Civilization

One of the major themes of this book is civilization. Abel is a rich mouse from a noble family. He lives in the ultimate civilized society as he drinks champagne and eats caviar. He is used to the good life. However, when the flood sweeps him away, he leaves civilized society and lands on the deserted island. On the island, he slowly breaks away from his civilized life. For example, to build things, he starts to gnaw at wood. This is uncivilized to him at first, but then he realizes how much faster it is to gnaw than to use his penknife. Abel also begins to eat directly from nature. He eats raw nuts, berries and plants. Before the winter sets in, he scavenges for food, storing it in his hollowed out log for winter. Perhaps the biggest departure from civilization is Abel's log, which is rotting in...