The Last American Man

I think Elizabeth Gilbert wrote this book to bring praise to what she thinks is that last man in America who is living their life to it's fullest potential without the need of societies help.  This brings light to the idea that it is possible to live without all the necessities we have become so accustomed to.  When Gilbert describes Eustace Conway she makes him seem to be almost inhuman in that he fears nothing, and there is nothing that he cannot do.  The first time Gilbert describes him she states, "He is wildly competent, He is physically and intellectually predestined to acquire proficiency. He has perfect eyesight, perfect hearing, perfect balance, perfect reflexes, and perfect focus.  he has long muscles on a light but strongly constructed frame, like a natural middle-distance runner.  His body can do anything he asks of it. His mind, too" (17).  This description leaves us thinking that this man has no flaws, and it almost seems like he is too perfect to be a real human. She wants us to think that he is the last of his kind.  Within the story we do see that Eustace has flaws such as control and a need to do everything to it's fullest or else it is not acceptable in his eyes.  One one hand, this could possibly take away from his perfection.  But, I think that she added his control issues in the book to prove that he is on top of everything he does in life, and that he must do everything perfectly to be satisfied.