Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, written by Annie Dillard, is a novel based on the writers curiousness about the mystery of God and the world which surrounds her. She is trulybaffled by the thought of God and the way his world seems to be evolving. Dillards novelencompasses two main themes. Her first theme is actually a brilliant question; Dillardwonders how there can be a loving and caring God when he has created such a brutalenvironment. Her second theme is based on the idea that in every aspect of life, both goodand bad, there is beauty to be seen. Dillard struggles through the novel in search of factualanswers to her questions and proof of a loving and caring God. Annie Dillard relies much on her senses, one particular one being sight. Sheemphasizes that living life fully, means that each and every person must see beauty inevery aspect of life." But the artificial obvious is hard to see... I see what I expect." (p.18)In many of Dillards passages, she uses animals and nature to convey har messages. Theauthor desperately searches for some rational explanation of why man kills man, why mankills animal, and why animal kills animal. She searches for the answer to the theory of "survival of the fittest" and questions why God would allow such inhumane acts. Hecreated this world and is continuously destroying it, and for what reason(s)? According toDillard, it is virtually impossible to believe in a God that is unseen by her eyes and causesso much pain and distruction. She wants to believe that her God would do no harm andonly promote positive actions and consequences, but in fact he does the opposite. Herdesirable vision of God is difficult to conjure up,due to the fact that his actions are sonegative at times. Another of Dillards passages reflects her feelings of this cruel world which our"God" has created."The universe that suckled us is a monster that does not careif we live or die - does not care if itself grinds to a halt. It is fixed and ...
