The subject of environmentalism is the principal underlying theme in the short story "The Vulture." As the narrator describes vulture's movement from the high mountains to the low lying hills, one acknowledges the impacts of human activities. The fact that the vulture struggles to find a dead man because the latter when alive prefer staying in a group, and if the bird found a dead man, the latter was near a road indicates that the man has invaded the bird's natural habitats (“The Vulture,” n.d). Man is gradually invading the territories of other animals. The choice of words used by the author adds weight to the subject theme. The narrator says, "its wings cast a broad shadow against the hillside," which collaborates the previous statements that say the humans are destroying the environment ("The Vulture," n.d). “Man makes war on man” also tends to show the impact of human activities on his livelihood. Whatever the vulture observes in humans’ activities spells dooms to the life of human beings.
The dryness of the land as the vulture traverses the region can only be blamed on human beings. "He slowly passed the mountain…but the land was so dry that when he saw the small stream…he was surprised," shows the weightiness of the human tragedy ("The Vulture," n.d). As the vulture's journey progresses, the reader can see the magnitude of destructive human activities on the environment. "You the king of animals, which kill your brother, and burn the forest," show that humans have detrimentally affected their environment ("The Vulture," n.d). The vulture holds humans in high regard, and it is hesitant to feed on the dead man but still feels that they are to blame for environmental degradation. The mightiness of human beings is evident through the narration. However, from the perception of the vulture, humans are using their power to destroy the universe.
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Throughout the vulture's journey in search of food, the reader is enlightened on the impact of human activities on the environment. The countryside is bare, and the vulture struggles to find food to eat until it lands on a dead man. However, due to its reverence of human capacity, the eagle seems hesitant about feeding on him. Through the theme of environmentalism, the leader acknowledges the power humans have on their surrounding more than other creatures.
