oror eveneven heretical.heretical.

ThesThesee individualindividualss mamayy thereforthereforee simplysimply dismisdismisss BerrBerryy anandd hihiss fellofelloww neo-agrariansneo-agrarians

(alon(alongg witwithh mosmostt environmentalenvironmental thinkersthinkers)) ttoo ththee lunaticlunatic fringe.fringe.

ComComee anandd JoiJoinn UsUs:: Berry'Berry'ss HopeHope

DespitDespitee thethe dauntindauntingg obstacleobstacless ttoo ththee realizatiorealizationn ooff hihiss agrarianagrarian visionvision,, BerryBerry expresseexpressess aann underlyinunderlyingg sensesense ooff hopehope.. AcknowledginAcknowledgingg thathatt hhee iiss ofteoftenn toltoldd thathatt hihiss lineline ofof thoughthoughtt iiss "attractive"attractive bubutt hopeless,hopeless,"" BerrBerryy admitsadmits thathatt "my"my hophopee iiss mosmostt seriouslyseriously challengedchallenged bbyy ththee facfactt ooff declinedecline,, ooff lossloss.. ThThee thingthingss thathatt I havhavee trietriedd ttoo defenddefend areare lessless numerounumerouss anandd worsworsee ofofff nonoww thathann whewhenn I startedstarted"" (Citizenshi(Citizenshipp PaperPaperss 122)122).. LikeninLikeningg hishis situatiosituationn ttoo thathatt ooff conservationistconservationistss (i.e.,(i.e., environmentalists)environmentalists) iinn whicwhichh "all"all ooff uuss havhavee beenbeen fightinfightingg a battlbattlee thathatt oonn averageaverage wwee araree losing,losing,"" BerrBerryy statestatess thathatt "the"the point—thpoint-thee onlyonly interestininterestingg point—ipoint-iss thathatt wewe havhavee nonott quitquit.. OurOurss iiss nonott a fighfightt thathatt yoyouu cancan staystay inin veryvery longlong iiff yoyouu looklook oonn victorvictoryy asas a sigsignn ofof triumptriumphh oorr onon loslosss aass a signsign ooff defeat.defeat. WWee havehave nonott quitquit becausebecause wwee araree nonott hopeless"hopeless" (122).(122). BerrBerryy pointpointss toto whawhatt hhee seessees asas thethe hopefulhopeful signsignss ooff aann emerginemergingg markemarkett foforr localocall organiorganicc producproducee yeyett hhee iiss nonott contencontentt ttoo simplysimply bidebide 6565 hihiss timtimee awaitingawaiting a sweepingsweeping revolutionrevolution.. Berry'sBerry's hophopee restrestss "on"on ththee willingneswillingnesss ofof goodgood peoplpeoplee ttoo ddoo ththee righrightt thinthingg nownow"" (Bus(Bushh 223)223).. NoNott contencontentt ttoo simplysimply engageengage inin thethe commoncommon practicpracticee ofof recitinrecitingg a litanlitanyy ofof modermodemn societalsocietal ills,ills, whawhatt hhee characterizecharacterizess asas "the"the ain't-it-awfulain't-it-awful conversation,"conversation," anandd whicwhichh BerrBerryy believebelievess generallygenerally endsends iinn despairdespair;; BerryBerry seeksseeks ttoo inspirinspiree a "redemptive"redemptive movementmovement"" whicwhichh hhee hopehopess wilwilll inspireinspire a diversitydiversity ofof individualindividualss anandd communitiecommunitiess ttoo bbee engageengagedd foforr ththee commocommonn good:good:

MerMeree oppositiooppositionn finallfinallyy blindblindss uuss ttoo ththee googoodd ofof ththee thingthingss wwee areare tryintryingg toto savesave.. AnAndd itit dividedividess uuss hopelesslhopelesslyy fromfrom ourour opponentsopponents,, whowho nnoo doubdoubtt areare caricaturingcaricaturing uuss whilwhilee wwee araree demonizingdemonizing themthem.. WWee lose,lose, iinn short,short, ththee sensesense ooff sharesharedd humanithumanityy thathatt woulwouldd permipermitt uuss ttoo sasayy eveevenn ttoo ouourr worsworstt enemies,enemies, "We"We areare workingworking,, afterafter all,all, inin youyourr interestinterest anandd youyourr children'schildren's.. OurOurss isis a commocommonn efforteffort foforr ththee commocommonn goodgood.. ComComee anandd joijoinn us.us."" (Way(Way ofof IgnorancIgnorancee 74).74). MARRIAGEMARRIAGE ANANDD ATONEMENATONEMENTT TOTO PLACEPLACE

ININ THTHEE WORKWORKSS OOFF WENDELWENDELLL BERRYBERRY

HealtHealthh andand ththee GooGoodd FarmerFarmer

PerceptionsPerceptions ofof ththee all-encompassingall-encompassing naturanaturall worlworldd andand ththee propeproperr humahumann placeplace withinwithin itit havhavee varievariedd widelwidelyy oveoverr timetime.. NaturNaturee hahass beebeenn regarderegardedd (amon(amongg otheotherr thingsthings)) asas sacresacredd grovegrovess teeminteemingg witwithh sentientsentient deitiesdeities,, treacheroutreacherouss "howling"howling wilderness,wilderness,"" a stockpilstockpilee ofof resources,resources, oror a nurturinnurturingg mothemotherr overflowinoverflowingg witwithh bountybounty.. ThesThesee perceptionsperceptions ddoo nonott necessarilnecessarilyy follofolloww a progressivprogressivee evolutioevolutionn andand cannotcannot simplysimply bbee dismissedismissedd asas anachronistianachronisticc fantasyfantasy oror harmlesharmlesss wishfuwishfull thinkinthinkingg givegivenn thetheyy havhavee a tremendoutremendouss effecteffect oonn hohoww naturenature isis treatedtreated.. GroupsGroups espousingespousing differingdiffering viewviewss ofof naturnaturee ofteoftenn livelive anandd workwork simultaneouslysimultaneously onon a commocommonn landscapelandscape (Fiege)(Fiege),, anandd navigatinnavigatingg thesethese variousvarious perceptionsperceptions isis a difficultdifficult tasktask oftenoften miremiredd inin questionsquestions ooff competingcompeting ideologieideologiess anandd moralmoral relativism.relativism.

ContemporaryContemporary discussiondiscussion ofof humankind'shumankind's placplacee withiwithinn ththee contextcontext ofof ththee naturalnatural worldworld ofteoftenn settlessettles intintoo polarizepolarizedd binarybinary extremes-oneextremes—one sideside advocatesadvocates anan instrumentalinstrumental useuse ofof naturnaturee motivatemotivatedd primarilprimarilyy bbyy economiceconomicss iinn whicwhichh naturnaturee isis seeseenn aass raraww material,material, ththee wealtwealthh ooff nationsnations,, anandd ththee meanmeanss ofof technologicatechnologicall "progress;""progress;" ththee otheotherr advocatesadvocates a preservatiopreservationn vievieww thathatt seeksseeks toto preservpreservee naturnaturee iinn ititss "pristine""pristine" state,state, makinmakingg naturnaturee "the"the subjectsubject ofof contemplationcontemplation oorr artart;; ignoringignoring ththee factfact thathatt wwee livelive necessarilnecessarilyy iinn anandd fromfrom nature—ignorinnature-ignoringg iinn otherother wordswords,, allall thethe economiceconomic issueissuess thathatt areare involved"involved" (Berry,(Berry,

CitizenshipCitizenship PaperPaperss 114).114). BotBothh sidessides seemseem adamanadamantt iinn ththee righteousnesrighteousnesss ofof ititss espousedespoused 6767 positiopositionn whilwhilee workingworking vigilantlvigilantlyy toto demonizdemonizee ththee otherother,, howevehoweverr neitheneitherr sideside seemseemss toto accuratelyaccurately representrepresent human'human'ss actualactual relationshirelationshipp ttoo ththee world—world-aa relationshiprelationship inin whicwhichh byby necessitnecessityy naturenature mustmust bebe modifiedmodified ttoo some degredegreee forfor humahumann survivasurvivall andand comfortcomfort yetyet whilwhilee recognizinrecognizingg thathatt humanhumanss areare alsalsoo inextricablinextricablyy tietiedd (physically,(physically, emotionallyemotionally,, andand spirituallyspiritually)) intointo ththee world'sworld's healthhealth andand well-being.well-being.

ChartinChartingg a middlmiddlee groundground betweebetweenn thesthesee twtwoo extremesextremes (the(the dividedivide betweebetweenn whichwhich hashas becombecomee exacerbatedexacerbated bbyy theitheirr alignmenalignmentt witwithh opposinopposingg politicapoliticall ideologies)ideologies) hashas proveprovenn ttoo bbee a difficultdifficult propositionproposition.. LeadinLeadingg neo-agrarianeo-agrariann thinkethinkerr WendelWendelll BerrBerryy howeverhowever proposeproposess ththee ideaideall ooff ththee goodgood farmer,farmer, ththee husbandmanhusbandman,, asas a modemodell ooff suchsuch a middlmiddlee way.way.

MediatinMediatingg anandd embodyingembodying a unionunion betweenbetween naturnaturee anandd culturculturee aass welwelll aass betweebetweenn ususee andand preservationpreservation,, Berry'sBerry's googoodd farmer,farmer, likelike ththee shamanshaman ofof indigenouindigenouss culturescultures,, standstandss aatt thethe thresholthresholdd betweebetweenn orderorder andand wildnesswildness,, carefullcarefullyy anandd artfullartfullyy placinplacingg degreesdegrees ofof orderorder uponupon naturenature aass ttoo sustainsustain communitcommunityy whilwhilee maintaininmaintainingg reverencreverencee foforr anandd mindfulnesmindfulnesss ofof thethe inhereninherentt wildnesswildness onon whicwhichh lifelife andand ththee healthealthh ofof ththee worldworld dependsdepends.. ForFor Berry,Berry,

"health-not"health—not inin thethe merelymerely hygienihygienicc sensesense ofof personapersonall healthhealth,, butbut ththee healthhealth,, thethe wholenesswholeness...... ooff whicwhichh ouourr personapersonall healthhealth isis onlonlyy a share"share" (both(both ofof cultureculture anandd ooff nature)nature) transcendtranscendss relativismrelativism andand servesserves aass "an"an absoluteabsolute googoodd bbyy whicwhichh wewe musmustt measuremeasure ourselvesourselves andand forfor whawhatt wwee musmustt workwork"" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 222222;; SmithSmith 71-73).71-73).

WithWith ththee "absolute"absolute goodgood"" ofof healthealthh anandd ththee necessarynecessary continuitycontinuity ooff botbothh cultureculture andand wildneswildnesss inin mindmind,, BerrBerryy describesdescribes propeproperr humahumann relationrelationss ttoo naturnaturee iinn termtermss ofof marriage,marriage, dance,dance, andand atonement.atonement. BerryBerry utilizeutilizess hihiss fictiofictionn anandd poetrpoetryy aass a canvascanvas onon whicwhichh ttoo expandexpand andand illustrateillustrate ththee conceptsconcepts delineatedelineatedd iinn hihiss essaysessays.. ThThee resulresultt iiss a fullerfuller sensesense ofof Berry'Berry'ss agrarianagrarian thoughthoughtt exemplifiedexemplified inin ththee fictionalfictional worlworldd ooff PorPortt WilliamWilliam.. InIn 6688 Berry'sBerry's stories,stories, individualindividualss heldheld byby thethe fabrifabricc ofof communitcommunityy strivestrive foforr health,health, harmoniousharmonious existence,existence, andand meaninmeaningg withiwithinn ththee contextcontext ofof a naturanaturall worlworldd thathatt isis atat onconcee bountiful,bountiful, unpredictableunpredictable,, andand dangerous.dangerous.

ThThee HusbandmanHusbandman

IInn heherr "roadmap""roadmap" ofof Berry'sBerry's thoughtthought,, politicalpolitical sciencescience scholarscholar KimberlyKimberly SmithSmith describedescribess Berry'sBerry's thoughthoughtt withiwithinn ththee frameworkframework ofof virtuvirtuee ethicsethics,, "a"a mattematterr ooff imitatingimitating culturallyculturally defineddefined moramorall exemplarexemplarss ratheratherr thanthan learninlearningg rulesrules"" (117)(117).. FroFromm thethe perspectivperspectivee ofof virtuvirtuee ethics,ethics, "the"the motivatiomotivationn andand justificatiojustificationn ooff actionactionss araree bothboth inseparableinseparable fromfrom ththee charactercharacter traittraitss ooff ththee actinactingg agentagent"" (Brenna(Brennann andand LLoo 22)22),, andand inin

Berry'sBerry's work,work, ththee husbandman—husbandman-aa keepekeeperr marriemarriedd ttoo placplacee anandd chargechargedd witwithh ththee sacredsacred responsibilityresponsibility ooff intermediatinintermediatingg betweebetweenn ththee ordeorderr ofof ththee householhouseholdd economyeconomy andand wildnesswildness ooff ththee naturanaturall worlworldd whilwhilee protectinprotectingg ththee healthhealth,, diversitydiversity,, andand fertilityfertility ooff thethe lanlandd iiss suchsuch anan exemplaexemplarr andand keepekeeperr ooff essentiaessentiall virtuesvirtues.. FoForr Berry,Berry, ththee ideaideall ooff ththee goodgood farmerfarmer simultaneouslysimultaneously marriemarriedd toto landland andand householdhousehold,, "keeping"keeping tietiedd allall ththee strandsstrands inin thethe livingliving networnetworkk thathatt sustainssustains usus"" (Wa(Wayy ooflgnorancef Ignorance 97),97), representrepresentss anan archetypalarchetypal relationshiprelationship ttoo naturnaturee thatthat hehe believebelievess "is"is ththee basibasicc andand centralcentral connectionconnection iinn ththee relationrelation ooff humanityhumanity ttoo ththee creation"creation" (Continuou(Continuouss HarmonyHarmony 153).153). RatherRather thathann a connectionconnection heavilyheavily mediatemediatedd byby ththee abstractionsabstractions ofof ththee industriaindustriall economyeconomy oorr basebasedd solelysolely onon transientransientt recreationrecreation (whic(whichh BerryBerry considersconsiders ttoo oftenoften perpetuatperpetuatee aann alienationalienation fromfrom thethe lanlandd [Long-LeggedrLong-Legged HousHousee 32])32]),, Berry'sBerry's ideaideall husbandmanhusbandman iiss marriedmarried (in(in ththee sensesense ofof beingbeing fitfit oror combined)combined) botbothh ttoo cultureculture (which(which BerrBerryy believebelievess shouldshould bbee groundedgrounded inin nature)nature) anandd ttoo naturenature iinn anan abidinabidingg relationshirelationshipp requirinrequiringg thethe virtuesvirtues ooff lovinlovingg care,care, discipline,discipline, fidelityfidelity,, andand humility.humility. 6969 IInn hishis attemptattempt toto redeeredeemm thethe otherwiseotherwise lowllowlyy currentcurrent culturalcultural statusstatus ofof thethe husbandmanhusbandman,, BerryBerry isis criticalcritical ofof ththee heroiheroicc traditiontradition presentpresent inin (but(but notnot exclusiveexclusive to)to)

WesternWestern cultureculture andand literatureliterature.. BerryBerry notesnotes thathatt "the"the Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian traditiotraditionn asas wewe havehave itit inin itsits artart andand literatureliterature,, includinincludingg ththee BibleBible isis...strongl ... stronglyy heroic.heroic. TheThe poetpoetss andand storytellersstorytellers inin thithiss traditiontradition havehave tendedtended toto bbee interesteinterestedd inin thethe extraordinaryextraordinary actionsactions ofof

'great'great men'-actionsmen'—actions uniqueunique inin grandeur,grandeur, suchsuch asas mamayy occuroccur onlyonly onceonce inin ththee historyhistory ofof ththee worldworld"" (Gift(Gift ofof GoodGood LanLandd 276).276). AccordingAccording toto Berry,Berry, thesthesee heroicheroic talestales dodo "bear"bear a universauniversall significance,significance, bubutt theythey cannotcannot veryvery wellwell serveserve asas examplesexamples ofof ordinaryordinary behavior"behavior"

(276).(276). WhileWhile meanmeantt ttoo bbee "instructive"instructive andand inspirininspiringg toto ordinaryordinary peoplpeoplee inin ordinaryordinary life,"life,"

BerryBerry notesnotes thathatt inin emphasizingemphasizing aboveabove allall physicaphysicall andand moramorall couragecourage inin "extreme"extreme circumstances,circumstances,"" thethe heroicheroic traditiotraditionn failsfails ttoo addressaddress "the"the issueissue ofof life-longlife-long devotiondevotion andand perseverancperseverancee inin unheroicunheroic tasks,tasks,"" andand thethe issueissue ofof goodgood workmanshiworkmanshipp oror "right"right livelihood"livelihood"

(277).(277). FoForr BerryBerry,, life-longlife-long devotiondevotion toto unheroiunheroicc yeyett worthwhileworthwhile tasks,tasks, whilwhilee perhapsperhaps notnot asas glamorous,glamorous, "also"also raisesraises thethe issueissue ofof courage,courage, butbut itit raisesraises atat ththee samesame timtimee thethe issueissue ofof skill;skill; and,and, becausebecause ordinaryordinary behaviobehaviorr lastslasts soso muchmuch longerlonger thanthan heroicheroic action,action, itit raiseraisess inin a mormoree complexcomplex anandd difficultdifficult wawayy thethe issueissue ofof perseveranceperseverance"" (277).(277).

Berry'sBerry's fictionfiction servesserves asas homagehomage toto suchsuch life-longlife-long devotiondevotion toto unheroicunheroic taskstasks performeperformedd withiwithinn thethe contextcontext ofof fidelitfidelityy toto communitycommunity inin place.place. TheThe virtuesvirtues practicedpracticed byby

Berry'sBerry's principlprinciplee characterscharacters areare notnot performeperformedd onceonce andand forfor allall inin definitivedefinitive demonstrationsdemonstrations ofof courage,courage, bubutt areare learnedlearned andand practicedpracticed dailydaily throughouthroughoutt thethe coursecourse ofof a lifetime.lifetime. RatheRatherr thanthan a snapshotsnapshot ofof extraordinaryextraordinary eventsevents oror deeds,deeds, overover thethe coursecourse ofof hishis novelnovelss BerryBerry oftenoften tracetracess thethe 'lives''lives' ofof hishis characterscharacters fromfrom beginninbeginningg toto end-hisend—his narrativenarrativess oftenoften consistingconsisting ofof communitycommunity retellingretelling ofof pastpast happeninghappeningss oror (such(such asas inin thethe 7070 examplesexamples ofof HannaHannahh CoulterCoulter andand JaybeJayberr Crow)Crow) a character'scharacter's recollectionsrecollections ofof thethe pastpast whilewhile nearingnearing ththee twilighttwilight ofof life.life. TheThe eventsevents portrayedportrayed inin Berry'Berry'ss fictionfiction attemptattempt toto spanspan thethe spectrumspectrum ofof humahumann experienceexperience fromfrom humoroushumorous (Grover(Grover GibbsGibbs stickingsticking a plungerplunger onon

PortlyPortly JonesJones'' baldbald heaheadd [JayberrJayber CrowCrow 5])5]) toto tragitragicc (a(a youngyoung girlgirl beinbeingg sweptswept awayaway inin a floodflood [PlacefPlace onon EartEarthh 117]),117]), andand whilewhile thethe eventsevents areare uniqueunique ttoo PortPort WilliamWilliam thetheyy areare notnot necessarilynecessarily 'extraordinary.''extraordinary.' RatherRather thanthan epicepic heroismheroism,, Berry'sBerry's fictionfiction strivesstrives toto portrayportray thethe "common"common grace"grace" ofof "plain"plain folk"folk" attemptingattempting ttoo livelive meaningfullymeaningfully inin placplacee whilwhilee beingbeing subjectsubject ttoo internalinternal challengeschallenges andand externalexternal forcesforces oftenoften beyondbeyond theitheirr controlcontrol (in(in ththee casecase ofof PortPort WilliamWilliam mostmost notablnotablyy ththee effecteffect ofof thethe worldworld warswars andand ththee riserise ofof urbanismurbanism andand industrializedindustrialized agriculture).agriculture).

