Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre

The setting of Greenloop is a major motif that thematically contributes to The Folly of Human Ambition. The community represents Tony Durant’s attempt to pioneer a new lifestyle that claims to espouse sustainability principles, but the shortsightedness of its remote location in a volcanic area and in proximity to predatory wildlife, combined with its reliance on fragile technology, leaves the community vulnerable and ultimately leads to its decimation.

At the end of Chapter 1, Tony explains the Greenloop philosophy: “Selfless suffering feels good for short crusades, but as a way of life, it’s unsustainable” (12). The emphasis on suffering drives the idea that Tony can marry comfort and sustainability, which means either eliminating or setting aside any lifestyle element that might introduce discomfort. This philosophy is fundamentally incompatible with the decision to establish Greenloop deep in the woods, a design choice meant to insulate residents from the worries of the urban world yet still enjoy its conveniences. In an interview, Tony discusses the origins of Greenloop, but he’s challenged by the assertion that the cost of living in the community is too steep for most US citizens to afford. This underscores the idea that comfortable sustainability is a privileged ambition, accessible only to those who can afford it.

The Rainier eruption exposes the limitations of Tony’s ambition by forcing him to provide leadership in the absence of conveniences. He tries to cushion the residents’ discomfort by assuring them that help is on the way, but this provides little consolation as the days pass and reality sinks in. Had Tony chosen to build Greenloop in a less isolated area or made it more accessible to serve human needs rather than his ego, he may have stood a greater chance of surviving life in the wilderness. Instead, his authority wanes, leading him and Yvette to enter self-exile.