Joy Williams begins her article by presenting a parallel in between the average persons greed and the deprevated state of nature currently, stating that most people thing they are too late to join the cause for nature and that nature is already doomed therefore people just continue destroying the one planet we have for a home. Williams then dives into pollutants, how pollutant restrictions are just a cap for how much one can pollute and that people must hate weeds a lot in order to use weed-killer-chemicals that cause birth defects. But even so people still want their condos and endless aisle of products. Then she presents a scary truth, how people tend to love things to death, or in this case love shrimp o its extinction. Huge complexes are then introduced into the article, how "tinny masters" are tearing down swamps and reserves for a ecological home that is really just another complex for people to live in so big that if it weren't for the devilish Realtor consumers would easily get lost. Williams moves on to how people have diminished nature, giving the example of a sunset that we can enjoy at our leisure with the aid of programmed lighting making nature a from of entertainment. Another form of controlling nature is zoos that keep animals, but never to many of the same thing so that people don't get bored. Or how about the experiments with the Biosphere II, a concept testing the soon realistic need for colonizing other planets. Yet nature never complains always willing to give more to mans trivial needs. Williams then concludes by shedding light unto the crux of the problem; "a crisis caused by culture and character, and a deep change in personal consciousness is needed."
Williams in her essay uses a lot of personal pronouns and direct language as if she is talking directly to the reader and in some cases accusing them of harming the environment, which is a very valid accusation. Also, her language in some places leaves the article dripping with irony and sarcasm, calling out to a hypocritical culture that justifies a condo complex because it has a golf course as a pathetic excuse for wildlife. However, her ironic and sarcastic language for the most part cause in the reader a contemplation of how much of the environment is being destroy when it shouldn't be. Causing the reader to think of more and more cases in which they can reduce their harmful consumerism for the greater good of the planet. As Williams points out we only have the earth so far, even thought humans might be forced to put into play the findings from Biosphere II. The most personal part of essay is the conclusion where Williams almost converses with the reader, expressing real thought and reactions; "That is dusk, isn't it? It certainly doesn't look like any dawn if ever seen. Well, take care." All this to remind and send off the reader with a mind to change, even if a little, thereby improving the earth.
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