BerryBerry perceiveperceivess a contemporarycontemporary incarnationincarnation ofof ththee heroicheroic traditiontradition inin "the"the ambitionambition toto bbee a 'pioneer''pioneer' ofof sciencescience oror technologytechnology,, toto makmakee a 'breakthrough''breakthrough' thathatt willwill

'save'save thethe worldworld'' fromfrom somesome 'crisis''crisis' (which(which nownow isis usuallyusually thethe resulresultt ofof somesome previousprevious

'breakthrough')"'breakthrough')" (Gift(Gift ofof GoodGood LandLand 277-278).277-278). NotinNotingg thethe longlong andand unintendedunintended legacylegacy

ooff countlescountlesss 'heroic''heroic' techno-fixestechno-fixes,, BerryBerry characterizescharacterizes ththee "ideology"ideology ofof technologicaltechnological

heroism"heroism" asas "the"the worsworstt diseasedisease ofof ththee world"world" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 150).150). AccordingAccording toto

BerryBerry,, membermemberss ooff "the"the professionalprofessional classclass ofof thethe industrialindustrial nations—nations-aa classclass whosewhose

allegianceallegiance toto communitiescommunities andand placesplaces hashas beebeenn dissolveddissolved bbyy theitheirr economiceconomic motivemotivess andand

byby theitheirr educations,"educations," "willingly"willingly causecause large-scalelarge-scale effectseffects thathatt thetheyy dodo notnot foreseforeseee andand thatthat

theythey cannotcannot control"control" (150).(150). BerryBerry offersoffers whatwhat hehe believebelievess ttoo bebe remedyremedy toto ththee ideologyideology ofof

technologicatechnologicall heroismheroism,, suggestingsuggesting thathatt "the"the acceptanceacceptance ofof thethe locallocal landscapelandscape asas contextcontext

wilwilll endend thethe eraera ofof scientificscientific heroism,"heroism," sincesince "no"no oneone scientistscientist oror oneone teamteam ofof scientistsscientists oror

oneone science-exploitingscience-exploiting corporationcorporation cancan expectexpect toto 'save'save thethe world,'world,' onceonce thethe disciplinesdisciplines 7171 havhavee acceptedaccepted thithiss contexcontextt thatthat iiss aatt onconcee widwidee andand locallocal"" (Citizenship(Citizenship PaperPaperss 39).39). RatherRather thanthan dealindealingg witwithh peoplpeoplee anandd placeplacess asas abstracabstractt quantitiequantitiess whilewhile beinbeingg insulateinsulatedd fromfrom thethe effecteffectss ooff theitheirr workwork,, BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt withiwithinn ththee contextcontext ooff ththee locallocal,, scientistscientistss mustmust

"suffe"sufferr ththee responsibilitresponsibilityy ooff applyingapplying theitheirr knowledgknowledgee aatt homehome,, sharinsharingg thethe fatfatee ooff thethe placplacee wherwheree theitheirr knowledgknowledgee isis appliedapplied"" (39).(39).

BerrBerryy iiss nonott adversadversee ttoo scientifiscientificc inquiryinquiry anandd worworkk peperr sese bubutt objectsobjects ttoo a heroicheroic desiredesire ttoo overcomeovercome,, transcendtranscend,, oorr conquerconquer ththee 'limits'limits'' ofof ththee naturanaturall worldworld,, heedlesheedlesss ofof ththee contexcontextt anandd effectseffects ooff suchsuch heroisheroismm oonn localocall places—places-aa tendencytendency hhee alsalsoo perceiveperceivess inin strainstrainss ofof religioureligiouss thoughthoughtt thathatt strictlystrictly dichotomizdichotomizee ththee physicaphysicall frofromm thethe spiritualspiritual andand strivstrivee ttoo transcentranscendd ththee inferiorinferior worldworld.. OrOrrr notenotess thathatt contemporarcontemporaryy WesterWesternn thoughthoughtt iiss riferife witwithh ththee ideideaa ooff "heroic"heroic transcendencetranscendence"" (Prophecy(Prophecy 181),181), a restlesrestlesss desiredesire foforr spirituaspirituall oror technologicatechnologicall escapeescape frofromm ththee naturnaturee ofof lifelife iinn ththee worldworld,, anan escapescapee BerryBerry believesbelieves isis accuratelaccuratelyy describeddescribed bbyy WallacWallacee Stegner'Stegner'ss accounaccountt ooff "boomers"-those"boomers"—those whwhoo clingcling toto thethe mytmythh ofof "the"the failefailedd anandd still-failingstill-failing frontiefrontierr dreadreamm ofof easeasyy wealthwealth andand easyeasy escape"escape"

(Another(Another TurTurnn ooff ththee CranCrankk 67).67).

SearchingSearching forfor ththee ever-elusiveever-elusive 'bi'bigg rocrockk candycandy mountain,mountain,'' ththee 'mother'mother lode,lode,'' oror ththee 'nex'nextt bibigg thing,thing,'' ththee modermodernn herheroo iiss inin a continuacontinuall statstatee ooff quesquestt (an(andd escape),escape), nevernever stayingstaying iinn oneone placplacee lonlongg enougenoughh ttoo puputt dowdownn communitycommunity rootrootss oror ttoo experiencexperiencee ththee long-long- tertermm effecteffectss ooff 'heroic''heroic' actions.actions. IInn hihiss discussiodiscussionn ooff individualitindividualityy versuversuss communitycommunity manifesmanifestt iinn culturaculturall anandd literarliteraryy traditionstraditions,, ScottScott RusselRusselll SandersSanders notesnotes that,that,

ThThee culcultt ofof ththee individuaindividuall showsshows uupp everywhereverywheree iinn AmericaAmericann lore,lore, whichwhich celebratecelebratess drifterdrifterss anandd lonersloners,, whilwhilee pityinpityingg oorr revilinrevilingg ththee pillarpillarss ofof thethe communitycommunity.. TheThe backwoodbackwoodss exploreexplorerr liklikee DanieDaniell Boone...thBoone ... thee lumberjack,lumberjack, ththee prospectorprospector,, ththee rambleramblerr anandd gamblergambler,, ththee darindaringg crookcrook liklikee JessJessee JamesJames andand ththee resourcefuresourcefull killekillerr liklikee BillBillyy ththee KidKid,, alonalongg witwithh countlesscountless 7272 lonesomelonesome cowboys,cowboys, allall wander,wander, unattachedunattached,, througthroughh ththee greagreatt spacesspaces ooff ourour imaginationimagination.. (225)(225)

WhilWhilee glorifyingglorifying ththee lonerloner,, SandersSanders perceiveperceivess thathatt inin AmericanAmerican literatureliterature,, "when"when communitycommunity enterenterss atat all,all, iitt isis likellikelyy ttoo appeaappearr aass a conspiracyconspiracy againsagainstt ththee frefreee soulsoul ofof a herheroo oror heroine,heroine,"" whilwhilee ththee "cult"cult ofof ththee individualindividual"" celebratecelebratess individualistiindividualisticc heroeheroess who,who,

"when"when societysociety beginsbegins ttoo closeclose in,in, makinmakingg demanddemandss anandd askinaskingg questions...hiquestions ... hitt ththee road.road.

LikLikee HuckleberryHuckleberry FinnFinn,, thetheyy araree foreverforever lightinlightingg ououtt forfor ththee TerritoryTerritory,, wherewhere nobodnobodyy cancan teltelll thethemm whawhatt ttoo do.do."" (225)(225)

IInn hihiss discussiodiscussionn ooff Huckleberry Finn, whicwhichh hehe identifieidentifiess aass typicatypicall ofof ththee heroicheroic individuaindividuall tradition,tradition, BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt Huck'Huck'ss constanconstantt desiredesire ttoo "light"light ououtt foforr thethe

Territory,"Territory," ttoo fleeflee alalll communitycommunity tietiess andand dependenciesdependencies revealrevealss "a"a flaflaww iinn MarMarkk Twain'sTwain's charactecharacterr thathatt iiss alsoalso a flaflaww iinn ourour nationanationall character,character, a flaflaww iinn ouourr historyhistory,, anandd a flaflaww inin mucmuchh ofof ourour literature;literature;"" ththee assumptionassumption thathatt a choicechoice musmustt bbee madmadee betweebetweenn ""aa deadlydeadly

'civilization''civilization' ooff pietpietyy andand violencviolencee oror anan escapeescape intointo somsomee 'Territory'Territory'' wherwheree wwee maymay remainremain frefreee ooff adulthoodadulthood andand communitycommunity obligationobligation"" (Wha(Whatt araree PeoplPeoplee forfor?? 75-76).75-76).

BetweeBetweenn ththee starkstark choiceschoices ooff MisMisss Watson'Watson'ss "indoo"indoorr pietypiety"" andand "the"the Territory,Territory,"" BerryBerry perceiveperceivess a middlmiddlee groundground inin thethe charactercharacter ooff AunAuntt SallySally whwhoo hhee describedescribess aass ""aa sweet,sweet, motherly,motherly, entirelentirelyy affectionateaffectionate womanwoman,, frofromm whowhomm thertheree iiss littllittlee neeneedd ttoo escapescapee becausebecause shshee hashas nnoo aptitudeaptitude foforr confinement"confinement" (75).(75). IInn hihiss adolescenadolescentt inabilityinability ttoo recognizrecognizee thethe possibilitypossibility ofof lovinlovingg communitycommunity howeverhowever,, HucHuckk compoundscompounds ththee twtwoo womewomenn intointo a negativenegative senssensee ooff "civilization""civilization" thathatt musmustt bbee avoideavoidedd aatt alalll costs.costs.

TToo BerryBerry,, acceptanceacceptance ooff communitycommunity woulwouldd havhavee beebeenn "a"a naturanaturall anandd expectableexpectable nextnext stepstep afterafter hihiss declaratiodeclarationn ofof loyaltloyaltyy ttoo [Jim]"[Jim]" ("All("All rightright,, thenthen,, I'llI'll gogo toto hell").hell").

However,However, inin hihiss continualcontinual questquest toto escapescapee frofromm communitcommunityy HucHuckk isis helheldd inin perpetualperpetual 7373 boyhood,boyhood, fleeingfleeing notnot onlyonly communitycommunity responsibilities,responsibilities, butbut "a"a responsiblresponsiblee adultadult communitycommunity lifelife"" (77).(77). ByBy fleeingfleeing allall communitycommunity attachments,attachments, HuckHuck isis removeremovedd fromfrom thethe benefitsbenefits ofof thethe closeclose tietiess ofof lovingloving attachmentattachment andand interactioninteraction,, andand isis alsoalso precludeprecludedd fromfrom thethe possibilitpossibilityy ofof thethe "fulfillment"fulfillment andand catharsiscatharsis ofof grief,grief, fear,fear, andand pitpityy thathatt wewe callcall tragedytragedy...... fo forr tragedytragedy iiss experiencedexperienced onlyonly inin thethe contextcontext ofof a belovebelovedd community"community" (77).(77).

UnablUnablee ttoo experienceexperience ththee fullfull spectrumspectrum ofof lovelove andand tragedtragedyy BerryBerry believebelievess ttoo bebe onlyonly availablavailablee toto thosthosee withiwithinn ththee contextcontext ofof community,community, HuckHuck isis permanentlpermanentlyy stuntedstunted inin hishis developmentdevelopment andand suspendedsuspended iinn a mythicamythicall idealideal ofof perpetualperpetual boyhoodboyhood.. HuckHuck isis foreverforever unableunable "to"to imagineimagine ththee comingcoming ttoo responsibilitresponsibilityy thathatt isis meaningmeaning andand ththee liberationliberation ofof growingrowingg upup"" (76).(76).

LikLikee HucHuckk FinFinnn whowho iiss heldheld inin anan artificialartificial statestate ofof perpetuaperpetuall boyhood,boyhood, BerryBerry perceivesperceives a contemporarycontemporary culturalcultural normnorm inin whichwhich "boyhood"boyhood andand bachelorhoobachelorhoodd havehave remaineremainedd ourour normnormss ofof 'liberation'"'liberation'" (76).(76). BerryBerry believesbelieves thathatt thisthis idealizationidealization ofof adolescentadolescent 'freedom''freedom' withwith itsits inherentinherent estrangementestrangement fromfrom communitycommunity (and(and familial)familial) tiesties andand responsibilitieresponsibilitiess isis a dramaticdramatic revisionrevision ofof thethe "old"old normnorm"" ofof returreturnn inin which,which,

TheThe naturanaturall oror normanormall coursecourse ofof humahumann growinggrowing uupp musmustt beginbegin witwithh somesome sortsort ofof rebelliorebellionn againstagainst one'sone's parentsparents,, forfor iitt isis clearlyclearly impossibleimpossible toto growgrow upup ifif oneone remainsremains a child.child. BuButt thethe child,child, inin ththee processprocess ofof rebelliorebellionn andand ofof achievinachievingg ththee emotionalemotional andand economiceconomic independenceindependence thatthat rebellionrebellion oughtought toto lealeadd to,to, finallyfinally comescomes toto understandunderstand thethe parentsparents asas fellowfellow humanhumanss andand fellofelloww sufferers,sufferers, andand iinn somesome mannermanner returnreturnss toto themthem asas theirtheir friend,friend, forgivenforgiven andand forgivingforgiving thethe inevitableinevitable wrongswrongs ofof familyfamily liflifee (164-165).(164-165).

AccordingAccording toto thethe "old"old norm,"norm," childrenchildren passpass throughthrough a seasonseason ofof rebelliorebellionn againstagainst thethe

'rule''rule' ofof ththee parentparentss yeyett bbyy ultimatelultimatelyy takintakingg theitheirr placeplacess (both(both byby assumingassuming theirtheir placesplaces andand succeedingsucceeding theitheirr parentparentss inin ththee continuumcontinuum ofof generations)generations) withiwithinn thethe contextcontext ofof community,community, comecome ttoo empathizeempathize withwith thethe parentsparents,, recognizerecognize ththee parentsparents'' humanity,humanity, andand 7474 ultimatelyultimately reconcilereconcile themselvethemselvess aass fellows.fellows. ThiThiss procesprocesss isis echoeechoedd iinn JosepJosephh Campbell'sCampbell's discussiodiscussionn ooff ththee reoccurrinreoccurringg themthemee ofof ththee "atonemen"atonementt witwithh ththee father"father" iinn whicwhichh byby abandoninabandoningg attachmentattachment toto ththee individualistiindividualisticc egegoo ththee "the"the potentiallpotentiallyy aduladultt spirit"spirit" comescomes ttoo "a"a bettebetterr balancedbalanced,, mormoree realistirealisticc vievieww ooff ththee fatherfather,, andand therewittherewithh ththee worldworld"" (120).(120).

AlthoughAlthough Campbell'sCampbell's accounaccountt ofof ththee fathefatherr isis tietiedd uupp iinn ththee dictatoriadictatoriall "ogr"ogree aspect"aspect" ofof thethe fathefatherr aass sternstern authoritauthorityy figurfiguree (an(andd witwithh a FreudianFreudian sensesense thathatt seeseess ththee fathefatherr aass a potentialpotential rivarivall foforr ththee affectionaffection ooff ththee mother),mother), hihiss accounaccountt ooff ththee necessarnecessaryy atonementatonement witwithh ththee archetypaarchetypall fathefatherr maymay bebe consideredconsidered mormoree generallgenerallyy fromfrom Berry'Berry'ss poinpointt ofof viewview iinn thathatt ththee atonementatonement isis applicablapplicablee ttoo botbothh parentsparents anandd ththee largelargerr communitycommunity (world).(world). InIn denyingdenying ththee preeminencpreeminencee ooff ththee egoego CampbellCampbell acknowledgeacknowledgess ththee valuevalue ooff communitcommunityy andand ofof a "better"better balancedbalanced"" (i.e.(i.e.,, maturemature)) reconciliatioreconciliationn ooff ththee selfself withiwithinn a largelargerr contexcontextt ofof relationshipsrelationships.. InIn hishis accounaccountt ofof ththee archetypaarchetypall mythicamythicall herohero,, afterafter gaininggaining a booboonn iinn thethe world,world, ththee herohero doedoess nonott hoardhoard ththee blessingblessingss ooff ththee booboonn forfor himselfhimself,, bubutt returnreturnss ttoo thethe contextcontext ooff hishis belovedbeloved communitycommunity soso thathatt allall mamayy benefit.benefit.

RatheRatherr thathann thethe cyclicalcyclical successionsuccession ofof generationgenerationss iinn placplacee inin whicwhichh childrenchildren maturmaturee andand reconcilereconcile themselvethemselvess witwithh parentsparents,, BerrBerryy describedescribess a "new"new normnorm"" "i"inn whichwhich ththee chilchildd leaveleavess homhomee asas a studentstudent andand neveneverr livelivess aatt homhomee againagain"" thathatt "interrupts"interrupts ththee oldold coursecourse ofof comingcoming ofof ageage atat ththee poinpointt ofof rebellionrebellion,, soso thathatt ththee childchild iiss apaptt ttoo remairemainn stalledstalled inin adolescence,adolescence, neveneverr achievingachieving anyany kinkindd ofof reconciliatioreconciliationn oorr friendshipfriendship witwithh thethe parents"parents"

(What(What araree PeoplPeoplee ForFor?? 165).165). StalledStalled inin anan adolescentadolescent stagestage ofrebellionof rebellion whilewhile geographicallygeographically andand occupationallyoccupationally estrangeestrangedd fromfrom theitheirr parents,parents, ratheratherr thanthan cyclicalcyclical successionsuccession ofof generationgenerationss inin place,place, childrenchildren strivestrive (an(andd areare taughttaught)) ttoo supersedesupersede oror outmodeoutmode theitheirr 'inferior'inferior'' parentsparents forfor whowhomm thetheyy oftenoften feelfeel pitypity oorr contempt.contempt. BerrBerryy believesbelieves 7575 thatthat thithiss adolescentadolescent contemptcontempt forfor thethe 'obsolescence''obsolescence' ofof ththee parentsparents extendsextends ttoo a generalgeneral contemptcontempt ofof ththee pastpast:: "We"We appearappear toto hatehate whatevewhateverr wenwentt before,before, veryvery muchmuch asas anan adolescentadolescent hatehatess parentaparentall rule,rule, andand toto looklook onon itsits obsolescenceobsolescence asas a kinkindd ofof vengeance"vengeance"

(165).(165). RatheRatherr thathann lookinglooking ttoo oror learninglearning fromfrom paspastt forms,forms, BerrBerryy describesdescribes a culturalcultural obsessionobsession witwithh "this"this year'syear's model,"model," "innovation,""innovation," andand "originality""originality" (165).(165). NoNott limitelimitedd toto relationshipsrelationships betweebetweenn childrenchildren andand parentsparents,, BerryBerry believesbelieves thathatt thisthis "new"new normnorm"" isis inevitablyinevitably destructivedestructive ofof community:community: "As"As thethe childrenchildren depart,depart, generationgeneration afterafter generation,generation,

[community][community] losesloses itsits memorymemory ofof itself,itself, whichwhich isis itsits historhistoryy andand itsits culture.culture. AndAnd thethe locallocal history,history, ifif iitt survivessurvives atat all,all, losesloses itsits placeplace"" (165-166).(165-166).

