A Land Remembered Journal

A Land Remembered

By Patrick D. Smith

Briefly describe the character and their role in the novel.

http://www.sundogbooks.com/book/9781561642304

In the beginning of the novel, Tobias is a thirty-year-old man who had been living in the eastern Florida shrub for five years. Throughout Tobias’s journey in the book, he showed true dedication to his wife Emma and son Zech. At many times, especially in the beginning, he was unsure if they would survive. At times his family had little food, however with time Tobias learned through trial and error how to make a living. Tobias shows throughout the book how hardworking he truly is. He never gave up in the fight to make money and provide for his family. He was the sole financial provider and he knew he had to do something to keep his family alive. Tobias also shows unconditional love to Emma and Zech and always made sure they were okay and taken care of. 

How does the character relate to their environment and the natural world?
In the beginning, Tobias was severely struggling to survive. Tobias uses all of the resources in the environment necessary to survive and provide for his family. He essentially is fully embraced in the environment. The family uses many plants and other edible things in the environment to eat, Tobias gathers cows and sells them, and he also grows orange trees. Even though he uses the resources necessary in the environment to survive, he shows respect for the land and natural world that surrounds him.

https://web.duke.edu/nicholas/bio217/ked13/freshwater.html

Where does the character feel a sense of place (to what place do they feel an emotional attachment) and why?

I think Tobias feels a strong sense of place within the wilderness where his home is and where he works very hard to provide for his family.  I see Tobias as being protective of the land. He enjoys all of the beautiful things it has to offer such as the custard-apple forest and he would probably be completely devastated if he found out that Zech had destroyed it years later. He wanted the land to be shared and enjoyed by everyone and didn’t quite seem to understand why everyone wanted to build bigger and better things. He seemed to be content with his small cabin in the wilderness. The strongest sense of place for Tobias is shown when he goes to the orange trees multiple times just to sit and relax, even in the freezing cold. This shows that he feels relaxed when he is with nature, as well as, protective of it. 

What legacy did the character leave behind for the next generation?

http://www.wallpaperhere.com/Heart_In_The_Wild_2300

I believe Tobias taught Zech many life lessons and morals that allowed for the next generation to see what a wonderful and hardworking man Tobias was. Tobias was the first man within the family to make a good amount of money; this allowed the other generations to live a life with less financial stress and hardship. He also taught Zech how to survive in the wild, which was passed down to Sol. Tobias left the business of the cows and the abundance of orange trees behind, which allowed the family to become wealthier. His legacy was the sweat and tears, as well as, the hardworking abilities and the never give up mentality that generations to come should be proud of.

Why did you select this character and how do you relate to them?
I chose Tobias because he was the heart of the family, even after he passed away. He was the rock that kept the family working. Tobias did everything in his power to provide and protect his family. He never gave up the fight even after he would fail. I feel like these are wonderful characteristics in a father and husband that I respect dearly.