Encounters With the Archdruid: Narratives About a Conservationist and Three of His Natural Enemies

The dialogue between Fraser and Brower in the second section of Part 2 encapsulates the issue of how to allow human enjoyment of natural spaces without degrading their ecological value. When discussing the future of Cumberland Island, Brower advocates for limited access to maintain the wilderness, suggesting the creation of socializing points, while Fraser advocates public access to the beach, which he argues serves a public purpose. Nevertheless, unlike Park, Fraser is open to Brower’s conservationist ideas. Their agreement about clustering development in one area and banning cars reflects a compromise between creating a usable space for people and protecting the environment.

Fraser’s joking manner when discussing development plans contrasts with Brower’s more serious and observant approach, indicating their different priorities, informed by their backgrounds. Their histories and social circumstances have shaped their views on conservation and development, playing into the idea of people generalizing from their own experiences with Personal Background Determining Ideological Position. Fraser’s privileged upbringing, academic excellence, and disciplined nature, as well as the influences of his decorated father, ambitious mother-in-law, and supportive wife, have molded him into a determined and organized developer. His ability to joke about his development plans and his choice to retire to the comfort of his yacht after a tough night of camping demonstrate a pragmatic, perhaps even cavalier attitude toward nature. In contrast, Brower’s background is rooted in a more humble and idealistic approach to life and nature. His wife Anne’s initial reluctance about the mountains, which turned into support for Brower’s conservation efforts, reflects a journey toward appreciating and fighting for the natural world. Brower’s passion for preservation is deeply personal, stemming from his early career and the shared commitment with his wife to environmental causes.

Fraser selling his Cumberland property to the National Park Foundation marks a significant moment in the narrative. This decision, influenced by ecological and political pressure, symbolizes a shift from private ownership and potential exploitation to public preservation and protection. The fact that Brower’s arguments have convinced Fraser to change his mind about developing Cumberland Island underscores the impact of individual actions and decisions on the broader environmental landscape, as well as the softer approach that Brower employs with some interlocutors, searching for understanding and a middle ground rather than directly opposing every project. This apt reading of his opponents and ability to frame the issues in a way that they will find compelling gives Brower the authority bestowed by McPhee’s decision to cast Brower as the Archdruid of the Conservation Movement. Fraser could have continued his project and developed a resort on Cumberland Island which would have passed to another generation of developers down the line, potentially with less concern about the conservation of the area. However, through the conversation with the Brower, who asks him not to stall development but to do it mindfully, cutting fewer trees and preserving the environment as much as possible, Fraser shifts his attitude from that of a land owner and developer who can do as he pleases to that of a person with a responsibility for preserving the environment.