Topic > Analysis of Emerson's "Nature"

In his essay “Nature,” Ralph Waldo Emerson displays a nontraditional appreciation for the world around him. Initially interested in the stars and the world around us, in the grandeur of nature, Emerson then turns his attention to the way we perceive objects. “Nature” seeks to show humanity a new form of enlightenment of the human spirit and urges the formation of a strong bond between man and the Universal Spirit. Emerson sees nature as an inspiration for people who want to achieve a deeper understanding of the spiritual world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayEmerson begins his essay by observing the omnipresence of nature, which earns respect from the observer. However, nature always seems distant, indifferent. Emerson then advances the idea that not everyone can observe nature, that one must have the ability to appreciate, to experience amazement and wonder, as a child would who does not try to understand but only to appreciate. He personifies nature as a woman by giving her human emotions and actions, such as "Nature never looks mean", and also that "the wisest man could never lose curiosity by discovering all its perfection". The experience with nature that Emerson describes is truly sublime, magical and yet indescribably beautiful. Using the stars as symbols of the universe, Emerson states that we take the stars for granted because they are always present in our lives, no matter where we live. He then moves on from commenting on the distant stars and begins discussing the immediate landscape around him. It creates a link between the stars and the landscape, furthering the theme of a chain connecting everything in the universe. Emerson then states that the person most likely to see the whole of nature is the poet, distinguishing the poet from other people. He says that poets can see nature clearly, not superficially as many people do. Instead of using theories from the past that Emerson believes must be discarded, the person who wishes to see must reveal their inner child, accepting nature as it is rather than attempting to manipulate it into something it is not. Emerson's reference to Universal Being, which he identifies with God, is what is now identified as transcendentalism. Every object in nature requires a life force animating it, through which Emerson believes they are connected. Emerson claims to be nothing, but sees everything. He concludes his chapter on nature by stating that Nature does not have a personality that it alone conceives. Human beings, he says, give nature the human characteristics we perceive it to have. In the following sections, Emerson relates the idea of ​​nature as an instructor for man and how man can and should learn from nature. Nature is a divine creation of God and through it humans can learn to be closer to Him. It refers to the beauty of nature as the qualities of nature that have medicinal and restorative powers for humans. The particular beauty of nature has a strong ability to relieve the stress and anxiety that many human beings suffer from. Emerson points out that a person who passively loses himself in the landscape will be rewarded by the regenerative powers of nature, while a person who consciously seeks such healing will be deceived by nature's illusions. place, but it is the center of all things. Where he is, there is nature'. Emerson's visit to the Jardin des Plantes in Paris was the main inspiration for his philosophy. The beauty of different plants gave him the idea that nature and everything in it are universally connected. While fixating on the.