RatheRatherr thathann celebratingcelebrating thethe individualindividual transcendencetranscendence ofof naturnaturee andand placplacee andand leavinleavingg community,community, ththee 'heroes''heroes' ofof Berry'sBerry's fictionfiction areare thosethose whowho choosechoose ttoo returnreturn andand taktakee theitheirr placeplacess asas membermemberss withiwithinn thethe connectiveconnective patternpattern ofof community.community. ReminiscenReminiscentt ofof

Berry'Berry'ss ownown absenceabsence fromfrom andand returnreturn toto hihiss nativenative place,place, Berry'sBerry's charactercharacter AndyAndy CatlettCatlett inin thethe novenovell Remembering becomesbecomes angryangry andand embitteredembittered afterafter ththee lossloss ofof hishis righrightt handhand toto a machinmachinee inin a farmingfarming accident,accident, ththee traditionaltraditional andand religioureligiouss significancesignificance ofof whicwhichh isis notednoted bbyy PhillipPhillip DonnellyDonnelly inin hishis discussiondiscussion ofof biblicalbiblical themesthemes inin Berry'Berry'ss work:work: "in"in biblicabiblicall HebreHebreww writings,writings, ththee righrightt handhand waswas thethe meanmeanss forfor intergenerationalintergenerational blessingblessing

(Gen(Gen.. 48:13-1848: 13-18)) andand wawass centralcentral toto priestlpriestlyy consecrationconsecration and,and, byby implication,implication, mediationmediation betweebetweenn thethe humahumann andand thethe divine"divine" (279).(279). InIn losinlosingg hishis handhand,, AndAndyy losesloses "his"his faithfaith inin everything"everything" (279)(279) andand becomesbecomes estrangedestranged fromfrom thethe tietiess ofof familyfamily andand placeplace.. AndAndyy feelsfeels thathatt "when"when hehe lostlost hishis hanhandd hehe lostlost hihiss holdhold...... al alll thethe worldworld [becoming][becoming] ttoo hihimm a steepsteep slope,slope, anandd hhee a manman descending,descending, staggeringstaggering andand falling,falling, unableunable toto reachreach outout toto a treetree trunktrunk oror brancbranchh oror rooroott toto catchcatch andand holdhold on"on" (Remembering(Remembering 142).142). BerefBereftt ofof thethe abilityability toto holdhold 7676 ontontoo hishis senssensee ooff realitrealityy andand ttoo hihiss placplacee inin thethe worldworld,, AndyAndy leavesleaves hishis familfamilyy ttoo attenattendd anan agriculturaagriculturall conferencconferencee iinn SanSan Francisco.Francisco. WeigheWeighedd dowdownn bbyy hihiss loslosss andand dislocateddislocated fromfrom thethe contextcontext ooff hihiss communitycommunity,, upouponn arrivinarrivingg iinn ththee citcityy AndAndyy feelsfeels asas iiff hhee hahass becomebecome detachedetachedd frofromm hihiss ververyy identityidentity.. AAss a womawomann whwhoo wawass ttoo picpickk hihimm uupp aatt ththee airportairport approachedapproached hihimm anandd inquiredinquired ifif hihiss namnamee wawass AndreAndreww CatlettCatlett "He"He lookelookedd atat heherr asas iiff surprisedsurprised...an ... andd steppedstepped pastpast.. 'N'Noo mam'mam'"" (124).(124). DenyingDenying hihiss ververyy namnamee (Andy's(Andy's denialdenial ofof hihiss namnamee iiss significansignificantt withiwithinn ththee contextcontext ooff Berry'Berry'ss fictionfiction givengiven thathatt namesnames oftenoften tietie charactercharacterss ttoo figuresfigures ooff ththee pastpast,, iinn Andy'Andy'ss cascasee hihiss namnamee isis a titiee ttoo hihiss grandfathergrandfather

AndreAndreww WheelerWheeler;; alsoalso,, individualindividualss araree oftenoften givegivenn 'new'new'' namenamess whewhenn embraceembracedd intintoo thethe patternpattern ooff ththee PorPortt WilliamWilliam communitycommunity,, aann exampleexample beinbeingg JonaJonahh CraCrayy whoswhosee namnamee isis changechangedd ttoo JaybeJayberr Crow.),Crow.), AndAndyy feelfeelss aass iiff hhee hahass becombecomee severedsevered fromfrom ththee fellowshifellowshipp ofof hihiss communitycommunity asas wellwell aass frofromm hishis veryvery identitidentityy asas aann individual.individual.

WhilWhilee roaminroamingg ththee streetsstreets ofof SanSan Francisco,Francisco, AndyAndy entertainsentertains ththee notionotionn ofof leavingleaving hihiss communalcommunal andand familialfamilial tietiess andand recreatinrecreatingg hihiss lifelife amidstamidst thethe cosmopolitacosmopolitann anonymityanonymity ooff ththee citycity anandd imagineimaginess a lifelife ooff leisure,leisure, traveltravel,, andand autonomautonomyy (156)(156).. InIn ththee coursecourse ofof hishis wanderingswanderings,, hhee graduallgraduallyy makemakess hishis wayway ttoo ththee oceaoceann wherewhere,, "with"with ththee wholewhole continentcontinent atat hihiss backback,, nothingnothing betweebetweenn hihimm anandd AsiaAsia bubutt waterwater,, hhee standsstands again,again, leaningleaning onon thethe parapetparapet,, lookinglooking westwarwestwardd intointo thethe windwind"" (161).(161). AAtt thethe precipicprecipicee ofof ththee westerwesternn edgeedge ofof ththee westerwesternn continent,continent, a placplacee whicwhichh simultaneouslysimultaneously invokeinvokess ththee exhilarationexhilaration ofof limitlesslimitless possibilitiepossibilitiess (inherent(inherent iinn ththee ideaidea ofof centuriescenturies ooff westwardwestward EuropeaEuropeann expansionexpansion)) anandd a traditionaltraditional sensesense ofof ththee westwest asas representinrepresentingg aann endingending oror death,death, AndyAndy standsstands aatt ththee cruxcrux ofof choice.choice. AAtt thithiss poinpointt inin thethe narrativnarrativee Andy'Andy'ss possibilitiepossibilitiess areare aass widwidee aass thethe oceanocean vistavista hhee surveyssurveys,, includinincludingg ththee possibilitpossibilityy ofof thethe 'death''death' ofof hihiss formerformer lifelife,, ththee sloughingsloughing offoff ofof 7777 thethe networnetworkk ooff communitcommunityy fromfrom whicwhichh hhee felfeltt hhee hahass becombecomee figurativelyfiguratively andand literallyliterally dismemberedismemberedd andand a 'rebirth'rebirth'' ttoo a citycity lifelife inin whicwhichh "[in]"[in] a smallsmall apartment. ... .h hee wouldwould livlivee alone...havinalone ... havingg nobodnobodyy ttoo quarrelquarrel withwith"" (156).(156). AndAndyy perceiveperceivess thathatt "all"all distancedistance isis aroundaround him..him ...... Al Alll iiss choicchoicee arounaroundd himhim,, andand hhee knowknowss nothinnothingg thathatt wewe wants.wants."" FroFromm thethe depthsdepths ofof lonellonelyy desperationdesperation AndAndyy exclaims:exclaims: I've come to another of thy limits, Lord. Is this the end? Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0O Lord," andand "Though"Though hhee dididd notnot thinthinkk ooff herher,, ththee wordwordss comcomee ttoo hihimm iinn hihiss grandmother'grandmother'ss voicevoice.. TheTheyy breathebreathe themselvesthemselves outout ooff hihimm iinn heherr voicvoicee anandd leavleavee hihimm emptyempty aass iiff ofof hihiss ververyy soulsoul.. AAss thougthoughh somesome corrosivecorrosive lighlightt hahass flashedflashed aroundaround himhim,, hhee standsstands nakenakedd ttoo timtimee anandd distancedistance,, emptyempty andand hhee hahass nnoo thoughtthought"" (161-162).(161-162).

HiHiss anguisheanguishedd crcryy iinn ththee voicvoicee ooff hihiss grandmothegrandmotherr becomesbecomes a linklink ttoo hihiss paspastt thatthat emptiesempties hihimm ooff hihiss desirdesiree foforr illusorillusoryy autonomautonomyy andand hihiss desiredesire ttoo recreatrecreatee himselfhimself somewhersomewheree elseelse anandd makemakess ofof AndAndyy a neneww vessevessell preparepreparedd toto receivreceivee andand bbee receivereceivedd intointo ththee patterpatternn ofof ththee membershimembershipp ofof hihiss community.community. HisHis prayeprayerr uttereutteredd iinn a diredire momenmomentt ofof desperatdesperatee longinglonging catalyzescatalyzes a vision-likvision-likee chaichainn ofof memoriesmemories.. DrawingDrawing oonn imageryimagery ooff thethe weavingweaving ofof fabric,fabric, hhee seessees thethe meetinmeetingg ofof hihiss great-grandparentgreat-grandparentss BeBenn FeltneFeltnerr andand NancyNancy

BeechamBeecham:: "That"That woulwouldd havhavee beebeenn inin 1868,1868, anandd thuthuss wawass thethe shuttleshuttle flungflung,, foforr ththee firstfirst timtimee iinn Andy'Andy'ss knowledge,knowledge, througthroughh ththee wewebb ooff hihiss makingmaking"" (163).(163). Andy'Andy'ss visionvision continuescontinues:: "Mat"Mat,, hihiss grandfather,grandfather, wakenswakens,, cryincryingg iinn hihiss cradlecradle,, andand BessBess,, Andy'Andy'ss mother,mother, inin hershers,, andand AndAndyy iinn hishis,, andand Andy'sAndy's owownn childrechildrenn inin theirstheirs"" (163).(163). FormerlFormerlyy "naked""naked" andand

"empty""empty" likelike a solitarsolitaryy threathreadd outsidoutsidee ththee wewebb ofof patternpattern,, asas thethe lightlight ofof dawn,dawn, "the"the gloryglory thathatt movemovess allall thingthingss resplendenresplendentt everywhere"everywhere" (168)(168) "begins"begins ttoo colocolorr ththee slopesslopes ofof...... 7878 [the][the] hills"hills" (163),(163), movedmoved byby hihiss memoriesmemories,, AndAndyy chooseschooses ttoo returreturnn ttoo ththee patterpatternn ooff hishis nativenative peoplpeoplee anandd placeplace:: ,

HHee isis heldheld,, thougthoughh hhee doedoess nonott holdhold.. HHee iiss caughtcaught uupp againagain inin thethe oldold patterpatternn ooff entrancesentrances:: ooff mindmindss intintoo mindsminds,, mindmindss intintoo placeplace,, placeplacess intointo mindsminds.. ThThee patterpatternn limitlimitss andand complicatescomplicates him.him ...... Ou Outt ofof ththee multitudmultitudee ofof possiblpossiblee livelivess thathatt havhavee surroundesurroundedd andand beckonebeckonedd hihimm liklikee a crowdcrowd aroundaround a star,star, hehe returnsreturns nownow toto himself,himself, a meremere meteorite,meteorite, scorched,scorched, small,small, andand fallenfallen.. HeHe hahass memett agaiagainn hihiss ononee lifelife anandd ononee death,death, andand hhee takestakes themthem back..back ...... H Hee wilwilll bbee partialpartial,, andand hhee wilwilll diedie;; hhee wilwilll livlivee ououtt ththee truttruthh ofof that.that. ThougThoughh hhee doedoess nonott holdhold,, hhee iiss heldheld.. HHee iiss grieving,grieving, andand hhee isis fullfull ooff joy.joy. WhaWhatt iiss thathatt EgypEgyptt bubutt hihiss PromisePromisedd LandLand?? (167)(167)

WhereaWhereass witwithh ththee loslosss ofof hihiss hanhandd AndAndyy felfeltt aass thougthoughh hhee hahadd loslostt alalll hophopee ofof holdingholding,, ofof grippingrippingg anandd directindirectingg hihiss owownn realitrealityy andand destinydestiny,, aatt ththee edgeedge ofof limitlesslimitless possibilitpossibilityy hehe receivereceivess a visiovisionn ofof beinbeingg helheldd withiwithinn ththee patterpatternn ooff generationsgenerations iinn place.place.

IInn ththee interwoveninterwoven patterpatternn ooff individuaindividuall mindsminds,, ononee threathreadd wovewovenn intintoo another,another, hehe iiss affectionatelyaffectionately knownknown bbyy thosethose thathatt holholdd him.him. IInn ththee "ol"oldd patterpatternn ooff entrances,entrances,"" thethe singularlsingularlyy ooff hihiss liflifee iiss enteredentered anandd iiss interwoveinterwovenn witwithh otheotherr liveslives,, aann entranceentrance ofof opennesopennesss anandd intimacintimacyy requirinrequiringg affectionaffection,, trusttrust,, andand care.care. InIn turnturn,, ththee fabrifabricc ofof mindmindss isis intimatelyintimately interwoveninterwoven intointo ititss belovebelovedd placeplace,, ththee life-sustaininglife-sustaining basbasee upouponn whicwhichh allall dependsdepends andand inin whicwhichh mindmindss engagengagee iinn a reciprocareciprocall dancedance bbyy whicwhichh liflifee isis sustained.sustained.

Andy'Andy'ss returnreturn ttoo ththee patterpatternn ofof communitcommunityy "limits""limits" hihimm iinn thathatt bbyy choosingchoosing ttoo bbee helheldd inin ththee patterpatternn hhee forsakesforsakes otheotherr choicechoicess oror possibilitiepossibilitiess "that"that havehave surroundedsurrounded hihimm andand beckonebeckonedd hihimm liklikee a crowcrowdd arounaroundd a star,star,"" choosinchoosingg insteainsteadd "to"to eliminateeliminate ththee secondsecond choicechoice"" (Grubbs(Grubbs 13)13) inin fidelityfidelity ttoo hihiss nativnativee membershipmembership anandd ititss placplacee iinn thethe worldworld.. ThisThis sentimentsentiment isis echoedechoed bbyy HannaHannahh CoulteCoulterr whwhoo afteafterr marryinmarryingg NathaNathann CatletCatlettt statesstates thatthat

"You"You havhavee thisthis liflifee andand nnoo other.other. YoYouu havhavee hahadd thithiss liflifee witwithh thithiss mamann andand nnoo other.other. WhatWhat woulwouldd itit havhavee beebeenn ttoo havhavee a differentdifferent liflifee witwithh a differendifferentt manman?? YoYouu wilwilll neveneverr know.know. 7979 ThaThatt makemakess thethe worlworldd foreveforeverr a mysterymystery,, andand yoyouu willwill jusjustt havehave toto bbee contencontentt foforr itit ttoo bebe thathatt wayway"" (Hanna(Hannahh CoulterCoulter,. 109).109). Andy'Andy'ss choicechoice alsoalso "complicates""complicates" hihimm however,however, forcinforcingg himhim ououtt ofof ththee illusorillusoryy simplicitsimplicityy ooff autonomousautonomous self-interestself-interest anandd bringsbrings ttoo lightlight ththee complecomplexx interdependencieinterdependenciess bbyy whicwhichh hihiss liflifee iiss maintainemaintainedd andand bbyy whicwhichh hihiss beingbeing effecteffectss ththee otheotherr liveslives arounaroundd him.him.

AndAndyy choosechoosess nonott follofolloww ththee heroiheroicc patpathh ofof individuaindividuall transcendenctranscendencee ooff place,place, timetime,, andand community,community, oror ththee imaginedimagined transcendenctranscendencee ooff ththee limitslimits ofof mortalitymortality andand existencexistencee iinn ththee worldworld.. HHee forsakeforsakess ththee enticementsenticements ooff immortalitimmortalityy enabledenabled bbyy illusoryillusory insulatioinsulationn fromfrom ththee processeprocessess ofof life,life, deathdeath,, anandd renewalrenewal,, andand "takes"takes backback"" ththee mortalmortal realitiesrealities ofof "his"his ononee liflifee anandd ononee death,"death," recognizinrecognizingg "without"without sorrowsorrow"" thathatt "he"he wilwilll bebe partialpartial,, andand hhee wilwilll die,die,"" "the"the orderorder hehe hahass madmadee anandd kepkeptt wilwilll bbee overthrown"overthrown" (Plac(Placee onon

EartEarthh 321)321).. WhilWhilee nonott glamorousglamorous,, hishis reentrancreentrancee intintoo ththee fabricfabric ofof communitycommunity enablesenables hihimm toto experienceexperience a fullnesfullnesss ofof jojoyy anandd ttoo engageengage ththee spectruspectrumm ofof humahumann experienceexperience fromfrom jojoyy ttoo tragedtragedyy sincesince hhee cannocannott "experienc"experiencee tragedtragedyy inin solitudesolitude oorr asas a stranger,stranger, foforr tragedytragedy isis experienceablexperienceablee onlyonly iinn ththee contexcontextt ooff a belovebelovedd community"community" (What(What areare PeoplePeople forfor?? 77)77)..

ByBy openinopeningg himselhimselff ttoo attachmenattachmentt witwithh othersothers andand placplacee AndAndyy iinn turturnn isis helheldd iinn ththee fabricfabric ooff thosthosee tiesties,, tiesties thathatt otherotherss mamayy perceivperceivee (a(ass AndAndyy onceonce did)did) asas bondbondss ooff captivitycaptivity,, yetyet foforr hihimm forformm ththee underpinninunderpinningg patterpatternn ooff hihiss PromisedPromised Land.Land.

UpoUponn returninreturningg homehome,, Andy'Andy'ss entranceentrance inin ththee membershimembershipp ofof communitycommunity isis consummatedconsummated inin anotheanotherr visionvision.. AAss hhee restrestss "a"att ththee foofoott ooff a larglargee oak"oak" hhee findsfinds himselfhimself inin a "darknes"darknesss whicwhichh hhee hahass neveneverr known.known .... .al alll thathatt iiss aroundaround hihimm andand alalll thathatt hhee iiss hashas disappeareddisappeared intointo it. ... .everythin everythingg hahass beebeenn taketakenn awayaway,, andand thethe darkdark aroundaround hihimm isis fulfulll ofof ththee soundssounds ooff cryincryingg andand ooff tearintearingg asunder.asunder...... Wha Whatt hhee isis,, allall thathatt hhee is,is, amidamid ththee outcriesoutcries 8080 iinn thethe dardarkk anandd thethe rendingrending,, isis a nothinnothingg possessepossessedd ofof a terribleterrible self-knowledgeself-knowledge"" (219).(219).

