The Monkey Wrench Gang: The Heroes Who Break the Law Everyone knows that breaking the law is wrong and anyone who does it is a criminal, but Edward Abbey, author of The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975), puts a twist on those thoughts. The Monkey Wrench Gang is an adventure novel about a gang of environmentalists who set out to destroy bulldozers, bridges, cars, trains, signals, or whatever is destroying their beautiful country, the American Southwest. Through characterization and description Edward Abbey glorifies the art of breaking the law and leaves his readers rooting for his heroic criminals. In the Monkey Wrench Gang there are four main characters: Bonnie Abbzug, Doc Sarvis, Seldom Seen Smith and George Hayduke. As individuals they never become a threat, but as a team the fire really starts to spread. Of all these characters Hayduke is the most important idealist. Hayduke is a beer-drinking, Vietnam War veteran who holds a grudge against the American government. The rebellious slob, fed up with human civilization and its lack of appreciation for the wilderness, decides to join forces with others to save the American Southwest from an unjust death. "My job is to save the fucking wilderness. I don't know anything else worth saving." - Hayduke (211). Another member of the gang is the intelligent Doc Sarvis who is the source of money in all the operations. Doc is a middle-aged doctor with a passion for the Southwest and his nurse assistant named Bonnie Abbzug, another member of the gang. Bonnie is a 28-year-old woman in her prime who is a "close" friend of Doc. Before joining the gang, they destroy several signs signaling a threat to the Southwest. On the bumper of Doc's car is a sticker... in the center of the paper... all the glorified destruction Abbey never stops praising the subtle beauty and enchantment of the desert. In all her descriptions Abbey paints a beautiful picture that nourishes the readers' minds. "The rolling waters shone like hammered metal, like bronze lamé, each facet mirroring the fire in the sky. As they shone silently in the east, above the red canyon walls, the new antiphonal response to the sun's glory." (54). A hero is easily defined as anyone who is admired for his or her courage, nobility, or exploits. Edward Abbey definitely made his characters heroes through description and character. Painting its settings and characters with meaning and drawing its plot with adventure made the law-breaking band of criminals heroic savers of the American Southwest. Abbey, Edward. The Wrench Gang. Avon Book: New York, 1975.