Essay on Nature in American Literature

After scrutinizing the relationship between mankind and nature exhibited in London’s short stories, one begins to realize that switching the roles of nature and mankind in London’s short stories uncover a truth between mankind and nature. It would draw on the very feelings and states that both parties exhibit toward each other. Mankind’s bitterness toward nature would create a greater sense of dominion, while nature’s understanding of mankind’s power would create a greater sense of fear. Therefore, switching the roles of nature and mankind aids one in understanding how the two relate to each other in London’s short stories. Though this relationship is one that will always be complex, it is one that can be simplified through understanding the feelings and actions that both facets

     As imperative as individualism was to Emerson, developing one’s soul was even more so. The process in developing one’s soul was just as important. He states, “But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future (Emerson 157).” The word “heedless” means “carelessly” and by using the word “riches” Emerson means nature. What he meant by using these words together was that men forget about the beauty in nature because we see it all too often to notice it. Men are too wrapped up in their lives and thinking about the future that they overlook the splendor that nature has to offer. He also states, “These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God today (Emerson 157).” With this, Emerson is trying to convey the fact that God is present in nature and all its beauty.

Gathering knowledge throughout reading “Nature” gives the reader a more visual perspective of the topics discussed throughout the series of essays Emerson writes. To demonstrate this, Emerson states “The motion of the earth round its axis, and round the sun, makes the day, and the year. These are certain amounts of brute light and heat. But is there no intent of an analogy between man’s life and the seasons? And do the seasons gain no grandeur or pathos from that analogy?” (517). The author uses this quote to compare a person’s life to the seasons of the year, giving the reader a further explanation of how the changing of the seasons are similar to the changes a person goes through in his or her life. Analogies not only give the reader an enhanced understanding of the text, analogies also assist

The nature imagery used expresses the flaws of Puritan thought and anxieties towards outside forces, both seen and unseen. Through his use of nature imagery and diction, the reader obtains a better understanding of such Puritan anxiety within the community as they try to maintain their utopian society from collapsing to these supernatural forces caused by an irritated and vengeful Devil.

Throughout time, people have been exposed to elements that help them understand life. These tools can be found through family, religion, etc. These tools were and still are used by many great authors. Emily Dickinson was a great writer and was often inspired by nature. She utilized nature as a way of reflecting on her life. Walt Whitman did the same as well. Whitman used nature to evoke emotions and create a body of work that was beautiful. In both of their works, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson use nature to portray their views on death.

The poem “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant reveals a very unusual aspect of nature. While most people think of nature as beauty and full of life, Bryant takes a more interesting approach to nature. He exposes a correlation between nature, life, death, and re-birth. Using nature as a foothold, Bryant exercises methods such as tone, setting, and imagery in a very intriguing way while writing “Thanatopsis.”

The environment effected and continues to effect human culture and history. Thus, one cannot fully understand American history without exploring the immense role of nature in it. In the novel The Republic of Nature the author, Mark Fiege, utilizes environmental context to form new connections between previously thought to be unrelated historical events. Fiege chooses significant occurrences in America's past and then with the incorporation of nature, he reintroduced the events, providing fresh and innovative perspective, insightful explanations and provocative conclusions. Mark Fiege´s ultimate goal is to impact how the reader perceives the role of environment in history. Through further

Nature writing revolves around elements of nature with the aim of creating environmental and ecological preservation. It has been a significant method to process scientific information in a skillful and creative way and to persuade people to think from a different angle about problems facing the environment. In the American culture, nature writing has had firm roots. It has worked alongside other literature works such as poems to ensure that people capture environmental issues in a broad way. It has helped in the shaping of American ethics and has influenced public opinion on issues of ecological preservation. The essay analyzes influences of John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Wendell Berry on the book A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella Bird.

Author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson’s work, “Self-Reliance” set the guideline for what it meant to live a life dictated by transcendental ideals. His colleague Henry David Thoreau in his book, “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”, took Emerson’s vision and put them to use in his own life, recording his findings in his book. The two major thematic overtones that they share include nature and simplicity, which Thoreau lived through during his time with Emerson on Walden Pond. Thus, by extracting excerpts about both nature and simplicity, while relating it to Thoreau’s life on Walden Pond, it becomes apparent that Thoreau, by living on Walden Pond, vicariously lived Emerson’s philosophy of simplicity and nature. The first of which is shown through his actions on Independence Day, and the latter through his interactions with the property he had purchased.