RearticulatingRearticulating hihiss senssensee ofof detachmendetachmentt fromfrom alalll communacommunall tietiess andand fromfrom ththee contexcontextt ofof hishis placplacee hhee experienceexperiencedd aass a resulresultt ooff thethe loslosss ooff hishis handhand,, AndAndyy dreamdreamss ofof ththee terrifyingterrifying darknessdarkness ooff beingbeing cutcut offoff frofromm ththee worldworld.. AndAndyy dreamsdreams hhee isis nothing-thenothing—the terrifyingterrifying lonelinessloneliness ofof a detachedetachedd existencexistencee (a(ann existencexistencee seeminglseeminglyy akiakinn ttoo ththee CartesianCartesian idealideal ofof thethe essentialessential selselff asas a detachedetachedd intellect)intellect).. YeYett iinn ththee midsmidstt ofof hihiss hopelessneshopelessnesss AndyAndy receivereceivess a touctouchh onon hihiss shouldershoulder frofromm a "dark"dark guideguide"" whwhoo leadleadss hihimm ttoo a landscapelandscape filledfilled witwithh animalanimal andand planplantt liflifee anandd upouponn whicwhichh ththee breakinbreakingg sunrisesunrise "resounds"resounds andand shinesshines inin thethe aiairr anandd oveoverr ththee countryside,countryside, drawindrawingg everythingeverything intintoo thethe infiniteinfinite,, sensedsensed butbut mysteriousmysterious patterpatternn ooff ititss harmonyharmony"" (220).(220). FroFromm lonellonelyy CartesiaCartesiann detachment,detachment, AndAndyy iiss ledled intintoo ththee engagemenengagementt andand pleasurepleasuress ooff hihiss communitcommunityy anandd ooff ththee sensuousensuouss world.world.

EchoingEchoing Berry'Berry'ss poepoemm "Elegy""Elegy" whicwhichh describedescribess "a"a songsong iinn ththee CreationCreation"" inin whichwhich

"earth"earth andand sonsongg anandd mindmind,, / ththee livingliving anandd ththee deaddead werweree one"one" (Collected(Collected PoemsPoems 240),240),

AndAndyy perceivesperceives ththee sun'ssun's lightlight aass singingsinging,, "whether"whether ooff voicevoicess oorr instruments...hinstruments ... hee cannotcannot telltell"" anandd seessees thathatt "from"from everyevery tretreee andand leafleaf,, grasgrasss bladeblade,, stone,stone, birdbird,, anandd beasbeastt iitt isis answereansweredd andand agaiagainn answers....Thanswers ....The e worlworldd sings.sings. ThThee skysky singsingss backback.. ItIt isis oneone songsong,, thethe sonsongg ooff ththee manmanyy membermemberss ofof oneone love.love ...... An Andd itit iiss lightlight"" (Remembering(Remembering 220)220).. ToTo Andy,Andy, ththee sunsun,, ththee skysky,, animals,animals, anandd plantplantss areare revealerevealedd aass membermemberss ofof a divinedivine onenessoneness engageengagedd iinn ththee communacommunall acactt ooff harmoniouharmoniouss musimusicc (Wirzb(Wirzbaa describedescribess musimusicc aass "an"an excellenexcellentt metaphor.metaphor .... .fo forr helpinhelpingg uuss understanunderstandd ththee charactecharacterr ofof ourour membershipmembershipss withwith othersothers...becaus ... becausee musicmusic inviteinvitess uuss ttoo bbee intentionalintentional aboutabout andand mormoree fullyfully acknowledgeacknowledge ourour involvementsinvolvements witwithh othersothers"" (Paradise(Paradise ooff GoGodd 188)).188)). Andy'Andy'ss guideguide,, nownow describeddescribed asas thethe

"dark"dark mamann givingivingg light,light,"" thethenn revealrevealss ttoo AndAndyy aann idylliidyllicc visionvision ofof PorPortt WilliamWilliam helheldd iinn 8181 thethe patterpatternn ooff thathatt divindivinee onenessoneness,, itsits homeshomes anandd fieldsfields inhabitedinhabited byby thosethose whwhoo havhavee livedlived thertheree beforebefore:: "He"He seessees thathatt thetheyy araree dead,dead, anandd thetheyy areare alivealive.. HeHe seessees thathatt hhee liveslives inin eternityeternity asas hhee liveslives iinn time,time, anandd nothinnothingg iiss lost..lost.. .he.he seessees memenn anandd womewomenn hhee remembers,remembers, anandd memenn anandd womewomenn remembererememberedd inin memoriememoriess hhee remembersremembers"" (221).(221). NoNoww intimatelyintimately anandd willfullwillfullyy marriemarriedd (i.e.(i.e.,, joinedjoined)) withiwithinn ththee patterpatternn ofof belovebelovedd communitycommunity inin place,place,

Andy'Andy'ss journejourneyy ooff absencabsencee anandd returreturnn (like(like OdysseusOdysseus'' difficuldifficultt returreturnn ttoo IthacaIthaca)) enactsenacts thethe ancientancient themthemee ooff returreturnn anandd placeplacess AndAndyy amongstamongst ththee membershimembershipp ooff honorablehonorable husbandmehusbandmenn ttoo ththee world.world.

MarriageMarriage

IInn additioadditionn ttoo ththee ideaideall ooff ththee husbandman'husbandman'ss choicchoicee ttoo returreturnn anandd bbee joinejoinedd ttoo hishis communitycommunity anandd placplacee iinn ththee worldworld,, BerrBerryy describedescribess ththee naturnaturee ofof sucsuchh a marriage.marriage. BerryBerry prefaceprefacess hihiss explanatioexplanationn ooff a marriagmarriagee relationshirelationshipp ttoo ththee lanlandd witwithh ththee simplesimple acknowledgemenacknowledgementt thathatt humanhumanss dependependd upouponn naturnaturee forfor survivalsurvival,, anandd liklikee allall otherother creaturescreatures musmustt changchangee itit:: "Wha"Whatt wwee calcalll naturnaturee isis,, iinn a sense,sense, ththee sumsum ofof ththee changeschanges madmadee bbyy allall ththee variouvariouss creaturecreaturess anandd naturanaturall forceforcess iinn theitheirr intricatintricatee actionsactions andand influenceinfluencess upouponn eacheach otherother anandd upouponn theirtheir placesplaces"" (Hom(Homee EconomicEconomicss 7).7). UnlikUnlikee otherother creaturecreaturess howeverhowever,, "human"humanss musmustt makmakee a choicchoicee aass ttoo ththee kinkindd anandd scalescale ooff ththee differencedifference thetheyy makemake"" (7).(7). InherenInherentt iinn Berry'Berry'ss thinkinthinkingg iiss ththee assumptionassumption thathatt ththee typtypee anandd scalescale ofof humahumann modificationmodificationss ofof naturnaturee araree resultresultss ooff humahumann choicchoicee andand thathatt somesome choiceschoices areare bettebetterr thathann othersothers inin preservinpreservingg ththee long-terlong-termm healthealthh anandd survivalsurvival ooff naturanaturall andand humanhuman communities.communities. BerrBerryy notenotess thathatt inin modifyinmodifyingg naturnaturee througthroughh agricultureagriculture,, humanhumanss disturbdisturb whawhatt iiss otherwisotherwisee a relativelyrelatively stablstablee balancbalancee ooff "use"use andand continuitycontinuity [in[in whichwhich]] ththee liflifee ofof ononee yeayearr musmustt nonott bbee alloweallowedd toto diminishdiminish ththee lifelife ooff ththee nextnext;; nothinnothingg [living][living] aatt thethe 8282 expenseexpense ooff ththee source"source" (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericaAmerica 93).93). ByBy manifestingmanifesting theitheirr ownown interestsinterests intointo ththee worldworld,, cultivatingcultivating thethe soilsoil andand favoringfavoring certaincertain speciesspecies overover others,others, humanshumans

effectivelyeffectively removeremove naturanaturall checkschecks thathatt maintaimaintainn stabilitystability andand "by"by thethe skillsskills ofof

responsibilityresponsibility"" (93)(93) mustmust workwork toto maintainmaintain ththee health,health, fertility,fertility, andand diversitydiversity ofof thethe worldworld

oonn whicwhichh humahumann andand nonnon humanhuman communitiescommunities depend,depend, "with"with tiesties andand obligationsobligations inin bothboth

directions"directions" (Way(Way ofof IgnoranceIgnorance 100).100).

AkiAkinn toto thethe difficultydifficulty ofof joininjoiningg twotwo liveslives inin thethe culturalcultural patterpatternn ofof humanhuman

marriage,marriage, whicwhichh BerrBerryy believebelievess workworkss ttoo balancbalancee thethe potentiallpotentiallyy dangerousdangerous powepowerr ofof

sexualsexual energyenergy whilewhile providingproviding a socialsocial structurestructure foforr thethe continuitycontinuity ofof generations,generations, yetyet thatthat

BerryBerry describesdescribes asas "a"a perilouperilouss andand fearfufearfull efforteffort [in[in whichwhich]] thertheree can'tcan't bbee enoughenough

knowledgknowledgee atat ththee beginningbeginning"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HouseHouse 131),131), BerryBerry describesdescribes a marriagemarriage

relationshiprelationship toto naturnaturee asas "solemn"solemn...demanding ... demanding,, andand blesseblessedd [as[as humahumann marriage]marriage]""

(Continuous(Continuous HarmonyHarmony 154).154). IInn describingdescribing ththee highlyhighly complexcomplex roleroless betweebetweenn farmerfarmer andand

naturenature,, BerrBerryy goesgoes beyondbeyond thethe traditionallytraditionally imaginedimagined (marital)(marital) gendergender rolesroles ofof farmingfarming asas

"a"a masculinemasculine actact inin whichwhich ththee farmerfarmer forcefullyforcefully [makes][makes] thethe femalefemale (virgin)(virgin) landland

productive"productive" (Fiege(Fiege 177).177). Instead,Instead, Berry'sBerry's farmerfarmer

[passes][passes] witwithh easeease acrossacross thethe boundariesboundaries ofof thethe so-calledso-called sexualsexual roles..roles .... thethe preserverpreserver ofof seed,seed, thethe planterplanter,, becomebecomess midwifemidwife andand nurse.nurse. BreederBreeder isis alwaysalways metamorphosinmetamorphosingg intointo broodebrooderr andand bacbackk againagain...... th thee farmer,farmer, sometimessometimes knowknownn asas husbandman,husbandman, iiss bbyy definitiondefinition halfhalf mother.mother.. ... andand thethe landland itselitselff isis nonott mothermother oror fatherfather only,only, butbut bothboth...... farme farmerr andand landland areare thusthus involvedinvolved inin a sortsort ofof dancedance witwithh thethe earthearth atat oppositesopposites ofof sexualsexual poles.poles. (Unsettling(Unsettling ofof AmericAmericaa 8)8)

RatheRatherr thanthan a simplesimple mattematterr ofof "subjugation""subjugation" oror "domestication,""domestication," Berry'sBerry's marriagemarriage

betweebetweenn farmerfarmer andand landland isis complexcomplex andand ththee rolesroles highlyhighly fluid.fluid. TheThe goodgood farmer-asfarmer—as anan

ideaideall husbandmahusbandmann andand moramorall exemplar-mustexemplar—must bbee adaptable,adaptable, andand possesspossess thethe correctcorrect 8383 knowledgeknowledge (gained(gained fromfrom personapersonall experienceexperience oror gleanedgleaned fromfrom inheritedinherited intergenerationalintergenerational oror culturalcultural wisdomwisdom)) ttoo bbee ableable ttoo assumassumee varyinvaryingg roleroless asas specificspecific situationssituations require.require.

IInn hihiss excellentexcellent analysisanalysis ooff "the"the extraordinarilextraordinarilyy ricrichh metaphometaphorr [of][of] mamann asas husbandhusband,, iinn ththee oldesoldestt sensesense ofof ththee wordword,, havinhavingg committecommittedd himselhimselff iinn multiplmultiplee marriagesmarriages ttoo wifewife,, familyfamily,, farm,farm, community,community, andand finallyfinally ttoo ththee cyclcyclee ofof naturnaturee itselfitself,, marriagmarriagee ofof farmefarmerr anandd land"land" (Hick(Hickss 119)119) inin Berry'sBerry's fictionfiction,, JacJackk HickHickss describedescribess Berry'Berry'ss idealideal husbanhusbandd asas "earthly"earthly mamann inin hihiss mosmostt noblnoblee statestate,, doomedoomedd ttoo separateseparate consciousnessconsciousness,, butbut inin thathatt singlsinglee minmindd makingmaking a pacpactt witwithh ththee worldworld"" (120)(120).. IInn Berry'Berry'ss fictionafictionall worlworldd ofof

PorPortt WilliamWilliam,, HickHickss identifieidentifiess ththee charactecharacterr ofof MatMat FeltneFeltnerr asas "the"the idealideal husbanhusbandd ttoo thethe worldworld,, a strivingstriving upwarupwardd iinn ththee fleshflesh,, backback towartowardd unitunityy withwith thethe naturanaturall worldworld"" (124),(124), andand contrastscontrasts hihimm ttoo "lesser"lesser memenn aroundaround himhim"" (124(124)) whwhoo havhavee beebeenn leslesss successfulsuccessful inin marryingmarrying selselff andand householhouseholdd witwithh ththee naturanaturall world.world.

OnOnee ofof thesthesee "lesser"lesser menmen"" isis JacJackk BeechuBeechumm whoswhosee lifelife storstoryy isis recounterecountedd iinn The

Memory of Old Jack. AlthougAlthoughh "a"a truetrue husbandhusband ttoo hihiss land"land" (Memory(Memory ofof OlOldd JacJackk 125),125),

"faithful..."faithful...throug throughh allall ititss yearlyearlyy changechangess frofromm maidemaidenn ttoo mother,mother, ththee bridbridee andand wifwifee andand widowidoww ooff memenn liklikee himselfhimself sincesince ththee worldworld beganbegan"" (122),(122), hihiss lovelessloveless marriagmarriagee toto RuthRuth doomsdooms himhim ttoo anan incompleteincomplete existence.existence. HiHiss attractionattraction anandd marriagemarriage,, basebasedd onon youthfulyouthful sexualsexual desire,desire, joinjoinss twtwoo peoplpeoplee witwithh hopelesslhopelesslyy disparatedisparate worldviewsworldviews.. RuthRuth,, althoughalthough initiallinitiallyy fascinatedfascinated bbyy "a"a darkdark energyenergy"" sheshe perceiveperceivedd iinn himhim "that"that sheshe wanted...... t too capturecapture foforr herselfherself,, toto control—tcontrol-too convertcon vert...... ttoo endendss thathatt shshee coulcouldd smilsmilee upouponn iinn ththee opeopenn daylightdaylight"" (39),(39), iiss drivendriven bbyy a desiredesire ttoo "turn"turn awaawayy frofromm ththee land.land .... .towar towardd ththee businesbusinesss ofof thethe town,town,"" aann ambitioambitionn forfor ththee "ease"ease anandd wealthwealth"" ooff "town"town peoplepeople"" (42).(42). 8484 Ruth'Ruth'ss desirdesiree foforr wealtwealthh anandd socialsocial bettermentbetterment (i.e.,(i.e., transcendence)transcendence),, thathatt JackJack becombecomee "a"a greagreatt landowner.landowner.. ... [gaining][gaining] ththee respecrespectt ofof ththee besbestt people..people .... [sending][sending] theirtheir childrenchildren ttoo ththee besbestt schools.schools .... .starte startedd inin careercareerss thatthat woulwouldd makmakee themthem eveevenn mormoree wealthywealthy anandd respecterespectedd thathann theitheirr parentsparents"" (50-51)(50-51) contrastcontrastss sharplysharply witwithh JackJack,, whwhoo "did"did nonott wantwant ttoo improveimprove himselhimselff oror enrichenrich himselhimselff oror comcomee uupp iinn ththee worldworld"" (50),(50), bubutt desiresdesires onlonlyy toto fulfilfulfilll hihiss responsibilitieresponsibilitiess ttoo ththee fabrifabricc ofof hihiss community.community. AlthougAlthoughh JackJack futilitfutilityy attemptsattempts ttoo enlargenlargee hishis holdingholdingss iinn aann efforteffort ttoo pleaspleasee Ruth'Ruth'ss ambition,ambition, a firfiree destroydestroyss hihiss barbarnn andand hhee nearlnearlyy loselosess alalll hihiss landland toto debtdebt.. UltimatelyUltimately,, hhee resignresignss himselftohimself to ththee factfact thathatt hhee willwill nevernever ableable toto appeasappeasee hihiss wifwifee sincsincee hhee livelivess "too"too closclosee ttoo ththee ground"ground" (42).(42).

A physicalphysical gulfgulf indicativeindicative ofof ththee emotionalemotional distancedistance betweebetweenn JackJack andand RuthRuth widenwidenss aass shshee isis repulsedrepulsed bbyy hihiss hands—thhands-thee handshands ooff a workinworkingg farmer-whichfarmer—which "did"did willinglwillinglyy anandd eveevenn eagerlyeagerly whatwhat,, beforebefore,, sheshe hahadd onlonlyy seenseen blacblackk handhandss dodo reluctantly,"reluctantly," andand undeunderr whicwhichh "her"her flesfleshh contracted"contracted" (44)(44).. ThThee couple'scouple's firstfirst childchild,, "the"the onlyonly sonson theythey wouldwould have"have" (45),(45), a symbolsymbol ooff theitheirr abortedaborted unionunion,, iiss stillborn.stillborn. InIn herher griegrieff forfor heherr deaddead childchild RutRuthh assumeassumess a posturposturee ooff deathdeath,, lyinglying "straight"straight anandd still,still, heherr bodbodyy asas formallyformally composedcomposed aass a corpse,corpse, heherr eyeeyess shutshut"" (47)(47) a deathdeath notnot onlonlyy ooff heherr child,child, butbut ooff heherr failedfailed uniounionn ttoo JacJackk andand hihiss worldworld.. AAss JacJackk standsstands gazingazingg aatt ththee 'corpse''corpse' ooff hihiss wifewife,, hhee feelsfeels a

"palpable"palpable silencesilence whoswhosee pressurpressuree [he[he feelsfeels]] iinn hishis cheschestt anandd throatthroat"" (47)(47).. IInn Berry'sBerry's thoughtthought,, silencesilence iiss significantsignificant inin thathatt itit functionfunctionss asas a testestt forfor individualsindividuals andand relationshipsrelationships.. WitWithh "a"a potentiapotentiall ofof terroterrorr iinn iitt [silence][silence] raisesraises,, still,still, alalll ththee ololdd answerlessanswerless questionsquestions ooff originoriginss andand ends.ends. ItIt askaskss a mamann whawhatt iiss ththee ususee anandd ththee wortworthh ooff hihiss lifelife.. ItIt askaskss hihimm whwhoo hhee thinksthinks hehe is,is, anandd whawhatt hhee thinksthinks he'he'ss doingdoing,, andand wherwheree herheree thinksthinks he'she's goinggoing"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 41).41). FoForr otheotherr (mor(moree completecomplete)) charactercharacterss suchsuch asas HannahHannah 8585 CoulterCoulter whowho whilwhilee sittingsitting aatt heherr homehome "feels"feels ththee silencsilencee reachinreachingg outout likelike a livelive strand,strand, bindinbindingg heherr ttoo placeplace"" (Memory(Memory ofof OlOldd JackJack 74),74), silencesilence isis anan opportunitopportunityy forfor peacefulpeaceful reflection.reflection. YeYett aass JackJack anandd RutRuthh becombecomee increasinglincreasinglyy estrangedestranged,, a silencesilence growsgrows betweenbetween thethemm whicwhichh JackJack findsfinds "less"less andand leslesss ableable ttoo bearbear"" (49)(49),, anandd aass JacJackk growsgrows oldold silencesilence becomebecomess "the"the mosmostt demandingdemanding thingthing hhee knowsknows"" (155).(155).

