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Michael Pollen, emphases on how mankind has taken his position in trying to influence and control nature through technology such as genetic engineering. The purpose of this is to satisfy his desire for perfection by controlling the seeds of plants such as apples and potatoes. It appears that Pollen has a vivid imagination on plant-human interaction, when he writes the book. He thoroughly examines the connection of humans with the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato and reveals how all these plants have grown to satisfy human needs .
Through such satisfactions, plants have been able to grow and spread over the decades and spread tremendously. The relationship he establishes on the advantages of plants on advancing human potentials indicate the position taken by either the plants or human and if the species are actually the ones in control (Pollen, 2001). Michael Pollen introduces the concept of four types of plants in his garden. He uses these plants as better examples to show how they have been in a continuous interdependence with man. He brings in scientific facts in the field of botany in line with the context of human desires.
In his thesis, he tries to relate the four types of plants to certain human attributes and creatively crafts it in a manner that makes it easily accessible and bearable. Pollen asserts that though plants have coexisted in a domesticated environment, man has always been the sovereign ruler of nature by designing and redesigning plants, using genetic engineering to suit his needs. The author has written the book for a larger audience and context aims at ensuring people appreciate their societies that are in two fascinating sections. The first part discusses the areas Of desire Of mankind in which the apple brings out he aspect of sweetness.
The tulip brings out the aspect of beauty and love; marijuana means intoxication while the potato refers to control. Additionally, it also brings out the context of the civil society vs.. Society of the world (Pollen, 2001). The outline of each chapter within the basic structure presents the book in accordance with the periodic organizational theme. The chapters follow each other sequentially with each one of them painting the real picture for readers detailing the context of the earliest historical events. The author inserts himself into the scene as a true character throughout the story.
As each chapter progresses systematically, Pollen links the interesting stories with science content. He gives the scientific explanation behind the plants, the human desires they accomplish and the co-evolutionary relationship that exists between them. Pollen has a lot of well-researched information, the pattern in the chapter rests on forming a well-placed sketch of the author’s experiences with each of the plants mentioned (Pollen, 2001 Michael Pollen comes from Long Island, New York , born to a Jewish family. He graduated with a B. A in English 1 977 and an M. A in English from Columbia University in 1981.
He has authored several books, he is futuristic and a professional journalist . He has written a variety of award winning books and publications such as, the bestselling, Omnivore’s Dilemma, The Botany of Desire, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual and A place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder. Pollen has done a lot of writing for the New York Times and edited the Herpes magazine. He has done lots of essays in his realm, which have featured in the New York Times Magazine. The earlier a description is a mixed bag of the reasons the book was written. The Botany of Desire has four main divisions.
The Apple has the need for sweetness, The Tulip has the need for beauty, Marijuana does intoxication and The potato has the need for control. Each of the plants has a unique aspect that can educate man concerning the four human desires. For instance, we would not be in a position to understand beauty’s gravitational pull, without first understanding the flower, since it is the one that first ushered in the idea of beauty into the world. The Apple could not have been planted if mankind had not desired sweetness (Pollen, 2001). Mankind’s desire for intoxication made him plant cannabis, and the need for food revision was the desire to have food.
Pollen planted all the four types of plants, and he brought out the association between bees and tulips as a major example of copulation”. In a supranational bargain, like the one struck by the bee and the apple tree, the two parties act on each other to advance their individual interests but wind up trading favors. The bee sucks nectar from the plant in return for the transportation of genes to an anonymous destination (Pollen, 2001 The essay seeks to analyze the book Botany of Desire in which an overview delineates on the four types of plants ND how they have established interdependence with man.
Though there has been mutual coexistence, man has always been superior and has continuously and creatively crafted his dependents to suit his never ending desire, which forms my thesis statement. The book Botany of Desire has brought has described the four types of plants that make part of the human life. Man has used these plants for various purposes, including beauty, sweetness, intoxication and control. Evidently, the four parts of the book give a vivid description of the types of each plant that include the tulip, apple, Arizona and the potato.
Pollen gives scientific evidence of how these plants have been able to survive the time. The tulip has nectar that bees consume, but in return they assist in pollination, man assists in planting the flower over several places due to its attraction and beauty. The potato is planted by man for food purposes in that; man cannot survive without food. The apple, which originated from Astrakhan, has been planted in most parts of the world, including Europe and America due to its sweetness. The interpretation shows that man has desires that need to be fulfilled.