Whitman spent an abundance of time in nature to gain inspiration. Whitman depicts nature as he does the soul, containing both darkness and light, which he observed as he witnessed the sunrise and sunset.1 Whitman’s awe of nature highlights important characteristics of individuals. He believed that nature depicted the soul of every man, and has the immense power of controlling it.1 The concept of the control of man by nature was a common idea that sprang from the New England Renaissance. These aspects were brought into the New England Renaissance as a result of the American Romantic Movement.1 In addition to writing about nature, Whitman possessed a strong interest in democracy, in which he poured out his emotions and feelings.

In Mark Twain's novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay “Nature,” and Sarah Orne Jewett's short story “A White Heron,” the authors use nature to convey the primitiveness of civilization. Twain shows this concept through perversions of natural law in his text. Emerson conveys this idea by pointing out the follies in society. Jewett demonstrates this notion by the use of symbolism. Understanding the hidden connections of these three texts will help one to have a deeper working knowledge of the texts and their buried social commentaries.

“Go forth, under the open sky and list / To Nature’s teachings” (14-15). As the man’s dark thoughts begin to invade his mind, Nature is there to listen to him and offer aid. Romanticism authors regarded nature as a way of finding morality and spirituality, and Bryant’s belief in Deism is mirrored in “Thanatopsis” as the main character finds balance and tranquility through his inner thoughts being reflected in the simplistic beauty of the earth. As the morbid thoughts about dying begin to instill fear in the main character, Nature tells him, “Thy image, Earth, that nourish’d thee, shall claim / Thy growth, to be resolved to earth

Philosophers, poets and even the common man are all affected by nature in different ways. The wonders of nature can leave a man breathless and yet full of vigor. Pleasure, peace, and passion are all mental emotions coursing through human bodies as humans take in the mental effects of nature. Emerson himself once said that we must “adopt the peace of nature.” In every part of nature there is beauty. Emerson and Wharton both agreed on the magnificence and comfort of the physical and mental influences of nature. Emerson and Wharton celebrate the transcendental power of the natural world over the material world. The two transcendentalists believe in the artistry and elegance of nature and they both especially love summer afternoons as evidenced in Emerson’s poem “The Humble Bee”.

Emerson’s first aspect of Beauty explains its medicine like features. Emerson states, “To the body and mind which have cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone” (Anthology 76). Emerson is saying that humans are so involved in every-day activities that they are making themselves stressed. People are working overtime and stressing themselves with every day activities. People are cramping their days and not relaxing because of the strive to be successful. He says that the beauty has its medicinal values. Seeing nature can help people relieve their everyday stress. Emerson sees the beauty of nature as a medicine for peoples struggles. The next line explains an attorney walking outside and seeing the sky and the woods and is a man again. Emerson is hinting at people aren’t themselves and that they are over working. The man isn’t himself when he’s working all day. He is exhausted and angry and as soon as he steps outside he is happy because of the beauty of nature. Additionally, Emerson explains that beauty brings charm to people. He says “Not less excellent, except for our less susceptibility in the afternoon, was the charm, last evening, of a January sunset” (Anthology 76). He explains that different parts of the year bring different feelings. From the January sunsets to the butterflies in July, nature’s beauty is a cure for mankind. Emerson wants you to leave your house and see the world for yourself. It is not worth it to stress over little things in life. During different months of the year you can go outside and your stresses will go away. Emerson says “it will not please as when its light shines upon your necessary journey” (Anthology 77). The light from the outside world is opening your eyes to the real beauty of outside. If you go outside your day will turn from stressful to peaceful. Lastly, Nature enhances spiritual beliefs. Emerson explains that “|the

The view of nature changed during the course of time periods and throughout my seven reading reflections. I started my reflections during colonial time with “The Scarlett Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorn. During the puritan era nature was seen as a sin. The forest where Hester and Dimmesdale reconnected their love was seen as the place where the “black man lives”. Embracing nature and its carefreeness was seen as a dreadful decision, and this changed over time. On the other hand, my second journal was all about imagery and the beauty of nature. Walt Whitman’s “I Saw in Louisiana a Live Oak Growing” is a comparison of a tree and the narrator’s life. The narrator knows he cannot live an independent existence like the oak tree does. He