A Land Remembered- Zech MacIvey

A Land Remembered Novel. Photo by: http://patricksmithonline.com/alr.html

             

          Each of the characters in A Land Remembered offers a unique perspective on their relationship with the environment. Zech MacIvey is the only character that has the viewpoint of being a son, father, and husband.At the beginning of the novel he is a young child eager to impress his father. We follow Zech until his death during his last journey. He had a lot of love in his heart and became deeply attached to both people and his animals. Although he was not Indian himself, he had a strong bond with the Indian people he met.

Zech at the Christmas Frolic. Photo from: http://patricksmithonline.com/alr.html

           Zech has a strong relationship with the natural world. He grew up on horses and died on a horse. He loved living in the hammock and wanted no part of the destruction of the wild. Unlike his father, he knew land had to be bought. He bought the land though to protect it. He even told his son, Toby, "...he purchased the custard-apple forest so no one could ever put an axe to it..." (Smith, 1984). When he visited Palm Beach he was disgusted by the commercialism. Also, he was just as saddened by the death of his dogs and horses as he was for his father, mother, and wife. He respected the nature and his surroundings and chose to share instead of take. 

Palm Beach Island circa 2013. Photo by J. Lane

          Zech's sense of place is with his family. There was not one specific place where he felt his sense of place. As long as he was traveling with his family, in an uncivilized place, he was comfortable and happy. In fact, when his beloved animals and child died he wanted them buried. It did not matter to him if they were in the family grave site so long as they were one with earth again. Zech left a lot behind. He had bought lots of land under the MacIvey name. The idea behind him buying the land was to protect it from those wanting to destroy the land. Within his sons he left a relationship with mother nature. Through their respect with the land he can continue his legacy.

Nip and Tuck. Photo from http://patricksmithonline.com/Powers/

 

              I had a tough time fully relating to any of the characters in this novel. However, I probably relate the most to Zech. When the deaths of Nip and Tuck were described I grieved with him. I sat in my bed crying as if they were my own dogs. I understood his hurt and pain. My first real experience with death was the death of my family dog. Though he was not my first family member to die, it was the first time I was old enough to understand death. Like Zech, I was devastated and mad at life. Also, I find myself mad at humanity for some of the things we have created. Unfortunately, humans are very selfish and do not see their destruction until it is too late.