Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 4, Section 2 Summary

Chapter 4, Section 2 Summary

Dillard questions why insects seem so violent. She says the insect world is like a horror show played out right in broad daylight under the scrutiny of any who watches. Insects are by far the greatest population of any earth creatures. Dillard wonders why most people loath insects. Dillard has heard that nature is economical, but Dillard figures if that were true, leaves would not fall every year to be replaced by new ones. Dillard figures nature will try anything once; hence, the thousands of insect forms, colors and behaviors. This is nature experimenting.

Nature adapts, but also, at times does not adapt. Dillard thinks of the many times she has observed insects doing something fatal to themselves, because they can not distinguish between safety and danger. Instinct is the brain behind the actions, and few insects are able to act outside of their innate programming. Dillard tells the story...
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