In "Living Like Weasels," Annie Dillard reflects on her encounter with a weasel and the lessons she learned from observing its behavior. She writes about the weasel's fierce determination and its single-minded focus on its prey, which inspires her to live with a similar intensity and purpose.
Dillard begins by describing the weasel's hunting habits, which involve stalking its prey with relentless persistence. She writes, "I thought the weasel would never leave, not noticing how close it was coming, its nose only inches from the stunned bird's head." This passage captures the weasel's unyielding focus on its prey, and its willingness to pursue it no matter what obstacles stand in its way.
As she observes the weasel, Dillard becomes mesmerized by its intense energy and determination. She writes, "I thought, this is the perfect symbol of pure dedication: the weasel that would not let go." This passage highlights the weasel's single-minded focus on its goal, which is to capture and kill its prey.
Dillard's encounter with the weasel prompts her to consider the ways in which humans might learn from the weasel's example. She writes, "I think it would be well, and proper, and obedient, and pure, to grasp your one necessity and not let it go, to dangle from it limp wherever it takes you." This passage suggests that Dillard believes that humans can learn from the weasel's dedication and focus, and apply these lessons to their own lives.
Overall, Dillard's essay "Living Like Weasels" is a reflection on the power of determination and focus. Through her encounter with the weasel, she is inspired to live with a similar intensity and purpose, and to pursue her own goals with unrelenting persistence. By considering the lessons that the weasel can teach us, Dillard invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the ways in which they can apply these lessons to their own goals and pursuits.
