Leiningen Versus The Ants Character Analysis
What would you do if you learned that your home and family were directly in the path of an unstoppable, insatiable insect army made up of 68 billion ants that are devouring every living thing it encounters? This is the question that Carl Stephenson asks in his short story, "Leiningen Versus the Ants," which was first published in 1938. The protagonist of the story, Leiningen, a fully developed character who possesses both good and bad characteristics finds himself in a situation that requires him to act heroically in an attempt to save himself and his 400 workers from the ant army.
Leiningen possesses many excellent characteristics; chief among these are his intelligence, and resourcefulness. Leiningen’s intelligence is apparent from the very beginning. The reader learns that in only three years Leiningen has managed to build and sustain a thriving plantation …show more content…
With me, the brain isn't a second blindgut; I know what it's there for. When I began this model farm and plantation three years ago, I took into account all that could conceivably happen to it. And now I'm ready for anything and everything--including your ants." (Stephenson 1) Leiningen’s resourcefulness is apparent from the defenses he has prepared against the ants, as well as his ability to adapt to the changing situations that occur in his battles with the ants. Leiningen’s defenses include a water-filled ditch that surrounds his plantation on three sides and has as its base the river. Leiningen uses a dam to control the level and flow of the water in this ditch. Should the ants get past the water-filled ditch, Leiningen has constructed a concrete-lined ditch around his house, and outbuildings which can be filled with petrol through pipes connected to three nearby storage tanks. Leiningen feels that together these defenses are “in every way adequate to withstand the
Leiningen possesses many excellent characteristics; chief among these are his intelligence, and resourcefulness. Leiningen’s intelligence is apparent from the very beginning. The reader learns that in only three years Leiningen has managed to build and sustain a thriving plantation …show more content…
With me, the brain isn't a second blindgut; I know what it's there for. When I began this model farm and plantation three years ago, I took into account all that could conceivably happen to it. And now I'm ready for anything and everything--including your ants." (Stephenson 1) Leiningen’s resourcefulness is apparent from the defenses he has prepared against the ants, as well as his ability to adapt to the changing situations that occur in his battles with the ants. Leiningen’s defenses include a water-filled ditch that surrounds his plantation on three sides and has as its base the river. Leiningen uses a dam to control the level and flow of the water in this ditch. Should the ants get past the water-filled ditch, Leiningen has constructed a concrete-lined ditch around his house, and outbuildings which can be filled with petrol through pipes connected to three nearby storage tanks. Leiningen feels that together these defenses are “in every way adequate to withstand the