Journal 2 - Essay Example

Here, there, elsewhere: Stories from the road William Least Heat-Moon provides various ideas and theories in hisessays. First, he puts forward the idea of American culture and Heritage. In his essay, “Heritage of Blue Highways” he explains about his Native American heritage and culture. He does this by providing a history of his travels and experiences. As he grew up, the author did not experience his ancestral heritage, but he explores them through the essay. He identifies with his past and takes the name “Least” to reflect the heritage of his family in America. Heat-Moon says,
“My father calls himself Heat-Moon, my elder brother Little Heat-Moon. I, coming last, am therefore Least” (p. 4)
This statement suggests that Heat-Moon Identified himself to his culture and heritage and to honor the kinsmen of his Native land.
The second theory that Heat Moon puts across is the theory of nature and the environment through the idea of fertility and procreation. The author suggests that the land he travels is simple, natural, fertile, and prolific. Least Heat Moon describes the environment he travels across as being naturally beautiful and fertile. He also describes the environment by bringing out the ideas of procreation and fertility in the natural environment. He says, “…water bubbled with the froth of sperm and ova.” This indicates the natural fertility and procreation of the natural environment.
Thirdly, in his essay “Forgotten People of the Blue Highways” Heat Moon brings out the idea of racism and differences in colour. He goes through lands inhabited by black people and he notices the differences that people of different colours have against each other. At one point, he notices he was being watched by the police because he was a white man. However, he believes in change, and a man named Walker tells him, “I know things haven’t changed, but things will change” (Heat, p.100).
Works cited
Heat, Moon W. L. Here, There, Elsewhere: Stories from the Road. New York: Little Brown and Co, 2013. Print. Read More