Week 5

Week 5, 9/19

This week’s selection of readings was quite interesting. My favorite was Thoreau’s section about the ant battle. I really enjoyed this section because I could imagine myself as a passive observer, reducing myself to the size of an ant. As I read it, I didn’t imagine myself in Thoreau’s shoes; rather, I was a miniature-sized person. It didn’t phase me that I had basically shrunk myself, but it made the events that transpired seem more real. I think that’s why Thoreau likened the ants to human beings because in the end, they’re naturally the same. They get in fights, just like humans, but maybe not to the extent of tearing off limbs during a physical altercation. Thoreau was able to express the idea that everything in nature, no matter how big or small, is relevant and should be acknowledged. I enjoyed the level of detail Thoreau utilized, not only in this section, but throughout his writing because I was able to imagine the scenes so vividly.

Thoreau also talked about current English literature and how the wilderness has been taken out of nature, even though it’s under that umbrella. Most of the time when we read about nature, what is described are the luscious fields, beautiful gardens, and tamed animals. Rarely do we get a taste of what nature actually is in its true and original form. Man has manipulated nature to his liking, removing the unknown and cultivating the familiar. This ellicits a sense of disgust for all things wild and a sense of awe for all things refined. I believe that this has prompted many to cut themselves off from the wilderness, without first exploring it and giving it a fighting chance.

When it comes to comparing America to Europe, I think that both places have attractive and unattractive features. Both America and Europe have made tremendous gains culturally, morally (to some degree), and socially. The only way one can choose one over the other in terms of nature is once one has ventured the entirety of both regions, which is not an easy feat. Therefore, one should avoid creating a hierarchy. Nature is something that should be enjoyed, not compared. So much of Nature has already been tampered with that we can’t afford the little games of competition. Otherwise, we’ll lose sight of what we do have in the time we have left.

There is then the ever-occuring question of whether the Wild-Man or the cultivated man fares better. Which one should we try to emulate? Who do we learn from? I believe there needs to be a balance. There are aspects of wilderness that modern society could make use of, including, but not limited to to peace, preservation, harmony, and loyalty. On the other hand, the cultivated man presents order and advancement. Both the Wild-Man and the cultivated man have things in common, like competition, independence (depending on the community), and freedom (more so in the wild). Thoreau experiences a pull towards the wild and society, and he concludes that the best solution is a balance between the two. The way he presents it, it sounds like he proposes spending time in the wilderness and also allocating some time to modern society. He doesn’t suggest walking on a thin line that represents a balance between both extremes but rather, embracing both extremes.

An interesting discussion that the readings brought up was the idea of transcendentalism and more generally, the idea of nature having some sort of spiritual component. I believe that God is everywhere, so this extends to nature, including the wilderness. Just like God does not deny the wilderness (after all, he made it), why should we? Many people tend to experience God’s presence when out in nature because it’s free from worldly distractions, whether it be material things or simply people. This is why church retreats are so impactful. You go away for a week or however long the retreat lasts, and you lay aside all that the world is constantly throwing at you. This allows individuals to have a deeper spiritual connection and focus more on their own thoughts. Not everyone believes in God, but most people do believe in a higher being. It’s quite impossible to spend time in nature and not find something divine in the experience. In nature, one realizes how good and perfect the world can be and how we are just a small part of that. In that vein, it is inevitable to consider that there is something spiritual at work, either in us or around us.