78 pages • 2 hours read
Edward AbbeyThe Monkey Wrench Gang
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1975A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 17-20 Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 17 Summary: “The American Logging Industry: Plans and Problems”
The next day, Sunday, Smith announces that he's decided to visit his three wives and reschedule some of his boat trips. He asks Bonnie and Hayduke to delay "the next operation" (223), attacking the Utah State Highway Department, for one week. Bonnie and Hayduke agree. Hayduke would like to take Bonnie on a "premature premarital honeymoon" (223) to the forests above the Grand Canyon. He also wants to check out the logging companies' action on the Kaibab Plateau.
Bonnie and Hayduke head south, towards the Grand Canyon. On their way, near Jacob Lake, Hayduke yells a misremembered quote from Thomas Jefferson about having "eternal hostility against every fucking form of tyranny […] over the life of man" (225). Bonnie asks what about women and Hayduke responds, "Fuck woman" (225) then "let's!" (225). Hayduke pulls over in his jeep and drags Bonnie out onto the grass. Bonnie resists his forceful attempts and the two trade insults. Bonnie, after calling Hayduke a "high school dropout" (226) and "unemployed veteran" (226), allows Hayduke to have sex with her.
After this interlude, the two continue on until they come to a Smokey the Bear sign, which they deface. Knowing this is a Federal offense, Bonnie hauls Hayduke back to his truck before they get caught.
