Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature: A Controversial Piece of Writing
Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the greatest writers of his time came up with this piece of writing called Nature which was undoubtedly controversial to some audience. He came up with ideas and made assumptions in both a poetic and philosophical manner on how the world worked - the relationship between man, nature, and God. Emerson resisted the idea of being the same as other people concerning how they perceived the correlation of the spirituality and nature. Generally, Emerson vividly argues that humans do not appreciate God's creation- nature and its wholeness. Moreover, he claims that one's life experiences on Earth may solely answer questions about the relationship between man, God and, Nature. Emerson's ideas revolve around self-reflection, appreciation of nature and the mutual relationship between man and God. This paper discusses Emerson's experience with nature while in solitude and his spiritual connection with God through nature.
Emerson's Experience with Nature in Solitude
Emerson depicts isolation as an act of getting away from one's usual setting or the society, leaving their norms or activities and going into nature. He says, "But If a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from the heavenly bodies will separate between him and what he touches" (p. 9). When individuals take their time, isolated from other people, and take time to stare at the stars, a sense of separation from the material world comes by. According to Emerson, solitude is achieved when one departs from both their society and whatever activities they always do.
Appreciating the Stars in Solitude
Emerson says that were it that the stars could only be appearing once in a thousand years, people on Earth could highly idolize them. Admiration of stars truly brings out the bigger picture of being in solitude as one generally learns that there is more to what we see in our world. Emerson says that man should always look at the stars at times, as an act of being alone, thus enabling them to realize that there is something better than what we have in the world in which we live. True solitude is depicted when individuals take time to look at the stars and appreciate all they see instead of taking them for granted.
The Reverence for the Stars and the Blamelessness of Nature
"The stars awaken a certain reverence because though they are always present, they are inaccessible..." Emerson means that even though the stars are visible to man, and none has been able to land on them, a man often tries to learn and fully understand everything around the world. Moreover, in the text: "nature never wears a mean face" (p 9), Emerson tries to show the blamelessness of nature and that no one can understand it fully. He continues to say that no man can honestly know the secrets of this world. Notably, Emerson brings out the idea that, when in a state of solitude, one may acknowledge and appreciate many things apart from the sky to other natural objects like flowers, animals, and mountains.
Different Views of Nature
Emerson generally says that people have different views about nature. One's interaction with nature directly defines how they see it. He says, "There is a property on the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet." Emerson differentiates an average person and a poet. He says that ordinary men will only appreciate nature when it benefits him, but a poet will always see the exquisiteness of nature besides acknowledging it.
The Appreciation of Nature in Childhood
Emerson begins the fourth paragraph by saying that few adults can see nature as opposed to how he sees it. He asserts that most adults do not take their childhood love of nature and innocence to their adulthood in the quote, "the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy into the era of manhood." Notably, Emerson means that children or people of a younger age tend to understand and appreciate nature more as compared to older people who are so preoccupied with the material world that they fail to see the beauty in nature. It is indisputable that Emerson tries to pass the point that one will be able to appreciate, love and, understand nature when they maintain their childhood spirit to their old age.
The Connection Between Nature and the Human Spirit
In the text; "within these plantations of God, a decorum of sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years" (p 9). Emerson tries to show that a young soul which he symbolizes as a guest will never have the will to misuse nature unlike the aged who see nature for what it gives them. More so, Emerson says, "but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight: every hour and change corresponds to and authorizes a different state of mind." He typically tries to explain the mutual relationship between nature and the human spirit. Emerson argues that the mind and nature go hand in hand with man, in that, man is at liberty to view nature the way he wants. He also declares that nature by itself is special irrespective of whether man shares it or not. Notably, in the quote, "I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God" Emerson states that when individuals are with nature, they tend to be transparent in that one's inner nature is revealed. He brings out the point that when in nature, he feels more comfortable, more pleased and unrestricted unlike in streets and villages. Moreover, he thinks that in nature his is connected with God as he says that he is a part or particle of God.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emerson has vividly shown that through solitude and existence in nature he is connected with God. Emerson encourages people to be in isolation at times, in nature, as he says it enables him to understand and appreciate it from a different perspective in comparison to those individuals who often engage themselves in activities. He says that solitude is only achieved when one alienates them from the society and the events associated with it. Moreover, Emerson views the aged as ignorant people when it comes to loving, understanding, and appreciating nature. He avows that a youthful spirit is essential in recognizing and understanding the beauty of nature. Emerson also claims that, in the presence of nature, he feels that he is connected with God and feels more comfortable than in the streets and villages.
Work cited
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Nature. English 1A Course Reader. Ed. Nathan Wirth. Novato, CA: Nathan’s Mind Inc., 2018. Print.
