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"An Insect View of Its Plain": Nature and Insects in Thoreau, Dickinson, and Muir Rosemary S

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Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 2009 "An Insect View of its Plain": Nature and Insects in Thoreau, Dickinson, and Muir Rosemary S. McTier Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation McTier, R. (2009). "An Insect View of its Plain": Nature and Insects in Thoreau, Dickinson, and Muir (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/916 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “AN INSECT VIEW OF ITS PLAIN”: NATURE AND INSECTS IN THOREAU, DICKINSON, AND MUIR A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Rosemary Scanlon McTier May 2009 Copyright by Rosemary Scanlon McTier 2009 “AN INSECT VIEW OF ITS PLAIN”: NATURE AND INSECTS IN THOREAU, DICKINSON, AND MUIR By Rosemary Scanlon McTier Approved March 10, 2009 ________________________________ ________________________________ Frederick Newberry Elaine Frantz Parsons Professor of English Assistant Professor of History Dissertation Director Committee Member ________________________________ ________________________________ John Dolis Linda Kinnahan Professor of English and American Studies Professor of English Penn State, Scranton Committee Member Committee Member ________________________________ ________________________________ Albert C. Labriola Magali Cornier Michael Dean, McAnulty College and Graduate Chair, Department of English School of Liberal Arts Professor of English Professor of English iii ABSTRACT “AN INSECT VIEW OF ITS PLAIN”: NATURE AND INSECTS IN THOREAU, DICKINSON, AND MUIR By Rosemary Scanlon McTier May 2009 Dissertation Supervised by Frederick Newberry, Professor of English The simultaneous emergence of ecocriticism and cultural entomology has created a critical need for a discussion of the appearance and function of insects as they appear in literature. While nineteenth-century nature writing is frequently examined by ecocritics, very few have chosen to explore how critical writers such as Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and John Muir incorporate insects into their work. This study explores three interrelated issues connected to encounters with and explorations of the microscopic and unacknowledged position of insects in nature: first, how insects factor into their growing knowledge about nature and ecology; second, how nature serves as a conduit to or inspiration for spirituality, revealing in its intricate processes the messages of the divine; and third, how insects are important not only for their critical ecological function but also for their symbolic value in suggesting the possibility of a renewed connection and relationship with the natural world and God, either through an awareness of iv ecological integration, an acknowledgement that all life participates in a joyous celebration of creation and has a right to exist, or a metamorphic process that unites the physical and spiritual in an attempt to transcend earthly experience. The introduction of this dissertation discusses how the evolution of ecocriticism establishes the legitimacy and importance of an insect’s “point of view.” Chapter one provides a partial “cultural portrait” of insects in the nineteenth century, examining insects in science, agriculture, folklore, fashion, religion, and literature. Chapter two focuses on Thoreau’s interpretation of the song of the crickets as a universal choir which nature continually invites humanity to join, on his interest in the reflective eyes of the water-skaters of Walden and their ability to exist between the margins of heaven and earth, and on his fascination with the process of metamorphosis in relation to both insects and human potential. Chapter three explores Dickinson’s vision of nature as an interdependent society of insects, animals, and plants, each having an important and unique purpose to fulfill, and her complex attitude toward cocoons and metamorphosis, especially in relation to her fear of death and uncertainly about salvation. Chapter four establishes Muir as a true “lover of nature” who views insects and all other “citizens” of creation as his “brothers,” equal members in a creation designed and lovingly maintained by God. Muir is especially interested in bees, attempting to adopt their point of view when he describes the flowers of California and idealizing apiculture as a form of agriculture in harmony with the needs of both nature and humanity. v DEDICATION For Pam, Dave, and Shea, who continue to live in joy. May they always find Leah in the rainbows. And for Grandma Rose, who never lost hope. