Identity Theme in “Living Like Weasels” Anonymous College

In Annie Dillard’s essay, “Living Like Weasels”, she reminisces on her encounter with a weasel, and even though the weasel was a mere animal, it invoked life altering thoughts from within the author. Dillard compares the life of a wild weasel to the life of humans. The weasel is free do whatever it pleases because it lives out of necessity, while humans have burdened themselves with choices, worries and possible outcomes. Animals are defined by their freedom and relatively uncomplicated life. On the other hand, humans are defined by the choices they make, how they perform under pressure and the lasting effect they have on the people around them. Who are you and what truly defines you? All of these ideas help tie into the theme of identity.

Again, after Dillard’s encounter with the weasel, she begins to compare the life and choices of a weasel to that of a human. What makes the life of a weasel so different from the life of a human? During a weekend retreat, “I [came] to Hollins Pond not so much to learn how to live as, frankly, to forget about it” (Dillard 1). Dillard came to Hollins Pond seeking peace from her normal life, and to her, animals lived simple lives that did not require many important decisions. Additionally, they...