The Pioneers: Opposing views

The Pioneers Opposing Views on Nature During the time period the Novel, The Pioneers, the landscape around the city of Templeton is undergoing a great transition. What was once unsettled landscape with huge forests, thousands of animals roaming the countryside and unlimited resources, is now turning into a civilization filled with men determined to expend those resources. The novel is divided up into two types of people: those whose goal is to preserve nature and be one with it, and those who would just like to control it. On one hand, there is the preservationist, Natty Bumppo, who believes that men must obey nature's laws as an animal among others. On the other, there is the conservationist, Judge Temple, who knows of the dangers of wastefulness but cannot help the overwhelming temptation to do so. While both men are alike in their desire to protect nature and its inhabitants, each goes about it in completely different ways: while the Judge strives to control nature and be its master, Natty struggles throughout his life to be one with nature. Both Natty and the judge agree on one thing: wasting earth's natural resources is destructive. While Natty may not believe it, Judge Temple does show some genuine concern for the for

Knowing now that there is no use in fighting an inevitable transition towards "civilization," all he can do is dodge it in every way possible. He fights to uphold the laws of nature, but sadly is defeated. Marmaduke Temple sees the fate of the settlers if they are to keep up in their wasteful ways. In the end, it is the Judges way of living that prevails: Natty is imprisoned for his crimes against the law. Natty believes that this spectacle is only evidence of insecure men making themselves feel good by bullying those that are weaker, in this case, nature. It is the last month of the "teeming months" for deer, and Natty knows this. His concern for nature is stemmed from his concern for mankind. and all them as don't know how to put a ball down a rifle barrel, or how to bring it up ag'n with a true aim; but it's wicket to be shooting into flocks, is this wasty manner; and none do it, who know how to knock over a single bird. He exerts his utmost effort to put himself at the same level as the rest of nature. Natty refers back to clearing of the forest for the home of the Judge as proof. He sees the eyes of the pigeons he has just slain staring at him, and the eyes of those that are still dying, flapping their wings for mercy. Judge Temple can be described as a conservationist, meaning, "One who advocates conservation, especially of a state's or nation's forests or natural resources," according to Webster's dictionary. The picture painted here is much different than the one seen during the slaughter of the pigeons or the fishing incident.