TheThe onlyonly fruitfruit ofof JackJack andand Ruth'Ruth'ss otherwisotherwisee barrebarrenn marriagmarriagee iiss theitheirr daughterdaughter

ClaraClara.. HoweverHowever,, forfor JackJack,, ClaraClara merelmerelyy confirmconfirmss hihiss failurfailuree ttoo "[unite"[unite]] farfarmm andand householhouseholdd andand marriagmarriagee bed"bed" (126)(126) iinn thathatt ClaraClara leaveleavess foforr collegcollegee neveneverr ttoo returreturnn ttoo thethe fellowshifellowshipp ooff ththee PorPortt WilliaWilliamm communitycommunity.. SheShe marriesmarries GlaGladd PetiPetitt ((aa bankerbanker)) anandd whenwhen visitinvisitingg GladGlad drivesdrives heherr ttoo "the"the veryvery foofoott ooff ththee porcporchh stepssteps ssoo thathatt ClaraClara coulcouldd paspasss fromfrom ththee carcar intointo thethe houshousee almostalmost withouwithoutt touchintouchingg ththee groundground"" (133).(133). LikLikee heherr mothermother,, ClaraClara looklookss condescendinglycondescendingly onon Jack'sJack's liflifee ofof farmingfarming andand eveevenn attemptattemptss ttoo avoidavoid thethe

'contamination''contamination' ofof physicaphysicall contactcontact witwithh hishis belovebelovedd soil.soil. FinallyFinally,, JacJackk resignresignss himselhimselff toto thethe thoughthoughtt thatthat "his"his daughterdaughter andand son-in-lawson-in-law werweree ooff a kinkindd thatthat wawass estrangedestranged anandd alien,alien, andand probablprobablyy inimical,inimical, toto hihiss kindkind"" (138)(138) andand eventuallyeventually losesloses allall contaccontactt witwithh her.her.

Conversely,Conversely, MatMat Feltner,Feltner, "the"the ideaideall husbanhusbandd ttoo thethe world,"world," isis mormoree successfulsuccessful atat unitinguniting "farm"farm andand householdhousehold anandd marriagemarriage bedbed"" (126).(126). NNoo strangerstranger ttoo difficultdifficultyy andand sorrow,sorrow, inin A Place on Earth Mat'Mat'ss charactercharacter "is"is defineddefined,, dramatically,dramatically, bbyy hihiss strugglestruggle witwithh ththee meaninmeaningg inin hihiss sonson Virgil'Virgil'ss death"death" (Hicks(Hicks 124)124) inin a distandistantt battlbattlee ofof WorlWorldd WarWar

IIII.. StrugglingStruggling witwithh hihiss grief,grief, MaMatt taketakess nnoo solacesolace fromfrom ththee localocall preacherpreacher,, a relativerelative strangerstranger ttoo thethe familyfamily,, whwhoo attemptsattempts ttoo consolconsolee thethemm bbyy fosteringfostering ththee transcendentranscendentt hopehope ofof a bettebetterr worlworldd ttoo come.come. WhilWhilee attemptingattempting ttoo comforcomfortt ththee FeltnersFeltners,, ththee preacher'spreacher's eyeglasseeyeglassess reflecreflectt ththee lightlight ofof a nearbnearbyy windowwindow.. IInn Berry'Berry'ss workwork,, windowwindowss araree significantsignificant 8686 portalportalss througthroughh whicwhichh ththee worlworldd mamayy bbee thoughtfullthoughtfullyy observed,observed, intermediarieintermediariess betweenbetween insideinside anandd outsideoutside,, a poinpointt wherwheree ththee culturaculturall 'pattern''pattern' ooff ththee homehome andand ththee wildwild 'pattern''pattern' ooff ththee naturanaturall worlworldd meemeett (e.g.,(e.g., "The"The windowindoww iiss a forformm ooff consciousnessconsciousness,, patterpatternn ofof formedformed senssensee througthroughh whicwhichh ttoo looklook intintoo ththee wilwildd thathatt isis a patterpatternn too"too" (Collected(Collected PoemsPoems

73)).73)). TheThe preacher'preacher'ss glasseglassess howevehoweverr reflect oorr "throw"throw bacbackk withouwithoutt absorbingabsorbing"" (Oxford(Oxford

1423)1423) whawhatt ththee windowindoww reveals-thereveals—the outsidoutsidee worldworld.. PerhapPerhapss alludinalludingg ttoo ththee biblicalbiblical passagpassagee statinstatingg thathatt "th"thee lightlight ooff ththee bodbodyy isis thethe eye:eye: ifif thereforthereforee thinthinee eyeeye bbee single,single, thythy wholwholee bodbodyy shallshall bbee fullfull ooff lightlight"" (Matthew(Matthew 6:22),6:22), ththee preacher'preacher'ss eyeseyes areare obscuredobscured behinbehindd "opaqu"opaquee discsdiscs ooff light"light" thathatt causcausee hihimm ttoo appearappear "exultant"exultant andand blindblind"" (Berry,(Berry,

PlacPlacee oonn EartEarthh 99).99).

ThThee preachepreacherr fulfilfulfilss hihiss prescribeprescribedd rolrolee aass a 'seer'seer'' foforr hihiss parishionersparishioners,, butbut regardlessregardless ooff hihiss exultancy,exultancy, hihiss triumphantriumphantt happineshappinesss iinn a transcendentranscendentt worldworld ttoo come,come, hehe isis nonott fillefilledd witwithh ththee lightlight ooff knowledgknowledgee bubutt "th"thee lighlightt thathatt iiss iinn thetheee bebe darkness"darkness"

(Matthew(Matthew 6:23)6:23) aass hhee iiss effectiveleffectivelyy blindblind ttoo ththee naturnaturee ofof ththee worlworldd outsideoutside thethe windowwindow andand toto ththee naturnaturee ofof ththee Feltner'Feltner'ss intimateintimate relationshirelationshipp witwithh thathatt worldworld.. WhilWhilee inin thethe

FeltneFeltnerr home,home, ththee preachepreacherr speaksspeaks ofof a "Heavenl"Heavenlyy City,City,"" yeyett Mat'Mat'ss attentioattentionn driftsdrifts outside.outside. ThrougThroughh ththee windowindoww ttoo whichwhich ththee preachepreacherr wawass blindblind,, MaMatt noticenoticess thathatt "the"the budsbuds onon ththee maplmaplee treetreess leaninleaningg overover ththee roaroadd havhavee growngrown bigbig.. HHee noticenoticess thisthis asas hehe alwaysalways noticenoticess iitt foforr thethe firsfirstt timtimee iinn ththee spring,spring, witwithh aann involuntarinvoluntaryy pleasurepleasure"" (99).(99). RecognizingRecognizing hihiss pleasurpleasuree inin ththee cyclicacyclicall renewarenewall ofof ththee seasonsseasons,, MaMatt realizerealizess thatthat hihiss ownown sensesense ofof hophopee lieliess nonott iinn a transcendenctranscendencee ooff ththee worldworld,, bubutt "in"in ththee worldworld,, inin ththee bondbondss ofof hihiss ownown lovelove"" (99),(99), anandd iinn hihiss bondbondss ooff householhouseholdd anandd landland.. MaMatt findsfinds comforcomfortt notnot iinn hopeshopes ofof 8787 transcendingtranscending hihiss earthlyearthly lot,lot, bubutt bbyy hihiss eminenceminencee iinn ththee naturalnatural cyclescycles ofof thethe surroundingsurrounding worlworldd hehe observesobserves jusjustt outsidoutsidee hihiss window.window.

MatMat drawsdraws deedeepp satisfactiosatisfactionn fromfrom performinperformingg ththee worworkk ooff husbandryhusbandry.. BerryBerry describedescribess Mat'Mat'ss pleasurpleasuree iinn caringcaring forfor hihiss orchardorchard,, "one"one ooff ththee workworkss ooff hihiss life"life":: "He"He likeslikes hihiss work—thwork-thee loolookk ofof hihiss handhandss movinmovingg andand choosing,choosing, correctingcorrecting,, amonamongg ththee tangletangle ofof ththee branchesbranches"" (163),(163), hihiss jojoyy iinn helpinhelpingg ttoo birtbirthh a calfcalf (182)(182),, andand iinn simplysimply sittinsittingg downdown ttoo "watch"watch ththee stocstockk eat"eat" (181)(181).. SpeakingSpeaking ofof hihiss fulfillmentfulfillment iinn hihiss worworkk MaMatt explains,explains, "if"if a mamann doesn'tdoesn't farfarmm forfor hihiss ownown satisfaction,satisfaction, he'lhe'lll havhavee a harhardd timtimee findinfindingg anotheanotherr goodgood reasoreasonn ttoo dodo it..it.. .there's.there's not ananyy otheotherr lifelife foforr meme"" (181)(181).. MaMatt alsoalso describedescribess ththee pleasurepleasure hehe taketakess inin ththee manmanyy beautifubeautifull placeplacess oonn hihiss farm:farm: "coo"cooll placeplacess oror quietquiet onesones witwithh waterwater runninrunningg oror anan overlook..overlook .... I'vI'vee thoughthoughtt ofof somesome ooff thethemm nearlynearly alalll mymy life"life" (184).(184).

AlthougAlthoughh historhistoryy iiss a palpablpalpablee presencpresencee toto thethe residentresidentss ofof PorPortt WilliamWilliam

(mirroring(mirroring Berry'Berry'ss owownn towtownn ofof PorPortt RoyalRoyal)) iinn thathatt thetheyy araree inheritorinheritorss ooff ththee legaclegacyy ofof thethe pioneerinpioneeringg "first-arrivers""first-arrivers" whwhoo gainegainedd ththee lanlandd bbyy "killing"killing oror drivindrivingg outout ththee originaloriginal possessorspossessors"" (Long-Legge(Long-Leggedd HousHousee 179),179), andand whwhoo leftleft ththee lanlandd "diminished"diminished andand detacheddetached fromfrom itsits sources"sources" (Place(Place onon EartEarthh 27),27), Berry'sBerry's vivivividd descriptiondescriptionss ooff thethe surroundingsurrounding ruralrural sceneryscenery portraportrayy landscapelandscapess inin whicwhichh butterfliesbutterflies,, cattlecattle,, woodswoods,, andand appleapple treetreess seamlesslyseamlessly marrmarryy naturenature witwithh humahumann agriculturalagricultural workwork.. YetYet deathdeath andand nature'nature'ss destructivedestructive powepowerr isis everever presenpresentt andand asas mucmuchh a parpartt ofof ththee resident'resident'ss marriagmarriagee ttoo ththee landland asas itsits beautybeauty.. MatMat anandd JacJackk speakspeak ofof ththee land,land, "the"the wifwifee ooff theirtheir race,race,"" asas "more"more lovellovelyy anandd bountifubountifull andand kinkindd thathann thetheyy havhavee usuallusuallyy deserveddeserved [yet][yet] mormoree demandindemandingg thathann thetheyy havhavee oftenoften beenbeen ableable toto bearbear"" (303)(303).. AnAn exampleexample ooff nature'snature's potentiapotentiall forfor deatdeathh anandd destructiodestructionn iiss thethe violenviolentt deatdeathh ofof a younyoungg girgirll (Annie)(Annie) inin a floofloodd (117).(117). 8888 BerryBerry isis carefulcareful notnot portraportrayy marriagmarriagee toto thethe worldworld asas care-freecare-free oror idyllicidyllic butbut asas demanding,demanding, oftenoften sorrowful,sorrowful, andand ultimatelyultimately temporary.temporary. A Place on Earth concludesconcludes withwith

Mat'Mat'ss quietquiet contemplationcontemplation ofof hihiss placplacee inin thethe worldworld andand hihiss reflectionsreflections onon hishis forbearers.forbearers.

MatMat realizerealizess thathatt hishis ancestorsancestors andand theirtheir workworkss "are"are asas forgottenforgotten asas ththee forestforest theythey destroyed,"destroyed," andand comescomes ttoo thethe realizationrealization thathatt despitedespite hihiss "constant"constant strugglestruggle ttoo maintainmaintain andand regulatregulatee hihiss clearingsclearings...... h hee knowknowss without sorrow thatthat theythey willwill end,end, thethe orderorder hhee hashas mademade andand keptkept inin themthem willwill bbee overthrown,overthrown, thethe effortlesseffortless orderorder ofof wildernesswilderness willwill return."return."

(321(321,, emphasisemphasis added).added). IInn contrastcontrast ttoo thethe heroic-minheroic-mindd thathatt attemptsattempts toto erecterect monumentsmonuments thatthat wilwilll endureendure forever,forever, symbolssymbols ofof culture'sculture's 'triumph''triumph' overover ththee worldworld,, MatMat accepts,accepts, withoutwithout sorrow,sorrow, a marriagemarriage toto a worldworld inin whichwhich hishis worksworks areare temporarytemporary.. MatMat recognizesrecognizes thathatt ultimatelultimatelyy hihiss workworkss wilwilll givegive wayway ttoo ththee largelargerr patternpattern ofof naturenature andand thathatt "the"the merestmerest anandd mostmost improbablimprobablee accidentaccident isis madmadee a necessitnecessityy andand parpartt ofof a design,design, wherwheree deathdeath cancan onlonlyy givegive intointo lifelife"" (321).(321).

Jack'Jack'ss lovelessloveless marriagmarriagee andand absentabsent daughterdaughter endsends hihiss hophopee ofof familialfamilial continuitycontinuity inin place,place, yetyet Mat'sMat's householhouseholdd whichwhich (despite(despite thethe deathdeath ofof hishis son)son) isis preservedpreserved (at(at leastleast temporarilytemporarily)) asas a sitesite ofof lifelife andand continuity.continuity. MatMat andand hishis wifwifee MargaretMargaret taketake inin theirtheir son'sson's wifewife Hannah—whHannah-whoo iiss pregnantpregnant withwith thethe couple'scouple's firsfirstt child-whilechild—while VirgilVirgil isis awayaway atat war.war.

UponUpon learninglearning ofof Virgil'Virgil'ss death,death, thethe couplcouplee essentiallyessentially adoptsadopts HannahHannah asas theirtheir ownown daughter.daughter. InIn a strikingstriking transformationtransformation ofof sorrowsorrow intointo hopehope accompanyingaccompanying ththee birtbirthh ofof

Hannah'Hannah'ss child,child, MaMatt experiencesexperiences a grislygrisly dreamdream inin whicwhichh hehe drivesdrives a bulldozebulldozerr pilingpiling dirtdirt ontontoo a masmasss gravegrave filledfilled witwithh ththee bodiebodiess ofof youngyoung soldierssoldiers "[lying]"[lying] onon theirtheir backs,backs, unspeakablunspeakablyy submissivesubmissive ttoo thethe approachapproach ofof thethe greatgreat machine"machine" (224).(224). AsAs hehe isis atopatop thethe

"lurching"lurching andand swayingswaying machine,"machine," ttoo hishis horrohorrorr hehe recognizerecognizess thethe faceface ofof hishis sonson amongamong 8989 ththee masmasss ooff bodiebodiess anandd abruptlabruptlyy awakensawakens.. ThThee firstfirst thinthingg MatMat perceiveperceivess asas hhee rouserousess isis thethe surroundingsurrounding worlworldd inhabiteinhabitedd bbyy treestrees,, flowers,flowers, mist,mist, andand birdsbirds:: "he"he seessees thathatt ththee dawndawn lightlight hahass begubegunn ttoo grow...hgrow ... hee growsgrows awareaware thathatt ththee birdbirdss areare singing.singing. TheThe treestrees,, ththee streets,streets, ththee aiairr oveoverr ththee towtownn areare filledfilled witwithh theitheirr voices.voices."" (225).(225). A doodoorr ttoo anan adjoiningadjoining roomroom suddenlysuddenly swingsswings opeopenn anandd "he"he turnsturns,, blinkinblinkingg ttoo accustoaccustomm hihiss eyeseyes ttoo ththee dimnessdimness,, andand sees...nakesees ... nakedd anandd redred,, stilstilll wewett fromfrom ththee wombwomb,, a newbornewbornn childchild"" (226).(226). MatMat,, ththee "ideal"ideal husbanhusbandd ttoo ththee world,world,"" awakesawakes frofromm ththee awfulawful carnagecarnage ofof deatdeathh andand wawarr ttoo a renewarenewall ofof hihiss household'household'ss bonbondd ttoo ititss placeplace,, witwithh ititss marriagmarriagee ooff humanhumanss ttoo naturnaturee renewerenewedd asas a sitesite ooff birthbirth,, life,life, anandd continuity.continuity.

