The Last American Man

Elizabeth Gilbert believes that Eustace Conway is the last American man for various reasons. He lives in nature on his own and makes everything for himself. He doesn't rely on anything other than what he can make or what is available to him in nature. He doesn't rely on other people and only needs himself to survive. He is not weak and will do whatever is necessary to survive, no matter now difficult or grotesque as we may see it. This style of living is much like frontiersmen, and doing these types of things to survive such as making wherever he is a home or finding his own food are seen as manly and what men should do in Gilbert's mind. Also, he is the last American man because men today don't live the same way as him and those who try to be like him and live his way are not successful.