Luna 1

Jillian Christine Luna

Professor Ludwig

English 101H

18 September 2017

Tree Hugger

In December 1997, Julia Butterfly Hill climbed into the platform of a 200-foot-tall

redwood named Luna as part of an ongoing protest against a lumber company. During her "tree-

sit," Julia Butterfly Hill lived on a makeshift platform, enduring torrential storms, harassment

from loggers, doubt, and loneliness. Hill's memoir, The Legacy of Luna, recounts the early days

of her tree stay and the struggles she faced. Hill uses a detailed account of the harsh weather

conditions and a vulnerable tone to convey the message that resilience is built on the experience

of pain and difficulty.

Hill begins her journey battling El Nio, one of the worst winters recorded in Northern

California history. High atop Luna, the winds are a constant. With those gale-force winds came

rain, sleet, and hail. Every week, the storms grow stronger, shredding her tarps. As she is

violently swinging from her tree branch, the guards of the lumber company continuously berate

her and interfere with her supply runs. The guards had become extremely vigilant about

hindering her supply runs and they planned to starve her out (Hill 908). However, with the

increasing ferocity of the storms, the guards left the base of the tree. After a short visit from a

photographer, Hill finds herself also battling loneliness and isolation. In an attempt to block out

the roars of the wind and tarp flapping, Hill decides to listen to the radio. She then learns about

the active storm watch and upcoming seventy-mile-an-hour winds. The moment the storm hits,

Hill is buckling all over the place, with the wind flipping her platform into the air (916). Despite
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the hardships she faced, Hill climbs down Luna having successfully defended the redwood and

its surrounding trees.

Hill's vivid description of her external adversities perfectly illustrates the physical pain

and suffering she dedicated to her cause. Her actions are truly awe-inspiring. She selflessly

sacrifices her own comfort and health to defend this tree, which to some, is a lost cause. Despite

the opposition, Hill did not depart from Luna for a total of two years. She is physically bashed

and battered by the forces of nature; yet, Hill left Luna with a sense of strength, a sense of

fearlessness. Hill does not climb down the redwood struck with fear but filled with confidence.

To some, it would seem Hill thanks the wind, rain, sleet, hail, and guards for physically breaking

her down. She successfully proves that resilience is not an innate sense of courage or bravery, but

is rather a backbone that constantly shatters and reforms.

Despite how brave her endeavors are, Hill did not abstain from showing her weaknesses

in the text. Hill openly discusses her moments of defeat early on. The physical hardships she

experiences take an emotional and mental toll. Although she has the overwhelming support from

her supply runs, Hill reaches a point of being so broken by that point that if anybody [she]

trusted from [her] side had told [her] to come down, [she] probably would have" (909). Despite

having a broken spirit, her passion and drive for her cause continue to shine through. Slowly, but

surely, her sense of purpose begins to slip away. On day 71 of her protest, Hill [loses her] mind

from lack of sleep, food, positive results, and emotional support, [she] began to feel like [her]

whole being was under attack. [She is] near breaking point, unable to fend off the devastating

impact of the elements", making her question as to why she was staying (913). Upon hearing the

radio broadcast about the storm, Hill falls deeper into insanity. Despite her emotional and mental

turmoil, she clings onto the Luna with all her might. On the night the storm hits, Hill reaches her
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lowest point. Having been driven so deep into madness, Hill desperately screams into the night,

begging the storm spirits to leave her alone (916). As the winds try to rip her from the branch,

Hill prays to the redwood tree. Oddly enough, Luna answers back. Luna commands Hill to

simply let go, be like the trees. Hill then learns how to let go of her fear.

The tenacity and perseverance she evolves could be labeled as heroic. And to many, Hill

is considered to be a hero. However, she humbles herself by admitting her faults, removing her

from the hero pedestal. Her sense of hopelessness is universal and strongly speaks to the

audience's emotions. Although certain readers do not share the same physical experience as Hill,

they can empathize with the feeling of helplessness and discouragement. Her vulnerability and

insecurity do not hinder her will to power through the storm, but strengthen her determination for

the cause. Her self-proclaimed name of "Butterfly" stems from her internal transformation, the

development of her newfound resilience. The once timid, fearful woman tossed by the wind

becomes a tenacious, fearless in the end. Similar to how she thanked the forces of nature for her

physical rigor, Hill is grateful for the emotional and mental chaos she endures. In turn, Hill

successfully defending Luna from destruction in spite of her descent into madness serves as a

motivator for the audience.

Although the interaction between Hill and Luna may seem absurd to some, Hills

resilience is similar to that of the trees. To some, Luna is a singular tree that holds no

significance. To prove that Luna has significance in this world, Hills dedicates her survival to the

tree's insight and perspective. Hill reaches clarity after, as instructed by the redwood, releasing

all attachments. Lunas monologue teaches Hill the power of the trees, the power of letting go.

Like Hill, Luna and the surrounding trees have stood the test of time and nature, proudly

standing tall in the forest. By comparing human resilience to the resilience of the trees, Hill
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connects the audience to nature. Because of that connection, Hills presents her readers a reason

to want to preserve natural lands. To Hill, a tree is not merely a tree, but a friend.

Although many do not agree with her actions, Hills determination and drive to protect

the forest that she felt spiritually connected to is universally admirable. She demonstrated

passion and commitment far beyond what many people would've done today. Her persistence

and grit are not limited to the environment but to other aspects of society.

In a world in which numerous groups of people are oppressed and discriminated against,

many of those have lost hope and the will to fight back. As Hill explains in her memoir, in order

to build ones perseverance, one must break down completely, go insane, and drown in self

doubt. Until one has reached rock bottom, one cannot rebuild oneself. Of those who are

oppressed, many have reached their breaking point, clueless as to how to respark the will to

continue. In countries that have strict ideologies and low tolerance, people have suppressed their

true identities and beliefs. Thousands of people around the world are persecuted for their

religion, sexual orientation, gender, race, etc. Similarly, those with greater social power oppress

those who they view as inferior to the point where some fall prey to the erroneous belief that they

are inferior. Hills journey towards resilience serves as inspiration for those who are forced to

mold themselves into their societys expectations. While people may feel lost, in terms of their

beliefs or course of action, it is crucial to remember that the boundaries created for the oppressed

only lie within their mindset.

Works Cited

Hill, Julia Butterfly. "The Legacy of Luna." American Earth: Environmental Writing Since

Thoreau, Bill McKibben, Library of America, 17 April 2008, pp. 907-916.