ThThee wildneswildnesss inhereninherentt iinn ththee worldworld resistresistss ththee impositionsimpositions ofof overlyoverly rigidrigid culturalcultural formformss howeverhowever,, andand continuitycontinuity inin Berry'Berry'ss fictiofictionn doedoess nonott simplysimply a patrimonialpatrimonial succession,succession, butbut isis passepassedd alonalongg a "wayward""wayward" linlinee ofof thosthosee ableable andand willinwillingg toto marrymarry theirtheir livelivess anandd hopehopess ttoo theitheirr placplacee (with(with ththee constanconstantt realityreality thathatt thathatt linlinee ooff continuitcontinuityy maymay atat anyany timtimee comecome ttoo anan end)end).. ThThee hophopee ooff continuitcontinuityy presenpresentt iinn ththee birtbirthh ooff Hannah'sHannah's daughtedaughterr MargareMargarett iiss laterlater extinguishedextinguished whewhenn MargareMargarett leavesleaves forfor college,college, marries,marries, andand choosechoosess notnot ttoo returreturnn ttoo PortPort WilliamWilliam.. HannaHannahh lamentlamentss thathatt MargareMargarett (like(like allall herher childrenchildren)) leaveleave ththee membershimembershipp neveneverr ttoo returnreturn:: "They"They areare gonegone.. TheTheyy comecome backback varyinglvaryinglyy often.often .... .bu butt ththee ololdd ties.ties .... .ar aree mostlmostlyy brokenbroken.. WWee livlivee iinn differendifferentt placesplaces,, leadlead livelivess thathatt araree differentdifferent,, havhavee differentdifferent hopehopess anandd thoughtsthoughts,, knoknoww differendifferentt thingsthings.. WeWe don'tdon't taltalkk alikalikee anymoreanymore"" (Hanna(Hannahh CoulteCoulterr 112).112). HopHopee foforr continuitcontinuityy isis rekindledrekindled howevehoweverr iinn ththee returreturnn ooff Margaret'Margaret'ss waywarwaywardd sosonn VirgiVirgiee ttoo PortPort WilliaWilliamm ttoo taktakee upup farminfarmingg (181-185).(181-185). 9090 LikeLike Andy'Andy'ss dreadreamm ooff thethe terrifyingterrifying darknessdarkness ooff beingbeing severedsevered fromfrom ththee patterpatternn ofof communitcommunityy followedfollowed bbyy a visiovisionn ofof PorPortt William'William'ss pastpast membersmembers,, Mat'sMat's visiovisionn involvesinvolves anan escapeescape fromfrom thethe darkdark horrorhorrorss ooff killinkillingg anandd wawarr intintoo ththee renewarenewall ooff hihiss membershipmembership withiwithinn thethe wholenesswholeness ooff ththee liflifee ofof hihiss placeplace.. YeYett whereawhereass AndyAndy perceiveperceivess thosthosee whwhoo havehave gonegone beforebefore,, MaMatt awakensawakens ttoo ththee birtbirthh ooff a childchild anandd ttoo ththee possibilitpossibilityy (althoug(althoughh iinn nono wawayy guaranteed)guaranteed) futurfuturee continuitcontinuityy ooff ththee community'community'ss humahumann life.life. ConsidereConsideredd together,together, thethe experienceexperiencess ofof MaMatt anandd AndAndyy combinecombine ttoo createcreate a largelargerr visiovisionn ooff a fabricfabric ooff humanhuman communitycommunity extendinextendingg intintoo ththee paspastt asas wellwell aass thethe futurefuture yeyett groundegroundedd inin anandd atat oneone withwith itsits largerlarger context-thecontext—the commoncommon groundground ooff ititss place.place.

AtonemenAtonementt

AlonAlongg witwithh ththee ideaidea ofof a marriagmarriagee betweebetweenn humanhumanss andand landland,, Berry'sBerry's sensesense ofof uniounionn ttoo placplacee culminatesculminates inin atonementatonement,, aann at-one-menat-one-mentt anandd reconciliatioreconciliationn betweenbetween humanhumanss andand ththee surroundingsurrounding naturanaturall worldworld.. LikLikee manymany 'environmental''environmental' writerswriters,, BerryBerry workworkss ttoo breabreakk downdown rigirigidd conceptualconceptual barrierbarrierss estrangingestranging humankindhumankind frofromm ththee naturalnatural worlworldd andand emphasizesemphasizes ththee inherentinherent ecologicaecologicall connectionconnectionss onon whichwhich humanhumanss dependependd forfor survisurvival val.. YetYet Berry'sBerry's sensesense ofof humahumann relatiorelationn toto ththee worldworld "surpasses"surpasses mermeree connectionconnection andand vergevergess oonn identity"identity" (Anothe(Anotherr TurnTurn ooff ththee CranCrankk 75)75).. NoNott simplysimply a CartesianCartesian disembodieddisembodied intellectintellect observinobservingg a conceptuallyconceptually distantdistant worlworldd oror a waylaiwaylaidd spiritspirit oonn a journejourneyy ttoo transcendencetranscendence,, BerrBerryy describesdescribes hishis sensesense ooff hihiss ownown beinbeingg "as"as growingrowingg ououtt ofof ththee eartearthh liklikee ththee otherother nativnativee animalsanimals andand plants.plants .... .m myy bodbodyy andand mmyy dailydaily motionmotionss asas briebrieff coherencescoherences andand articulationsarticulations ooff ththee energyenergy ofof ththee placeplace,, whicwhichh woulwouldd falfalll bacbackk intointo thethe earthearth liklikee leaveleavess iinn thethe autumn"autumn" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 178).178). ConsiderinConsideringg himselhimselff anan articulationarticulation ofof itsits energyenergy (a(a sentimentsentiment alsalsoo expresseexpressedd inin "Window"Window PoemsPoems"" iinn whichwhich 9911 speakingspeaking ofof himselhimselff BerryBerry declaredeclaress thathatt "Hi"Hiss ancestoancestorr iiss ththee hill"hill" (Collected(Collected PoemPoemss 75)75),, anandd inin "To"To a SiberianSiberian Woodsman"Woodsman":: "I"I amam ththee outbreathinoutbreathingg ofof thithiss groundground.. MMyy wordwordss areare ititss wordswords asas ththee wren'swren's songsong iiss itsits song"song" (96»,(96)), BerrBerryy seekseekss aann intimacintimacyy witwithh hihiss placeplace,, anan atonementatonement thathatt placeplacess hihimm withiwithinn ththee patterpatternn ooff ththee surroundinsurroundingg world.world.

BerrBerryy believebelievess thathatt iitt iiss "not"not outout ofof ththee abstracabstractt ministrationministrationss ooff priestpriestss andand teacherteacherss fromfrom outsidoutsidee ththee immediatimmediatee liflifee ofof a placplacee thathatt ththee ceremonieceremoniess ofof atonemenatonementt withwith ththee creationcreation arise,arise, bubutt ououtt ofof ththee thousanthousandd smalsmalll acts,acts, repeaterepeatedd yeayearr afteafterr yeayearr andand generationgeneration afterafter generation,generation, bbyy whicwhichh memenn relatrelatee ttoo theitheirr soil"soil" (Hidden(Hidden WounWoundd 88).88). ForFor

BerryBerry,, atonemenatonementt requirerequiress a deedeepp andand consciousconscious commitmencommitmentt ttoo liflifee andand worworkk inin placeplace whicwhichh isis madmadee difficultdifficult ifif nonott impossibleimpossible bbyy whawhatt hhee characterizecharacterizess asas modermodernn society'ssociety's

"urban"urban nomadism,nomadism,"" a statestate ofof constantconstant physicaphysicall andand spirituaspirituall transienctransiencee iinn pursuipursuitt ofof upwarupwardd mobilitmobilityy thathatt resultresultss inin "a"a loslosss ofof meaningfumeaningfull contaccontactt witwithh ththee eartearthh anandd thethe earth'searth's cyclecycless ooff birthbirth,, growthgrowth andand death"death" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 86)86).. FoForr BerryBerry,, thisthis

nomadism—inheritenomadism-inheritedd frofromm centuriecenturiess ofof EuropeaEuropeann colonizerscolonizers whwhoo "having"having leftleft

Europe...haEurope ... hadd notnot yetyet inin anyany meaningfumeaningfull sensesense arrivedarrived iinn AmericaAmerica,, nonott havinhavingg devoteddevoted

themselvethemselvess ttoo ananyy parpartt ofof itit iinn a wawayy thatthat woulwouldd producproducee ththee intricateintricate knowledgknowledgee ofof itit

necessarnecessaryy ttoo livelive iinn iitt withouwithoutt destroyindestroyingg it"it" (l83)-is(183)—is fefedd bbyy anan illusoryillusory senssensee ofof

autonomy,autonomy, "suggesting"suggesting thathatt ththee selfself cancan bbee self-determiningself-determining anandd independenindependentt withoutwithout

regarregardd forfor ananyy determinindeterminingg circumstancecircumstance oror anyany ooff ththee obviouobviouss dependenciesdependencies"" (Unsettling(Unsettling

ofof AmericAmericaa 111),111), andand isis a roadblocroadblockk ttoo meaningfumeaningfull atonemenatonementt ttoo place.place.

Berry'Berry'ss journejourneyy ofof atonementatonement ttoo hihiss placplacee iiss detailedetailedd iinn hihiss autobiographicaautobiographicall workwork

The Long-Legged House whicwhichh recountrecountss hihiss effortsefforts ttoo belonbelongg ttoo hihiss nativnativee placplacee afteafterr a

lonlongg absenceabsence pursinpursingg a literaryliterary careercareer.. IInn hihiss returnreturn,, BerrBerryy reversereversess ththee traditionatraditionall liberalliberal 9922 sensesense ooff identitidentityy establishedestablished throughthrough ththee possessiopossessionn ofof landland presenpresentt iinn thethe thoughtthought ofof

HobbeHobbess anandd LockLockee whwhoo believebelievedd thathatt "the"the humahumann essencessencee isis freedofreedomm fromfrom dependencdependencee onon ththee willwillss ofof othersothers anandd freedofreedomm iiss a functiofunctionn ofof possessionpossession"" (Macpherso(Macphersonn 3).3). RatheRatherr thanthan

freedofreedomm anandd identitidentityy beinbeingg basebasedd onon absoluteabsolute proprietorshiproprietorshipp ofof ththee selfself anandd ofof landland anandd inin

whichwhich "society"society consistconsistss ofof relationrelationss ofof exchangeexchange betweebetweenn proprietorsproprietors"" (3),(3), iinn returninreturningg toto

hihiss nativnativee placeplace,, BerrBerryy describedescribess hihiss sensesense ooff belonginbelongingg andand possessiopossessionn beginninbeginningg ttoo "turn"turn

around.around."" BerrBerryy recognizerecognizess thatthat "if"if I belongebelongedd in thithiss placplacee itit wawass becausbecausee I belongebelongedd to it"it"

(Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 156).156). BeginningBeginning ththee "long"long difficuldifficultt realizatiorealizationn ooff thethe complexitcomplexityy ofof

life"life" iinn hihiss placeplace,, BerrBerryy begabegann toto considerconsider himselhimselff aass "living"living within ratheratherr thathann upon thethe

lifelife oofthef the place.place .... .t too thinthinkk ofof mmyy liflifee aass ononee amongamong manymany,, anandd ononee kinkindd amongamong manymany

kindskinds"" (149,(149, emphasiemphasiss added)added).. WitWithh thethe humblinhumblingg recognitiorecognitionn thathatt hihiss dedicatiodedicationn toto

carefucarefull observatioobservationn andand participatioparticipationn inin hihiss placplacee woulwouldd requirrequiree a lifetimelifetime ooff learninglearning

whilwhilee dyindyingg ignorantignorant,, BerrBerryy beginbeginss toto sensesense hehe hadhad "ceased"ceased ttoo bbee a nativnativee aass memenn usuallyusually

areare,, merelymerely bbyy chancchancee anandd legality,legality, andand hahadd begubegunn toto bbee nativnativee iinn ththee fashionfashion ofof thethe birdsbirds

anandd animals;animals; I hahadd begubegunn ttoo bbee borbornn herheree iinn mindmind anandd spiritspirit aass welwelll aass iinn bodybody"" (166,168).(166,168).

AlludinAlludingg ttoo tenettenetss ooff hihiss professeprofessedd ChristiaChristiann faithfaith,, BerrBerryy referreferss ttoo hihiss atonementatonement

witwithh placplacee asas beinbeingg "born"born again,"again," yeyett ratheratherr thathann ththee traditionaltraditional ChristianChristian focufocuss onon

transcendenctranscendencee ooff ththee worldworld,, BerrBerryy isis borbornn ttoo "re-enter"re-enter ththee silencesilence anandd thethe darknessdarkness [of[of thethe

ground]"ground]" (207)(207).. AsAs mentionedmentioned previouslypreviously,, silencesilence iiss a recurrinrecurringg themthemee inin Berry'Berry'ss workwork

assumingassuming ththee doubldoublee meaningmeaningss ofof a potentiapotentiall comfortcomfort aass welwelll aass a terrorterror.. SimilarlySimilarly,, inin

WesterWesternn andand ChristianChristian thoughthoughtt darknessdarkness iiss oftenoften associateassociatedd witwithh "death"death,, sin,sin, ignorance,ignorance,

anandd evil,evil,"" yeyett BerrBerryy emphasizesemphasizes ititss alternativalternativee connotation:connotation: "potentia"potentiall life—thlife-thee darkdark ofof

germinationgermination"" (Tresidder(Tresidder 142).142). BerrBerryy associatesassociates darknesdarknesss witwithh a realrealmm ooff potentpotent 9393 mystery—thmystery-thee divinedivine mystermysteryy ooff liflifee anandd regeneratioregenerationn enacteenactedd througthroughh ththee processesprocesses ooff death-anddeath—and considersconsiders darknessdarkness a sourcsourcee ooff liflifee anandd clarityclarity.. EnterinEnteringg ththee realrealmm ofof darkness,darkness, whicwhichh BerrBerryy referreferss ttoo aass "elemental"elemental mysterymystery,, ththee originaoriginall conditioconditionn inin whichwhich lightlight occursoccurs...... th thee onlonlyy conditioconditionn oror wawayy inin whicwhichh wwee cancan seesee ththee lightlight"" (Unforeseen(Unforeseen

WildernesWildernesss xiii)xiii),, involveinvolvess enteringentering a realrealmm ooff mysterymystery anandd complexitycomplexity (and(and forfor BerryBerry divindivinee gracegrace)) impenetrablimpenetrablee ttoo limitelimitedd humahumann reasoninreasoningg anandd intellectintellect.. TToo enterenter darkness,darkness, ththee individuaindividuall musmustt thereforthereforee cascastt asidasidee ththee "light""light" ooff a beliebelieff iinn suresure oror completecomplete knowledgknowledgee andand enteenterr a realrealmm lightedlighted bbyy recognitiorecognitionn ofof humahumann ignoranceignorance anandd limitationlimitation anandd reliancreliancee upouponn gracgracee andand faith.faith.

BotBothh Berry'Berry'ss essayessayss andand poetrpoetryy speakspeak ooff discoveriediscoveriess madmadee byby castingcasting asidasidee lightlight anandd becominbecomingg intimateintimate withwith darknessdarkness.. IInn "A"A NativNativee HillHill"" BerrBerryy relatesrelates a parable-likeparable-like accounaccountt ooff a huntehunterr whwhoo gaingainss claritclarityy iinn darknessdarkness byby castincastingg awaawayy hihiss lanternlantern,, declaring:declaring:

"I"I havhavee turneturnedd asidasidee fromfrom mucmuchh thathatt I knewknew,, anandd havhavee givengiven upup muchmuch thatthat wenwentt before.before.

WhatWhat wilwilll nonott brinbringg mmee mormoree certainlcertainlyy thathatt beforebefore,, ttoo wherwheree I amam iiss ooff nnoo ususee ttoo meme.. I havhavee steppesteppedd ououtt ooff ththee clearingclearing intintoo ththee woodswoods.. I havhavee throwthrownn awaawayy mmyy lanternlantern,, anandd I cacann seseee thethe darkdark"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 208)208).. SimilarlySimilarly,, Berry'Berry'ss poepoemm "To"To KnoKnoww thethe

DarkDark"" promisepromisess accesaccesss ttoo a mysterioumysteriouss andand wonderfuwonderfull worlworldd thathatt "blooms"blooms andand singssings,, andand isis traveletraveledd bbyy darkdark feefeett anandd darkdark wingswings"" ttoo thosthosee whwhoo araree willinwillingg ttoo enteenterr ththee darknessdarkness withouwithoutt a lightlight,, admonishingadmonishing readerreaderss "To"To knoknoww ththee darkdark,, ggoo darkdark.. GGoo withouwithoutt sight"sight"

(Collected(Collected PoemPoemss 107).107).

FoForr BerryBerry,, darknesdarknesss isis ofteoftenn associatedassociated witwithh soil,soil, "the"the greagreatt connectoconnectorr ofof liveslives,, thethe sourcesource anandd destinatiodestinationn ofof allall"" (Unsettling(Unsettling ooff AmericAmericaa 86)86).. SoilSoil iiss "alive""alive" aass welwelll asas "a"a gravegrave"" (86)(86).. A sitsitee ofof deatdeathh anandd decay,decay, soilsoil iiss a "dark"dark wildernesswilderness,, ultimatelultimatelyy unknowable,unknowable, 9494 teeminteemingg withwith wildlife"wildlife" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 140).140). AgainAgain drawingdrawing onon ChristiaChristiann imageryimagery

BerryBerry considersconsiders thethe soilsoil "Christ-like""Christ-like" inin thathatt itit isis alsoalso ththee sitesite ofof re-birtre-birthh andand

"resurrection,""resurrection," makinmakingg lifelife outout ofof death,death, "its"its fertilityfertility...... alway alwayss buildingbuilding upup outout ofof deathdeath

intintoo promise"promise" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HouseHouse 204).204). AAss anan inestimableinestimable gift,gift, a gracegrace thathatt cannotcannot bebe

madmadee oror fullyfully understoodunderstood,, forfor Berry,Berry, soilsoil mustmust bebe maintainedmaintained andand preservepreservedd "in"in humanhuman

useuse onlyonly byby goodgood care"care" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 62-63,62-63, 135).135). ForFor BerryBerry,, thethe farmerfarmer marriedmarried toto

hihiss placeplace,, hihiss ververyy beingbeing anan articulationarticulation ofof ththee energyenergy ofof ththee land,land, servesserves asas "the"the trusteetrustee ofof

thethe lifelife ofof thethe topsoiltopsoil"" (Continuous(Continuous HarmonyHarmony 128)128) whowho employsemploys hihiss skillskill andand knowledgeknowledge

(often(often gainedgained fromfrom generationsgenerations inin placeplace)) ttoo protecprotectt itsits fertilityfertility andand vitalvital wildness.wildness.

