Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The Orchid Thief - Self-Worth and Immortality

 

            A true story of beauty and obsession, "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean, weaves an intriguing tale of power, passion, and the search for fulfillment. The fixation that sparks fire in the hearts of so many people is the orchid. We see that interestingly enough, there's a commonality among the orchid lovers: their desire to be extraordinary and unique. As the story progresses it's evident that this intense passion is not driven by the simplistically intricate flower, but by much more selfish motives. .
             The main focus and inspiration for this story is Mr. John Laroche; a man that "strikes many people as eccentric" but has always "been exceptionally passionate and driven" (3). Like so many other passionate people, when Laroche is interested in something, he puts his whole heart and soul into it. However, Laroche sometimes goes a tad bit overboard and his latest escapades are the very thing that intrigued Orlean enough to base almost an entire book off of him. His passion of the month is orchids, thus launching Orlean and her readers into the enticing world of orchid stalkers. One of the most interesting things about Laroche is that he sometimes contradicts himself. It is abundantly clear that he is empathetic and has real sentiments towards his passions, especially the orchids. He believes that "[orchids have] some purpose, everything has some purpose" (94). He says, on at least two separate occasions, that he believes in botany imagination and that he tries to put himself in the plants' point of view in order to understand their essence. Nevertheless, regardless of his almost sensitive thoughts about the orchids, he still makes a point of saying that when you're making orchid hybrids, "you are God" (94). Creating the new species of orchids gives him a sense of power and ironically, gives him a purpose. Although Laroche cares deeply and is extremely moved by the beautiful plants, it seems as though what really gives him the fire is the omnipotence that comes along with making his own living organisms.


Essays Related to The Orchid Thief - Self-Worth and Immortality