Research Essay

Subject and Section Professor’s name Date Human Behavior and the Elements that Shape It Mythology, ecology, and human behavior are interrelated elements that govern human existence. Vaillant tackles these three in his work, "The Golden Bough", and Frazer in "The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion.” While Vaillant provided real-life examples of how the environment shapes human behavior through Grant Hadwin's personality, documented in The New Yorker, Frazer explained these elements through the eye of mythology. Through their exploration of this interdependence, they invite us to consider our place in the natural world and the profound impact of our environment on our development, particularly in contemporary society. Vaillant iterated Grant Hadwin's story, an environmental activist who believed that the logging industry and everyone involved should become aware of the possible consequences of their actions. Hadwin took extreme measures to make a statement about the state of our planet. In 1997, he chopped down this huge golden spruce tree, a bold move, which showed how frustrated he was with the way people were treating the environment. Hadwin thought that by making bold statements through concrete actions, people would finally start to pay attention to the negative impact of people's activities on the environment. Hadwin's actions sprouted different reactions. Hadwin's actions caught the attention of the public. Many people showed anger, dismay, disbelief, and guilt, especially the indigenous communities who saw this tree as a symbol of their origin. While many misinterpreted his actions, some people understood his bold statement. Vaillant explained the various implications of Hadwin's actions. His actions influenced the indigenous communities as these people believed that it was their cultural heritage, and cutting this tree may mark the end of their roots. Conversely, Hadwin also influenced the general public in the debate on environmental ethics. It showed that human activities influence the environment and vice-versa. Cutting the tree was meant to show that corporate social responsibility should be implemented internationally and that governments should prioritize sustainable environmental practices as this will impact the environment. The reaction of the indigenous peoples shows how the activities against the environment impact people. Symbolically, it shows that the environment can also punish us by mending our beliefs (i.e., myths and cultures accompanying the tree) and destroying our lives. Through his narrative, Vaillant prompts readers to reflect on the broader implications of ecological activism and the moral imperative to protect the Earth's ecosystems for future generations, transcending cultural and societal boundaries. Similarly, Frazer also explored how mythology could influence human behavior. First, he showed the relationship between cultural mythology and ecological balan...