Suffering by Philip Pendleton Kennedy in the Black Water Chronicle - Essay Example

no. Essay and Research Proposal Proposal: Suffering by Philip Pendleton Kennedy in the Black Water Chronicle The book ‘black water chronicle by Philip Pendleton Kennedy’ is actually a presentation of his adventure in different parts of the Western Virginia in poor or worst environmental conditions. Other than the environmental suffering, the book represents numerous and different types of suffering that the characters in book went through. Therefore, the aim of this essay is to analyze different aspects of suffering that the characters in book went through during their adventure in values, along river, and thick forests. Additionally, it would be vital to determine how they managed these problems and evaded the same in their subsequent adventures. Chapter twelve is the most important for this essay since it concentrates on the fall of the blackwater. In this period, the adventurers went through a lot of environmental, physical, and health problems. The chapter will be analyzed from page 159 through the end of the chapter. Nonetheless, the essay will compare the sweet moments and these suffering and how the adventurers treated and responded to the two extremes. Essay: Suffering and Remedies The black water chronicle by Philip Pendleton Kennedy is a narration of his adventure in different parts of the Western Virginia in the regions of black water. This adventure is captivated by poor or worst environmental conditions. Other than the environmental it presented numerous and different types of suffering that all the elements presented in the story are subjected. Suffering is usually part of humanity and even those who are considered by the society to be doing well are something experiencing certain modes of suffering. However, the only main different of suffering are presented is the Kennedy’s black water chronicle is how different people give approaches to different sufferings in their life. Notably, in the black water chronicle adventure, the adventurers mainly suffered extreme environmental conditional that affected their joints or generally health at one point or the other. However, the involved characters had positive attitude and reception of such conditions. For instance, at one point following heavy rainy day, the narrator note that “Delicious is the summer’s day, delicious of both soul and sense! No poet’s dream of June was ever enchanting. It has rained overnight and fresh and fragrant everywhere is the morning. The forest leaves are all washed clean as the water of heaves cab make them, and the grasses are more delicately green in their renewal. The rain drops, not yet dried up, sparkle all over the forest, in the glittering sunshine, like beads of pearl (Kennedy 100).” Up to this point the narrator is trying to depict that despite the effect that such whether can impose of human health and activities, the weather still has its significant. Moreover, he continues to say, “All nature, animate and inanimate – on four legs, two, or none – feels the heavenly influence of the hour (Kennedy 100).” This last statement depicts that this weather or season is never well for living things and to some extent properties. Therefore, it is a means of suffering; nonetheless, it is not experienced by only the adventures due to changing location but everyone in the same part of the country. Additionally, Kennedy depicts that when others suffer it is not everyone or everything suffering. He note that “… full of all joy that is born of summer and mountains, we speed on our way – to happiness and to Winston! … (Kennedy 101).” More suffering is depicted in chapter twelve where the author introduce the chapter by saying “Undisturbed by any of the wild beasts, we slept through the rain until broad daylight, when we crawled out of our litter, and started the nearly extinguished fire.” This state of even show how much these people suffered in the forest on the mountain. Spending the night on the mountain and being rained on the entire night and fire extinguished from the rains truly shows how much they went through. Notably, the true reflection of the health effect of this environmental condition reflected the following day. In most cases, extreme weather conditions usually leads to ill health. The narrator note that the morning after sleeping on the rain and in the forest without any sources of heat, their joints and body could not respond to any active activity. However, they noted that it would not be wise for a man to idle but to get into constructive work. At one point the narrator said, the worst possible thing for a man to do, under any circumstances, is to sit down and droop: the very best, all the philosophers agree, is to go to work. So we picked up the hatchets and exe, and soon had a wagon load of young hemlocks and firs upon the fire, making the flame that died the atmosphere all around our villa” (Kennedy 159). At this point, it is again clear that this crew were ever positive in every circumstance that they faced with a lot of difficulties. In this case, they solve their situation by not betting the tight joints and went out for the remedy, that is, the source of heath that will keep them warm for the rest of the days and the night to come. Therefore, the endeavors of these adventurers show that challenges should be addressed positively for one to arrive at effective solutions without enhancing the problem. The other aspect of challenge that is brought forth in this book is the relationship with women. Narrator confesses that he had never had any idea around the world of women. “I am certain I had no idea of having ever been born of a woman – no idea of having ever known a passion of mortal joy or sorrow… (Kennedy 167).” To the narrator, his absent mindedness about woman was a challenge to him and for the few hours that he discovered what existed in women, his life changed completely. This portion brings an additional understanding that the narrator and his crew learned from every situation and each situation made them even stronger particularly from the misfortunes that emanated from such challenges. Finally, it is worth noting that the books portrays that despite the challenges in the man’s life, happiness should never fade. In other words, in any situation man should find a means of happiness. Despite the environmental problems and health threatening circumstance, the narrator still managed to seek a means of happiness. Happiness made him ever stronger in spirit, soul, and mind and in some cases, physically and in most cases, the sense of happiness led to their ultimate solution. He says “sometimes the fancy has possessed me that I was undine sitting in all her beauty by the foam of the little Niagara, the most beautiful of all falls. Sometimes too, I have seen Bonny Kilmeney – who was sleeping on the purple and gold – cushioned rocks, even as the shepherd poet has so exquisitely created her - … (Kennedy 168).” These statements are reflection of how one may take a console in dire situation and forget about their current situation and focus on other things. Challenges are usually overwhelming and sometimes disorient the focus of human beings. Challenges differ in context and magnitude; therefore, there are needs to understand the nature of a challenge and deal with it independent. From the Kennedy’s book, it is apparent that dealing with situation as they appear or emerge helps is reducing pressure on human mind (Minichiello and White 1220. If they could have only thought of the problems but not solutions, they could have never managed the challenging environment and the same could have affected their health and plans immensely. Moreover, humanity should ever be positive in all situations in order to understand such situation and bring them to what they are supposed. Works Cited Kennedy, Philip P. The Blackwater Chronicle: A Narrative of an Expedition Into the Land of Canaan, in Randolph County, Virginia, a Country Flowing with Wild Animals, Such as Panthers, Bears, Wolves, Elk, Deer, Otter, Badger, &c., &c., with Innumerable Trout--by Five Adventurous Gentlemen, Without Any Aid of Government, and Solely by Their Own Resources, in the Summer of 1851. Print. Minichiello, J K, and Anthony W. White. From Blue Ridge to Barrier Islands: An Audubon Naturalist Reader. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000. Print. Read More