The Long-Legged House concludesconcludes withwith a passagpassagee describingdescribing thethe merginmergingg ofof hishis

beinbeingg withwith thethe darknessdarkness ofof thethe soil,soil, hishis atonementatonement withwith hishis belovebelovedd land:land:

I havehave beenbeen walkingwalking inin thethe woods,woods, andand havehave lainlain downdown onon thethe groundground toto rest...andrest.. .and suddenlysuddenly I apprehendapprehend...... th thee darkdark proposalproposal ofof ththee groundground...... m myy breastbonbreastbonee burnsburns witwithh imminenimminentt decaydecay...... M Myy bodbodyy beginbeginss itsits longlong shuddershudder intointo humushumus.. I feelfeel thethe substancesubstance escapeescape me,me, carriedcarried intointo thethe moldmold byby beetlesbeetles andand wormsworms.. DaysDays,, winds,winds, seasonsseasons passpass overover meme asas I sinksink underunder thethe leaves.leaves. FoForr a timetime onlyonly sightsight isis lefleftt toto meme,, a passivpassivee awarenessawareness ofof thethe skysky overhead,overhead, birdsbirds crossing,crossing, thethe mazedmazed interreachinginterreaching ofof thethe treetops,treetops, thethe leavesleaves falling-andfalling—and thenthen thatthat,, too,too, sinkssinks away.away. ItIt isis acceptableacceptable ttoo me,me, andand I amam atat peace.peace. WhenWhen I movemove toto go,go, itit iiss asas thoughthough I riserise upup outout ofof thethe world.world. (213)(213)

AsAs BerryBerry lieslies onon thethe groundground imaginingimagining hishis ownown disintegrationdisintegration backback intointo thethe fecundfecund

darknessdarkness ofof thethe soil,soil, hehe imagineimaginess ththee descentdescent ofof hihiss bodybody,, "its"its longlong shudder"shudder" intointo thethe

leaves.leaves. Berry'sBerry's poepoemm "A"A Grace"Grace" (dedicated(dedicated toto GregoryGregory BatesonBateson whosewhose workwork dealdealss withwith

connectingconnecting patternpatternss betweebetweenn otherwiseotherwise apparentlyapparently disparatedisparate systems),systems), speaksspeaks ofof a

fundamentalfundamental correspondencecorrespondence oror "rhyme""rhyme" betweenbetween ththee bodbodyy andand ththee earth,earth, thethe "rhyme"rhyme ofof

handhand witwithh leaf'leaf andand thethe groundground thatthat "gathers"gathers themthem allall intointo itsits plot"plot" (A(A ParPartt 36).36). AfterAfter

strivingstriving toto atoneatone hihiss lifelife toto ththee patternspatterns ofof hishis nativenative place,place, BerryBerry imaginesimagines hishis finalfinal 9595 corporealcorporeal entranceentrance intointo thethe connectingconnecting patterpatternn ofof hishis nativenative hilhilll followedfollowed byby thethe consciousnessconsciousness ofof hishis sight,sight, whichwhich althoughalthough lingerslingers longerlonger thanthan hihiss bodybody,, pausingpausing toto perceivperceivee thethe sky,sky, doesdoes notnot taktakee flightflight toto a distantdistant realmrealm butbut alsoalso acceptsaccepts "the"the darkdark proposaproposall ofof ththee ground"ground" intointo whicwhichh itit fadesfades.. BerryBerry findsfinds hihiss atonementatonement witwithh ththee worldworld

"acceptable.""acceptable." RatheRatherr thathann fearfulfearful ofof thethe thoughtthought ofof thethe disintegrationdisintegration ofof hihiss beinbeingg intointo soil,soil, Berry,Berry, asas a trustetrusteee ofof hishis soil,soil, findfindss peacpeacee inin hishis ultimatultimatee atonementatonement witwithh it.it.

EchoingEchoing Berry'sBerry's marriagmarriagee metaphormetaphor,, hishis accountaccount ofof hishis atonementatonement withwith hishis nativenative hillhill describesdescribes thethe groungroundd asas havinhavingg a "dark"dark proposal."proposal." TheThe "proposal""proposal" ofof thethe groundground seemsseems ttoo suggestsuggest somesome formform ofof volition-thevolition—the earthearth extendingextending anan invitationinvitation ofof relationsrelations toto

BerryBerry.. ThisThis raiseraisess thethe issueissue inherentinherent iinn Berry'sBerry's ususee ofof marriagmarriagee asas a metaphormetaphor ofof humanhuman relationrelationss witwithh thethe worldworld inin thathatt howhow cancan oneone enterenter intointo a relationshiprelationship withwith a partyparty thatthat possesposses nono volitionvolition ofof itsits ownown andand thereforthereforee cancan onlyonly passivelpassivelyy receivreceivee ratheratherr thanthan activelyactively assentassent toto oror engageengage inin a 'marriage''marriage' relationshiprelationship?? Berry'sBerry's fictionalfictional characterscharacters confrontconfront thisthis issueissue iinn variousvarious ways.ways. SpeakingSpeaking ofof herher belovedbeloved place,place, HannahHannah CoulterCoulter statesstates thatthat "The"The steamsteam anandd thethe woodswoods don'tdon't carecare ifif yoyouu lovelove them.them. TheThe placplacee doesn'tdoesn't carecare ifif youyou lovelove it.it.

ButBut forfor youyourr ownown sakesake yoyouu hahadd bettebetterr lovelove it.it. ForFor thethe sakesake ofof allall elseelse youyou love,love, youyou hadhad betterbetter lovlovee itit"" (Hannah(Hannah CoulterCoulter 85).85). ForFor Hannah,Hannah, whetherwhether oror notnot thethe landland reciprocatesreciprocates thethe lovlovee expressedexpressed ttoo itit isis inconsequentialinconsequential sincesince forfor thethe goodgood ofof "alL"all. ... .yo youu love"love" (which(which withinwithin ththee contextcontext ofof Berry'sBerry's thoughtthought wouldwould includeinclude thethe communitycommunity inin itsits widestwidest sense),sense), humanshumans mustmust lovelove thethe lanlandd regardlesregardlesss ofof thatthat lovelove beinbeingg requited.requited.

AnotheAnotherr perspectivperspectivee onon thisthis relationshirelationshipp isis expressedexpressed bbyy Berry'sBerry's charactercharacter

WheelerWheeler Catlett,Catlett, whowho afterafter helpinhelpingg youngyoung EltonElton PennPenn toto purchasepurchase a farmfarm hehe hadhad beenbeen stewardingstewarding forfor somesome timetime explainsexplains ttoo EltonElton thatthat thethe farmfarm fallingfalling intointo hihiss possessiopossessionn waswas 9696 notnot simplysimply arbitraryarbitrary,, bubutt thathatt "the"the farmfarm choschosee you"you" anandd thathatt "the"the lanlandd expectsexpects somethingsomething fromfrom us..us .... wewe starstartt ououtt expectingexpecting thingthingss ooff [the[the land]land]...... an andd thethenn somsomee ofof usus,, ifif wwee staystay andand papayy attentionattention,, seesee thathatt expectationexpectationss areare goingoingg ththee otheotherr wawayy tootoo.. DemandDemandss araree beinbeingg mademade ofof us,us, whethewhetherr wewe knoknoww itit oror knoknoww whawhatt thetheyy araree oorr notnot.. ThThee placplacee iiss cryincryingg ououtt ttoo uuss toto bbee worthworthyy ofof itit"" (That(That DistanDistantt LanLandd 284).284).

ThThee suggestionsuggestion thathatt ththee earthearth oorr a placplacee possessepossessess ananyy forformm ooff consciousness,consciousness, volitionvolition,, oorr mamayy placplacee demandsdemands oonn humanhumanss iiss certainlycertainly anathemaanathema ttoo a modermodernn scientificscientific worldviewworldview whicwhichh generallgenerallyy perceiveperceivess ththee worlworldd aass aann amoraamorall conglomeratioconglomerationn ofof interactininteractingg mattermatter.. IInn ordeorderr ttoo explaiexplainn Berry'Berry'ss perspectivperspectivee thereforetherefore,, criticscritics suchsuch asas

RicharRichardd PevearPevear consideconsiderr Berry'Berry'ss accountaccount ofof hihiss atonemenatonementt witwithh hihiss nativnativee hilhilll a formform ofof naturnaturee worshipworship,, a "stoic"stoic deificationdeification ofof nature,nature,"" statinstatingg thatthat,, "Nature"Nature idolatridolatryy iiss finallfinallyy a worshipworship ofof powerpower.. IItt wawass forfor heherr grandeugrandeurr andand powepowerr thathatt ththee StoicsStoics worshippedworshipped naturenature.. IItt isis thisthis powepowerr thathatt Mr.Mr. BerrBerryy worshipsworships,, ththee 'Nativ'Nativee Hill'Hill' thathatt eateatss itsits owners,owners, ththee powerpower thatthat wilwilll turturnn hihimm intointo humus—ahumus-ann eventevent whicwhichh hhee anticipatesanticipates witwithh peculiapeculiarr enthusiasm"enthusiasm"

(Donnelly(Donnelly 276)276).. TheseThese criticscritics contencontendd thathatt likelike ssoo calledcalled 'primitive'primitive'' animists,animists, BerryBerry worshipworshipss variouvariouss aspectaspectss ofof thethe worldworld whicwhichh seemseem incomprehensiblincomprehensiblee anandd thereforetherefore miraculousmiraculous toto limitedlimited humanhuman understanding.understanding.

WirzbaWirzba notenotess howevehoweverr thathatt Berry'sBerry's sensesense ofof GodGod anandd ththee divindivinee iiss nonott anan entitentityy farfar removedremoved fromfrom ththee worlworldd bubutt ononee intimatelyintimately involvedinvolved witwithh ititss workingworkingss andand whosewhose presencpresencee iiss emineneminentt withinwithin itit.. ThiThiss perspectivperspectivee seessees naturnaturee nonott aass a worthlesworthlesss backdropbackdrop toto humanhuman dramdramaa (i.e.,(i.e., history)history) bubutt asas "a"a powerfupowerfull mediumediumm througthroughh whicwhichh God'God'ss presencepresence

[may][may] bbee madmadee known...thknown ... thee objecobjectt ooff God'God'ss pleasurpleasuree anandd delightdelight"" (Paradise(Paradise ooff GoGodd 27).27).

ThisThis vievieww iiss contrarycontrary toto somsomee strainsstrains ooff ChristiaChristiann thoughthoughtt (particularl(particularlyy thosthosee influencedinfluenced 9797 byby GnosticismGnosticism andand neo-Platonismneo-Platonism)) thatthat vievieww ththee physicaphysicall worlworldd asas devoidevoidd ofof God'sGod's

presencpresencee anandd asas a punishmentpunishment.. (The(The earlyearly ChristianChristian thinkerthinker OrigenOrigen beinbeingg aann exampleexample ofof

sucsuchh thinking-Origenthinking—Origen taughtaughtt thathatt alalll spiritspiritss reberebell frofromm God'sGod's willwill,, anandd thathatt "God"God

thereforthereforee madmadee ththee presenpresentt world...aworld ... ass a punishmentpunishment"" (Origen(Origen 67).)67).) WirzbWirzbaa howevehoweverr citescites

variouvariouss scripturascripturall exampleexampless sucsuchh aass ththee boobookk ooff JobJob,, anandd PsalmPsalmss 6565 andand 104,104, whichwhich

describdescribee GoGodd asas "intimately"intimately involveinvolvedd iinn ththee minutminutee andand mundanmundanee movementsmovements ooff thethe

world,world,"" anandd suggestssuggests thathatt foforr BerryBerry,, "Go"Godd isis aatt ththee veryvery centercenter ooff ouourr beinbeingg atat ththee hearheartt ofof

ththee wholwholee creatiocreationn asas itsits animatinganimating,, pulsatinpulsatingg lifelife"" (Soil(Soil 255)255).. FroFromm thithiss perspectiveperspective,, thethe

worlworldd iiss nonott seeseenn simplysimply aass amoraamorall mattermatter,, butbut aann expressioexpressionn ooff God'God'ss love,love, a mediummedium

thoughthough whicwhichh ththee divindivinee wilwilll mamayy bbee realizedrealized,, anandd a vehiclvehiclee bbyy whicwhichh humankinhumankindd maymay

atoneatone witwithh deity.deity. WirzbWirzbaa arguesargues thathatt BerrBerryy enactsenacts a certaicertainn forformm ooff detachmentdetachment,, nonott thethe

traditionatraditionall ChristianChristian detachmendetachmentt fromfrom a corruptcorrupt worlworldd butbut detachmendetachmentt fromfrom a falsfalsee sensesense

ooff selfself anandd autonomautonomyy fromfrom ththee creation—ancreation-andd bbyy "dying"dying ttoo selfself,, eveneven ttoo a dyindyingg intintoo thethe

ground"ground" (261),(261), BerrBerryy isis iinn factfact enactinenactingg a certaicertainn formform ofof mysticismmysticism,, ""aa journejourneyy intointo thethe

presencpresencee ofof God"God" (257).(257).

IInn hihiss workwork Nature, EmersoEmersonn (wh(whoo iiss generallgenerallyy attunedattuned upwarupwardd ratheratherr thanthan

downward)downward) describedescribess himselfhimself "standing"standing oonn ththee barbaree ground—mground-myy heaheadd bathebathedd bbyy thethe

blitheblithe airair anandd uplifteupliftedd intintoo infinitinfinitee space,"space," iinn a statestate iinn whicwhichh "all"all meameann egoisegoismm vanishes"vanishes"

(Emerso(Emersonn 6).6). LikeLike ththee "passive"passive awarenessawareness"" ooff Berry'Berry'ss disembodiedisembodiedd sight,sight, EmersonEmerson

describedescribess himselhimselff aass ""aa transparentransparentt eyeball;eyeball; I amam nothingnothing;; I seseee all;all; ththee currentscurrents ooff thethe

UniversalUniversal BeinBeingg circulatecirculate througthroughh meme;; I aamm parpartt oror parceparcell ofof GodGod"" (6).(6). BerrBerryy essentiallyessentially

becomebecomess aann earth-bounearth-boundd EmersoEmersonn foforr whowhomm iinn a certaicertainn senssensee downwardownwardd iiss heavenwardheavenward 9898 aass hehe detachedetachess himselhimselff fromfrom thethe egoismegoism ofof illusoryillusory autonomyautonomy fromfrom thethe worldworld andand atonesatones himselfhimself ttoo ththee divinedivine presencepresence hehe perceivesperceives asas eminenteminent inin thethe darkdark mysteriesmysteries ofof creation.creation.

Berry'sBerry's poepoemm "Manifesto:"Manifesto: TheThe MaMadd FarmeFarmerr Liberation,"Liberation," encouragesencourages readersreaders toto

"practice"practice resurrectionresurrection"" (Collected(Collected PoemsPoems 152).152). BerrBerryy accomplishesaccomplishes thisthis bbyy hishis imaginedimagined disintegrationdisintegration andand atonementatonement withwith hishis nativenative hillhill followedfollowed bbyy hishis accountaccount ofof risingrising again:again:

"When"When I movmovee toto go,go, itit iiss asas thougthoughh I risrisee upup outout ofof thethe worldworld"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HouseHouse

213).213). Berry'sBerry's experienceexperience ofof deathdeath andand rebirtrebirthh isis nono lessless thanthan a communioncommunion withwith

"something"something heavenlheavenlyy inin ththee earth,"earth," followedfollowed byby a quickeningquickening andand a renewalrenewal ofof hihiss bondsbonds witwithh "his"his sourcesource andand hishis destiny"destiny" (212)-the(212)—the divinedivine darknessdarkness ofof thethe soil.soil. Berry'sBerry's

atonementatonement witwithh hihiss placeplace worksworks nonott onlyonly toto atoneatone himselhimselff toto ththee divinitydivinity presentpresent inin creationcreation butbut toto redeeredeemm thethe statusstatus ofof thethe naturanaturall worlworldd inin ChristianChristian thoughtthought,, reconcilingreconciling thethe waywarwaywardd spiritspirit ttoo ththee sustainingsustaining dustdust iinn whichwhich a divinedivine presenpresentt maymay bebe perceivedperceived andand

frofromm whicwhichh ththee soulsoul takestakes itsits being.being.

IInn approachingapproaching BiblicaBiblicall textstexts fromfrom anan ecologicalecological perspective,perspective, WirzbaWirzba notesnotes thatthat

deathdeath assumesassumes variouvariouss meanings.meanings. BeyondBeyond thethe biologicabiologicall death,death, WirzbaWirzba notenotess thatthat thethe

hubrishubris ofof consideringconsidering one'sone's selfself autonomousautonomous fromfrom ththee divinedivine andand live-givinglive-giving gracegrace ofof thethe

creationcreation isis a typtypee ofof spiritualspiritual death:death:

ToTo denydeny ththee gracegrace ofof GodGod oror toto denydeny thethe supportsupport ofof thosethose whowho dailydaily sustainsustain uuss isis nonott onlyonly ttoo bbee guiltyguilty ofof hubrishubris andand sin.sin. ItIt isis ttoo prepareprepare one'sone's selfself foforr a lifelife inin whicwhichh otherother ceasecease toto bbee ofof concern.concern. TheThe momenmomentt wwee forgetforget ttoo carecare foforr others,others, ttoo carecare aboutabout thethemm andand makemake theirtheir needs,needs, joysjoys,, andand sorrowssorrows ourour ownown,, wewe proclaiproclaimm ourour utterutter separationseparation fromfrom ththee sourcessources ofof lifelife andand health.health. WWee becomebecome spirituallyspiritually dead.dead. (Paradise(Paradise ofof GodGod 52)52)

WirzbaWirzba alsoalso describesdescribes a sensesense ofof deatdeathh inin whichwhich withinwithin ththee contextcontext ofof ChristianityChristianity

ChristiansChristians "put"put toto death"death" theirtheir oldold selvesselves oror waysways ofof beingbeing inin favorfavor ofof a neneww Christ-Christ-

centeredcentered wawayy ofof beingbeing:: "What"What isis beinbeingg putput ttoo deathdeath herheree isis ththee destructivedestructive instinctinstinct withinwithin 9999 uuss thathatt woulwouldd impaiimpairr oorr ignoreignore thethe well-beinwell-beingg ofof others,others, aann instincinstinctt thathatt deniedeniess serviceservice toto othersothers soso thathatt wwee cancan maximallmaximallyy serveserve ourselves"ourselves" (52)(52).. WirzbWirzbaa notenotess thathatt thisthis deatdeathh andand rebirthrebirth iinn ChristChrist hahass implicationsimplications forfor ththee naturanaturall worlworldd sincsincee ChristChrist iiss perceiveperceivedd asas a cosmicosmicc redeemeredeemerr ooff alalll creationcreation (not(not jusjustt humahumann souls)souls) anandd thathatt bbyy assumingassuming ththee mantlemantle ofof Christ,Christ, ththee ChristianChristian isis "implicated"implicated iinn andand responsiblresponsiblee forfor (i(inn limitedlimited ways)ways) thethe restorationrestoration ofof creation"creation" (49):(49): "As"As wwee servservee ththee communitcommunityy ofof creationcreation thetheyy andand wewe ourselvesourselves willwill bbee strengthenedstrengthened soso thathatt togethertogether wwee cancan bebe healthhealthyy andand wholewhole,, fullfullyy alertalert anandd equippeequippedd ttoo continuecontinue ththee reconcilinreconcilingg worworkk ofof Christ"Christ" (52).(52).

AlAlll ofof thesthesee conceptionconceptionss ofof deathdeath araree evidentevident iinn Berry'Berry'ss atonemenatonementt passage.passage.

Berry'Berry'ss imagininimaginingg ooff hihiss "long"long shuddershudder intointo humus"humus" viavia beetlebeetless andand wormwormss speakspeakss ttoo hishis owownn biologicabiologicall deathdeath.. IInn additionaddition,, Berry'Berry'ss imaginationimagination ofof ththee disintegrationdisintegration ooff hihiss beingbeing anandd hihiss atonemenatonementt witwithh ththee divinitydivinity hhee perceiveperceivess aass presenpresentt iinn creationcreation servesserves asas anan enactmentenactment ooff hihiss relinquishmenrelinquishmentt ofof hihiss ownown illusorillusoryy sensesense ooff autonomy-hisautonomy—his statestate ofof spiritualspiritual deatdeathh oror estrangementestrangement frofromm God-givenGod-given sourcessources ofof liflifee andand healthhealth.. AnAnyy lingeringlingering sensesense ofof self-centereself-centeredd isolationisolation fromfrom hishis placplacee evaporatesevaporates aass BerrBerryy peacefullpeacefullyy acceptsaccepts hishis atonementatonement toto hihiss nativnativee hilhilll anandd iinn turturnn risesrises "up"up outout ooff ththee world,"world," beinbeingg "born"born again"again" intointo a newnew wayway ofof perceivinperceivingg hishis relationshirelationshipp ttoo hihiss belovebelovedd placplacee anandd iiss inin turturnn dedicateddedicated ttoo thethe preservatiopreservationn ofof itsits divinedivine wholeness.wholeness.

