The relation between nature and men Essays - Civil Disobedience

The relation between nature and men Relation Between Nature and Men Nature is an eternal and essential theme in American literature. It gains its peak in Romantic period when the industry begins to spring up like mushroom and the environment is contaminated gradually. Henry David Thoreau is one of the most important prose writers of the 19th century in United States. As a representative of transcendentalism in that period, he expresses his views of nature mainly in Walden which provides one of the most passionate, affecting and philosophical evocations of the value of living simply and closing to nature. In 1845, Thoreau began his two-year residence at Walden Pond, putting the theory of transcendentalism and Emersons thoughts into practice. During that period of time Thoreaus sensitive harmony with all of nature was extraordinary. In his opinion, man is part of nature and man can co-exist with nature harmoniously. Today, he is regarded as one of major interpreters of nature as well as American environmental saint in American literary history. In the history of American literature, Thoreau encounters many different views of criticism. On his stage, he is not considered as a professional naturalist and his masterpiece Walden is not universally accepted and appreciated. But with the severity of environmental crisis and the rise of environmental movements, Thoreaus philosophy on nature and simple life embarks on drawing the publics attention. By discussing and analyzing his life background and Walden, it is clear to find his views of nature embodied and interpreted in Walden. His ideas about nature not only predict the arrival of environment crisis, but also indicate the direction which people should take in the future. All in all, Thoreau has left a great legacy to the world, pointing out some valuable implications for man. Therefore, it is necessary for man to positively take part in the army of environmental protection and courageously defend our mother like Thoreau because it is an effective way to protect and save our mother, the Earth. It is universally held that man is the ruler of nature. As a pure defender of nature, Thoreau objects it and gives the priority to the whole nature. In Thoreaus philosophy of nature, one prominent aspect is his belief that man is a part of nature who equals with nature. Returning to nature, namely, living a simple life is a popular slogan in Romantic period. Different from other transcendentalists, Thoreau goes so deep into nature that he becomes a naturalist. With his passion for nature, Thoreau, as a nature observer, begins to live in Walden Pond for more than two years. At Walden Pond, Thoreau leads a life free of materialistic pursuits, reduces his material requirements to the minimum and tries to be self-sufficient in everything. Such a practice convincingly calls upon man to live a simple life in nature. From Thoreaus perspective, if man wants to pursue the high quality and healthy life, he should return to nature and lead a simple life. While I enjoy the friendship of the seasons I trust that nothing can make life a burden to me. He also thinks that man who has inherited farms, houses, barns cattle, and farming tools is a fools life. Furthermore, human beings are born with the relationship with naturethey must eat, drink, and decompose within a natural environment. Nature is a permanent home. These thoughts can be found frequently in Walden. With the development of the industrial revolution and the emergence of modern science, mans desire for resources from nature increases rapidly. As man is an essential part of the nature, he should respect the nature and keep a harmonious relationship with nature. Viewed from every aspect, Thoreaus nature is a harmonious one. It is easy to see his impressive descriptions of nature in Walden such as some harmonious pictures. In the first days of September, when he sees two or three small leaves turned scarlet across the Pond, beneath where the white stems of three aspens diverged at the point of a promontory, next to water, nature itself appears to Thoreau to be a gallery. He advocates a perfect harmonious relationship with his Walden neighbors, the animals and plants. Through his own experiences, Thoreau expresses his confidence that man