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation has been years in the making, and more people have extended their support and knowledge than I can possibly begin to recognize here. First, I am eternally grateful to the Director of my dissertation, Professor Frederick Newberry, who exhibited endless patience and compassion and offered priceless and much appreciated encouragement and advice. I must also extend my gratitude to the members of my Dissertation Committee, Professor John Dolis, Professor Elaine Parsons, and Professor Linda Kinnahan, for their time and assistance in helping me clarify my ideas and overall presentation and to Albert Labriola and Magali Michael for believing in me and my project. Tammy Horn very kindly allowed me to peruse the notes for her forthcoming book, and I am thankful for her thoughtfulness, encouragement, and input. I would also like to thank my grandmother, Rosemary Arrisher, my mother, JoAnn Scanlon, my aunt, Diane McLaughlin, my spouse, James Lindstrom, and most of all my daughter, Moiya, for their support and confidence. I will always appreciate the help of the staff at Eberly Library for their swift attention to my many requests and queries, and I will never forget the kindness and encouragement of my colleagues and friends, Dr. Jamie Dessart, Dr. Marilyn Roberts, Dr. Jenny Jellison, Charles Beiter, Jennifer Foradori, Elizabeth Williamson, Regina Davis, Beth Merry, Jill Sunday, Susan Biddle, Jan Teagarden, Pam Abbe, Ella Belling, Lance Smith, Phillip Coss, Heather Cummings, Donna Carcella, Carol Salai, Jet’aime Gantt McTier, Aaron Youngblood, Cass Eaton, Vern Toland, Annabel Moats, and Drew Nicksich. I am most especially indebted to Dr. Nicole Andel, vii who offered invaluable advice and assistance and, above all else, kept me (somewhat) sane. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract . iv Dedication . vi Acknowledgment . vii Textual Abbreviations . xi Numeration of Emily Dickinson’s Poems . .xiii Introduction: Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and John Muir: Interpreting the Language of Nature . .1 Chapter I: Insects and the Nineteenth Century . 26 Cultural Entomology and the Nineteenth Century . 26 The Growth of American Entomology . 33 American Apiculture . 39 Insect Infestations . 43 Insects in Folklore . 48 Insects in Fashion and Egyptology . 51 Insects in the Bible . 54 Insects in Literature . 60 Chapter II: “With Microscopic Eye”: Thoreau’s Insect Perspective . 68 “Bear[ing] the Closest Inspection”: Thoreau’s Scientist-Saunterer . 68 “The Interjections of God”: Crickets in “Natural History of Massachusetts” and the Journal . 82 “Myriad Eyes Suitably Placed”: The Water-skaters of Walden . .90 ix “What Will Be Hatched Within Me?”: Walden and Metamorphosis . .103 Chapter III: “A Minor Nation”: Emily Dickinson and the Insects’ Society . .117 “Whatsoever Insect pass -”: Dickinson’s Entomological Poetry . 117 “They make me regret I am not a Bee -”: Dickinson and Nature’s People . 135 “From Cocoon forth a Butterfly”: Dickinson and Metamorphosis . .160 Chapter IV: John Muir: Translating “Nature’s Book” . .175 “Made of the Same Dust as We”: Nature’s Equality . .175 “To See Better What the Sun Sees”: Muir’s Divine Vision . .181 “In the Eyes of a Bee”: The “Bee-garden” of California . 206 Conclusion: The Entomological Intersections of Thoreau, Dickinson, and Muir . 209 Endnotes . 224 Works Cited . 245 x TEXTUAL ABBREVIATIONS E Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nature,” in Essays and Lectures: Nature: Addresses and Lectures/ Essays: First and Second Series/ Representative Men/ English Traits/ The Conduct of Life. New York: Library of America, 1983. B John Muir, The Story of My Boyhood and Youth, in John Muir: Nature Writings, ed. William Cronon. New York: Library of America, 1997. F John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra, in John Muir: Nature Writings, ed. William Cronon. New York: Library of America, 1997. G John Muir, A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf. 1916. Ed. William Frederic Bade. New York: Mariner Books, 1998. JM John Muir, John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, ed. Linnie Marsh Wolfe. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1979. MC John Muir, The Mountains of California, in John Muir: Nature Writings, ed. William Cronon. New York: Library of America, 1997. NP John Muir, Our National Parks. 1901. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1991. WW John Muir, “Wild Wool,” in John Muir: Nature Writings, ed. William Cronon. New York: Library of America, 1997. NH Henry David Thoreau, “Natural History of Massachusetts,” in “A Natural History of Massachusetts,” “Wild Apples” and Other
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