SeveralSeveral charactercharacterss iinn Berry'Berry'ss fictionfiction experiencexperiencee similasimilarr atonementatonementss witwithh placeplace.. AsAs mentionementionedd previouslypreviously,, whilwhilee restinrestingg iinn hihiss fieldsfields MaMatt FeltneFeltnerr iinn A Place on EarthEarth recognizerecognizess "without"without sorrow"sorrow" thatthat hishis workworkss andand orderorder wilwilll ultimatelultimatelyy bbee overthrowoverthrownn aass hehe

"comes"comes intointo ththee presencpresencee ooff ththee place..place .... [and][and] a wakefulneswakefulnesss asas quiequiett aass sleep"sleep" (Place(Place onon

EarthEarth 321)321).. DespitDespitee hihiss failurfailuree ttoo uniteunite hihiss disparatdisparatee worldworldss ooff marriagmarriagee bebedd anandd land,land, 100100 JacJackk BeechumBeechum iinn The Memory of Old Jack ultimatelultimatelyy findsfinds comfortcomfort andand fellowshifellowshipp inin hishis relationshirelationshipp witwithh hihiss landland andand comescomes toto a peacefupeacefull endend lyinlyingg iinn hishis belovebelovedd fields.fields. BerryBerry

describedescribess Jack'Jack'ss finalfinal atonemenatonementt witwithh "his"his placplacee inin thethe world":world":

SlowlySlowly ththee glogloww fadesfades frofromm ththee valleyvalley,, ththee skysky darkensdarkens,, ththee starsstars appear,appear, andand atat laslastt ththee worlworldd isis soso dardarkk thathatt hehe cacann nnoo longelongerr seseee hihiss leglegss stretchedstretched outout iinn fronfrontt ooff hihimm onon ththee groungroundd oror hihiss handhandss lyinlyingg inin hihiss lap;lap; hhee hahass comecome ttoo bbee visiovisionn alonealone,, andand ththee skysky oveoverr hihimm iiss filledfilled andand glitteringglittering witwithh stars.stars. NoNoww hhee isis awarawaree ofof hihiss fieldsfields,, ththee richnesrichnesss ooff growtgrowthh iinn themthem,, theitheirr carefulcareful patternpatternss anandd boundariesboundaries.. IInn ththee darkdark thetheyy drowsedrowse aroundaround himhim,, intimatintimatee andand expectant.expectant. AnAndd nownow,, eveneven amongamong thethemm hhee feelsfeels hihiss minmindd comincomingg ttoo restrest.. A coolcool breatbreathh ofof aiairr driftsdrifts dowdownn upouponn hihimm outout ooff ththee woodswoods,, anandd hhee hearhearss a stirringstirring ooff leavesleaves.. HHee nnoo longerlonger seessees ththee starsstars.. HiHiss fieldsfields drowsedrowse andand stirstir likelike sleeperssleepers,, bornbornee towartowardd morningmorning.. NoNoww thetheyy breabreakk frefreee ofof hishis demandingdemanding andand hihiss praisepraise.. HHee feelsfeels thethemm looseloosenn fromfrom hihimm anandd ggoo onon.. (146)(146)

BerrBerryy assertsasserts thathatt "every"every mamann iiss followedfollowed bbyy a shadowshadow whicwhichh iiss hihiss death-dark,death—dark,

featureless,featureless, andand mutemute"" (Long-Legged(Long-Legged HousHousee 212).212). ReminiscenReminiscentt ofof Berry'Berry'ss accountaccount ooff hishis

ownown atonementatonement witwithh ththee landland,, darknessdarkness graduallgraduallyy encroachesencroaches uponupon JacJackk asas hehe looseslooses a

sensesense ooff hihiss bodbodyy untiluntil,, liklikee BerryBerry;; hhee iiss leftleft witwithh "vision"vision alone."alone." GazinGazingg aatt ththee openopen

expansesexpanses ooff starrystarry skysky whilewhile lyinglying withinwithin ththee "patterns"patterns andand boundariesboundaries"" hhee hahass carefullycarefully

placeplacedd upouponn hihiss belovebelovedd fieldsfields,, JackJack feelsfeels ththee groungroundd beneatbeneathh himhim,, "intimate"intimate andand

expectant,expectant,"" readreadyy toto acceptaccept hihimm intointo ththee patterpatternn ooff ititss divindivinee darknessdarkness,, a wildnesswildness beyondbeyond

ththee reachreach ooff humanhuman understandinunderstandingg anandd controcontroll reflectereflectedd iinn ththee starrystarry darknessdarkness aboveabove.. AsAs

witwithh otherotherss iinn ththee fellowshipfellowship,, "He"He wawass ththee farm'sfarm's farmer,farmer, bubutt alsoalso ititss creaturcreaturee andand

belongingbelonging.. HeHe livelivedd ititss lifelife,, andand itit livedlived hishis;; hhee knekneww thatthat,, ooff ththee twtwoo liveslives,, hihiss wawass meantmeant

toto bbee ththee smallersmaller andand ththee shorter"shorter" (Jayber(Javber CrowCrow 182).182). NNoo longelongerr upouponn hihiss fieldfieldss butbut

"among"among them,them,"" aass thougthoughh becominbecomingg berefbereftt ofof "God's"God's breathbreath"" (Se(Sexx 110),110), "the"the breatbreathh ofof

lifelife"" (Genesi(Genesiss 2:7)2:7),, JacJackk feelsfeels a "cool"cool breatbreathh ofof aiairr driftdrift downdown upouponn hihimm ououtt ofof ththee woods"woods"

aass hihiss bodbodyy enterenterss ththee rhyminrhymingg patterpatternn ooff fallefallenn leaves.leaves. AAss Jack'Jack'ss visiovisionn fades,fades, hhee passespasses 101101 intointo hihiss belovebelovedd fieldsfields,, whicwhichh liklikee thosthosee ooff MatMat FeltnerFeltner,, "g"goo on,"on," breakinbreakingg frefreee ooff Jack'sJack's

"demanding"demanding anandd praise.praise."" AcknowledginAcknowledgingg thathatt hihiss tenuretenure asas caretakercaretaker ooff ththee gifgiftt ofof goodgood landland isis ultimatelyultimately temporarytemporary,, JacJackk iiss "silently"silently possessepossessedd bbyy ththee eartearthh onon whicwhichh hhee onceonce establishedestablished ththee worworkk ooff hihiss handshands"" (Memor(Memoryy ooff OldOld JackJack 157),157), hasteninhasteningg towardtoward quietnessquietness..

IInn additioadditionn ttoo hihiss variouvariouss exampleexampless ofof atonemenatonementt witwithh communitycommunity andand placplacee iinn hishis fictiofictionn andand poetrypoetry,, Berry'Berry'ss workworkss includincludee countercounter exampleexampless ooff thosthosee whwhoo eithereither throughthrough theitheirr owownn volitiovolitionn oror bbyy beinbeingg caughcaughtt inin alterativalterativee conceptionsconceptions ofof uniounionn andand communitycommunity dodo nonott achievachievee thithiss oneness.oneness. AnAn exampleexample ofof suchsuch a charactecharacterr isis ththee previouslpreviouslyy mentionedmentioned preachepreacherr iinn A Place on Earth whwhoo failsfails ttoo comfortcomfort ththee FeltnerFeltner familfamilyy oveoverr ththee loslosss ooff theirtheir sonson Virgil.Virgil. WitWithh hihiss hophopee fixedfixed firmlfirmlyy onon "lifting"lifting uupp thethe HeavenlyHeavenly CityCity"" anandd beinbeingg "free"free ofof thethe worldworld"" (Berr(Berryy PlacPlacee oonn EartEarthh 99),99), ththee preachepreacherr nonott onlonlyy standsstands outsidoutsidee thethe fellowshifellowshipp ofof community,community, bubutt isis uselessuseless inin hihiss appointeappointedd rolrolee aass a moramorall andand spiritualspiritual guideguide.. BerrBerryy condemnscondemns ththee typetype ofof thinkinthinkingg exemplifieexemplifiedd iinn thethe preacher—preacher-aa focufocuss oonn thethe hereaftehereafterr ttoo ththee neglectneglect ooff tietiess toto ththee presenpresentt world-asworld—as grossgross misunderstandingmisunderstandingss ofof scripturescripture anandd callcallss forfor thethe neeneedd "to"to reareadd andand understanunderstandd thethe BibleBible inin thethe lighlightt ooff thethe presenpresentt factfact ooff CreationCreation"" (see(see ContinuousContinuous HarmonyHarmony 1-33;1-33; WhaWhatt araree PeoplePeople for?for? 95-102;95-102;

SexSex 95).95).

AAnn additionaladditional counter-examplcounter-examplee ttoo atonemenatonementt witwithh communitycommunity anandd placplacee araree thethe unnameunnamedd pilotpilotss inin A Place on Earth. LikLikee machinemachiness iinn ththee midsmidstt ooff a gardegardenn ((aa fallenfallen gardegardenn thathatt iiss nnoo strangestrangerr ttoo ththee devastatingdevastating effectseffects ofof wawarr [Kauffman[Kauffman 17-33]),17-33]), warplaneswarplanes twictwicee disturbdisturb ththee quietquiet ooff PorPortt WilliamWilliam.. ThThee firstfirst planplanee "appears"appears suddenly"suddenly" anandd thethe townspeopltownspeoplee heahearr "racket"racket ooff ththee enginesengines...... al alll aatt onceonce,, soso neanearr thetheyy nonott onlonlyy heahearr iitt butbut 102102 feelfeel thethe vibratiovibrationn ofof itit iinn thethe airair andand inin thethe groundground underunder theitheirr feet.feet. AsAs itit comescomes nearernearer thetheyy cacann seesee thethe blurblur ofof thethe propellers,propellers, thethe blacblackk gun-barrelsgun-barrels spikingspiking outout ofof ththee glassglass blisters....Iblisters ... .Itt passepassess aboveabove theitheirr headsheads,, shakingshaking ththee ground"ground" (Place(Place onon EartEarthh 29).29). MatMat recognizesrecognizes thethe pilotpilot:: "That"That boyboy ofof GroverGrover Gibbs'sGibbs's....The .... Theyy madmadee a pilopilott ofof himhim"" (30).(30).

Later,Later, a groupgroup ofof planesplanes fliesflies overover ththee towtownn andand MatMat (haunted(haunted bbyy ththee recenrecentt lossloss ofof hishis sonson iinn battlebattle)) "thinks"thinks ofof ththee younyoungg menmen enclosedenclosed inin thatthat deathldeathlyy metal,metal, their fatesJates made oneone with interlocking parts and men and events" (165,(165, emphasisemphasis added).added).

HelplesHelplesss iinn ththee gripgrip ofof largelargerr eventsevents overover whichwhich thetheyy havhavee nono control,control, eithereither forciblyforcibly oror througthroughh theitheirr ownown volitionvolition,, thesthesee youngyoung menmen inin effecteffect havhavee becomebecome partpartss ofof machinesmachines andand atonedatoned toto anan industrialindustrial economyeconomy whichwhich BerryBerry believesbelieves "lead[s]"lead[s] inevitablyinevitably toto warwar"" (Sex(Sex 91).91). LikLikee thethe tractortractor driverdriver hiredhired ttoo destroydestroy farmfarm homeshomes inin The Grapes ojof

Wrath whwhoo "did"did nonott looklook likelike a manman;; gloved,gloved, goggled,goggled, rubberrubber dustdust maskmask overover nosnosee andand mouth.mouth .... . a parpartt ofof thethe monster,monster, a robotrobot inin thethe seat"seat" (Steinbeck(Steinbeck 37),37), thethe bombebomberr pilotspilots havehave essentiallyessentially becomebecome oneone withwith thethe machinesmachines toto whichwhich theirtheir fatefate hashas becomebecome inextricablyinextricably tied.tied. TheThe planesplanes becomebecome symbolssymbols ofof thethe modernmodern industrialindustrial economyeconomy basedbased,, accordingaccording toto

BerryBerry,, onon thethe "seven"seven deadlydeadly sins"sins" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 169;169; SexSex 85),85), andand whicwhichh servesserves asas ththee antithesisantithesis ofof Berry'sBerry's communitiescommunities basedbased onon "marriages,"marriages, kinshipskinships,, friendships,friendships, neighborhoods,neighborhoods, andand allall ourour formform andand actsacts ofhomemakingof homemaking...b ... byy whichwhich wewe solemnizesolemnize andand enactenact ourour unionunion withwith thethe universeuniverse"" (Home(Home EconomicsEconomics 118).118). FoForr BerryBerry,, thethe estrangementestrangement fromfrom ththee communioncommunion ofof humanhumanss andand naturenature (either(either bbyy choicechoice oror coercion)coercion) inherentinherent inin thethe modernmodern industrialindustrial economyeconomy inevitablyinevitably resultsresults inin disintegration,disintegration, "loneliness"loneliness andand meaninglessnessmeaninglessness"" (118;(118; HiddeHiddenn WounWoundd 130-131).130-131). ERRATUMERRATUM

PagPagee 103103 wawass nonott assignedassigned iinn thithiss manuscript.manuscript. CONCLUSIOCONCLUSIONN

WendelWendelll Berry'Berry'ss "agrarian"agrarian argumentargument"" proposeproposess a rethinkinrethinkingg ooff culturculturee andand communitycommunity groundedgrounded inin ththee recognitiorecognitionn ooff ththee inhereninherentt tietiess betweebetweenn ththee healthealthh ofof allall lifelife andand ththee wellwell beinbeingg ofof ththee sustainingsustaining land.land. CriticizinCriticizingg contemporarycontemporary educatioeducationn anandd religionreligion forfor theitheirr neglecneglectt ooff communitcommunityy andand ththee earth,earth, BerrBerryy offersoffers ththee archetypaarchetypall figurefigure ooff thethe goodgood farmer-afarmer—a husbandmahusbandmann marriemarriedd simultaneouslysimultaneously ttoo naturnaturee andand culture,culture, domestication,domestication, andand wildness—awildness-ass a modemodell ofof propeproperr humahumann interactiointeractionn witwithh ththee world.world.

LookingLooking toto ththee ricrichh culturalcultural legacielegaciess ooff ththee pastpast,, BerrBerryy challengeschallenges ththee heroiheroicc traditiotraditionn ofof transcendencetranscendence ofof naturnaturee anandd communitycommunity evidentevident iinn ththee modermodernn phenomenphenomenaa ooff "scientific"scientific heroism"heroism" andand "urban"urban nomadismnomadism"" iinn favofavorr ofof ththee ancientancient themethemess ofof returnreturn anandd marriagmarriagee toto a belovedbeloved communitycommunity andand place.place. RatherRather thanthan heroismheroism inin extraordinaryextraordinary circumstances,circumstances,

BerryBerry celebratecelebratess ththee husbandman'husbandman'ss lifelonglifelong devotiodevotionn ttoo ththee interweavinginterweaving andand adaptationadaptation ooff humahumann patternspatterns ttoo ththee patternpatternss andand contextcontextss ofof locallocal placeplacess andand ttoo ththee preservation,preservation, continuitcontinuityy ofof thethe communitcommunityy iinn itsits largestlargest sense.sense.

Berry'sBerry's PorPortt WilliaWilliamm fictionfiction containcontainss multiplmultiplee exampleexampless (an(andd counterexamplescounterexamples)) ofof suchsuch a uniounionn ofof individualsindividuals,, communitycommunity,, anandd placeplace.. IInn imagininimaginingg a membershimembershipp ofof residentresidentss awareaware ofof andand whwhoo strivestrive ttoo bbee faithfufaithfull ttoo theitheirr tietiess ttoo oneone anotheanotherr andand toto theirtheir placeplace,, BerrBerryy provideprovidess a workinworkingg illustrationillustration ofof conceptsconcepts suchsuch asas marriagmarriagee andand atonementatonement ttoo placplacee foundfound iinn hihiss essays.essays. Berry'Berry'ss characterscharacters represenrepresentt archetypalarchetypal worldviewworldviewss thathatt hehe perceivesperceives (both(both forfor goodgood andand illill)) iinn historihistoricc andand contemporarycontemporary societysociety andand thathatt areare thethe subjectssubjects ofof hishis essaysessays.. Berry'Berry'ss fictionalfictional worlworldd servesserves asas a microcosmicmicrocosmic stagstagee upouponn whichwhich 105105 thesethese varyingvarying worldviewsworldviews interact—moderinteract-modernn moralitmoralityy playplayss iinn whicwhichh charactercharacterss contributecontribute toto ththee integrityintegrity oror toto ththee destructiondestruction ofof communitcommunityy anandd ththee worldworld.. CharactersCharacters suchsuch asas MatMat

FeltnerFeltner andand AndAndyy CatletCatlettt choosechoose ttoo taktakee theirtheir placeplacess withiwithinn ththee patternpattern ooff communitycommunity andand areare successfulsuccessful inin marryinmarryingg theirtheir householdhouseholdss ttoo ththee worldworld.. OthersOthers,, suchsuch aass JacJackk Beecham,Beecham, whilwhilee stillstill integraintegrall iinn ththee fabricfabric ooff communitycommunity araree lessless successfusuccessfull iinn suchsuch a marriagmarriagee whilewhile otherotherss suchsuch asas Jack'Jack'ss daughtedaughterr ClarClaraa andand ththee localocall preachepreacherr neveneverr attaiattainn sucsuchh a marriagemarriage anandd remairemainn outsiders—sojourneroutsiders-sojournerss caughcaughtt iinn aann illusionillusion ooff autonomautonomyy anandd focusefocusedd onon materiamateriall gaingain oror onon futurfuturee heavenlheavenlyy rewardsrewards,, ignorantignorant andand destructivdestructivee ofof ththee fabricfabric ofof communitcommunityy thathatt surroundssurrounds them.them.

ReflectinReflectingg onon humankind'humankind'ss poopoorr treatmentreatmentt ooff ththee eartearthh somsomee calcalll foforr a "new"new story,"story," a fundamentallyfundamentally neneww wawayy ooff understandinunderstandingg humankind'humankind'ss propeproperr placplacee withiwithinn thethe contexcontextt ooff ththee naturanaturall worldworld.. WhileWhile perhapperhapss nonott 'new'new'' iinn thathatt hihiss storiesstories anandd senssensee ooff thethe worldworld araree iinn manmanyy waywayss contemporarycontemporary articulationsarticulations ofof idealsideals subtlsubtlyy presenpresentt throughoutthroughout history,history, WendelWendelll Berry'Berry'ss "agrarian"agrarian argument,argument,"" richlrichlyy illustrateillustratedd iinn hihiss depictiodepictionn ofof marriagmarriagee andand atonemenatonementt betweebetweenn individualsindividuals,, communitycommunity,, anandd placplacee inin ththee PorPortt WilliamWilliam storiesstories,, serveservess asas a templattemplatee ttoo a fundamentalfundamental rethinkinrethinkingg ofof humankind'humankind'ss rolrolee anandd actionsactions withiwithinn ththee beautybeauty,, dangerdanger,, abundance,abundance, andand mysterymystery ooff ititss placplacee oonn earth.earth. WORKSWORKS CITEDCITED

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