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Cyclical Nature Images As Representations of Freedom and Fulfillment in Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman

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Cyclical Nature Images As Representations of Freedom and Fulfillment in Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 3, No. 3, September 2017 Cyclical Nature Images as Representations of Freedom and Fulfillment in Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman Sharon Zelnick American spirit, stripped of any social conventions, is Abstract—Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, eloquently illustrated by their use of nature metaphors and and Walt Whitman depict a removal of the boundary between similes. Through a comparative analysis of their uses of the man and nature. This imagined coalescence between humanity cyclical nature images water and sun, I will attempt to and the earth is portrayed through a unique fusion of form and content. Emerson’s Nature (1836), Thoreau’s “Walking” (1862), elucidate the intricate differences and similarities between and Whitman’s Leaves of Grass (1855) illuminate the vision of their conceptions of freedom and fulfillment. I will first look breaking down the boundary between man and nature through at how in their respective writings the symbol of the sun their combinations of sentiment and style. While many critics represents freedom. I will then evaluate how the symbol of have focused on Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman’s explicit water represents the idea of fulfillment. Finally, I will look at programmatic statements about connecting with nature, I will focus on the ways in which this message is conveyed by their use instances where the images of sun and water come together in of metaphor, simile, and symbolic imagery. Through a each of their texts and show how these descriptions connect comparative analysis of their uses of the cyclical nature images with the transcendentalists’ emphasis on living in the present. water and sun, I will attempt to elucidate the intricate Collectively, I will investigate how each author’s treatment differences and similarities between their conceptions of of these nature images provides a window of understanding freedom and fulfillment. I will investigate how each author’s on their perspectives on the ways the spirit flows through the treatment of these nature images provides a window of understanding their perspectives on the ways the spirit flows self – whether freedom is attained in complete isolation or in through the self – whether freedom is attained in complete the company of others – and the place of divinity in nature. isolation or in the company of others – and the place of divinity In addition to shedding light on the differences between in nature. their own Weltanschauungen, this comprehension of the different ways the images of water and sun are treated will Index Terms—Transcendentalism, nature imagery, freedom, provide insight into the desires and goals of these three fulfillment, cyclical images, water and sun. authors. Whitman’s sensuality infused writing illuminates his yearning for human connectedness, Thoreau’s focus on I. INTRODUCTION sensory details draws our attention to his desire to really [Man] cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with know the land he walks along, and Emerson’s emphasis on nature in the present, above time- Ralph Waldo Emerson [1] transparency highlights his desire to get away from any The literary scholar Francis Otto Matthiessen once wrote mediating force between himself and the divine. Through an that the transcendental movement voices, “the fresh investigation of these cyclical images and the individual aspirations for the rise of the common man” [2]. These desires they shed light on, I seek to show how these three aspirations, which center around both democratic ideals and authors point us to eye-opening ways of understanding the metaphysical desires, lie at the heart of Ralph Waldo individualized American spirit. By writing metaphorically Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman’s about the free flowing and circular nature of the sun and writing. Specifically, these fresh aspirations are at the core of water, these three authors express the qualities they believe these three author’s depictions of removing the boundary man should display. In this respect, nature not only becomes between man and nature. This imagined coalescence between something to merge into, but something that orients us. humanity and the earth is portrayed through a unique fusion of form and content. Emerson’s Nature (1836), Thoreau’s “Walking” (1862), and Whitman’s Leaves of Grass (1855) II. THE SUN AS A REPRESENTATION OF FREEDOM illuminate the vision of breaking down the boundary between Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman’s metaphorical man and nature through their combinations of sentiment and treatments of the sun illustrate each of their desires to inspire style [1], [3]-[4]. While many critics have focused on their readers to break free from conventions and to connect Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman’s explicit programmatic with the earth. Emerson’s desire to find the divine in nature statements about connecting with nature, I will focus on the himself is seen when he compares the sunset to god, "Nature ways in which this message is conveyed by their use of [...] is loved as the city of god [...] the sunset is unlike metaphor, simile, and symbolic imagery. anything that is underneath it" [1] (545). In equating the Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman give us a revolutionary sunset and god Emerson is conveying the idea that nature is way of understanding the American spirit. This idealized the place where god and spirituality are to be found and embraced and not in a demarcated spiritual space such as a Manuscript received April 7, 2017; revised September 8, 2017. church. This quote also connects with Emerson’s central Sharon Zelnick is with Leiden University, Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]). dogma on the nature of language, “Nature is the symbol of doi: 10.18178/ijlll.2017.3.3.119 110 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 3, No. 3, September 2017 the spirit” [1] (9). The comparison between god and sunset truths. indeed exhibits this claim, as the sunset is depicted as a The power of rising beyond these places and escaping metaphorical symbol for a godly spirit. In other words, the from the prisoners’ figurative shackles, and for Emerson sunset, a symbol of nature, is compared to god or “the sprit”. unbinding ourselves from the ties that hold us to society, is When discussing the sun as being a metaphorical seen in Plato when a prisoner ascends from the cave and representation of god, Emerson asserts a caveat: few people moves towards the light of the sun. Emerson can be seen as can fully take in the rays of its light. “Most persons do not see making the same claim. It is only when we “cast off years” in the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun the woods and become like children towards the sun that we illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye rise beyond the limitations of society. Just as the and the heart of the child. The lover of nature is he […] who metaphysical encounter with the object of nature allows the has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of prisoners in Plato’s allegory to transcend the confines of the manhood” [1] (3). Emerson explains that when people reach cave, for Emerson it allows us to move beyond societal adulthood, their originality is often lost. This passage is conventions, being freed by the guiding force of the sun. emblematic of Emerson’s belief that only those who let go of Simply ascending from the cave does not, however, mean the ‘superficial’ ‘mundane’ way of being in the world, that that the prisoners instantly or effortlessly understand true generally accompanies adulthood, are capable of taking in intellect. Similarly, we as human beings in nature do not the light of the sun which, as we previously discussed, can be immediately and easily connect with the divine.3 That is why seen as the light of god. Additionally important in this quote some men are ‘illuminated by the sun’ yet it only ‘shines is Emerson’s emphasis on the child’s ability to feel the sun as through the heart of the child’. The philosopher for Plato, and opposed to the man’s ability to see the sun. The child, unlike the self-reliant, childlike man for Emerson have the ability to most men, is not tainted by society, he is pure and therefore transcend beyond the mimetic or material mundane world the light of the sun is accessible to him in the fullest sense. and see the luminescent truths that are visible through nature The fullest sense being that he experiences it as a fully only when we are in the place to soak them in.4 The child, awakening or vitalizing force. Childhood innocence and unspoiled by society, or the man who rids himself of his hold curiosity are the things that allow the pure light to ‘shine’ on conventional societal reality can be transformed and freed through them, rather than merely appearing to the eyes of through the sun’s pure light. It is a type of freedom because, most men.1 in Emerson and Plato’s eyes, it is a letting go of the ties that This light from the sun that “shines into […] the child” is, prevent our ability to gain true intellect and ultimately a for Emerson, a light not only of god’s presence but also the metaphysical transformation. presence of knowledge. He claims, “light and darkness are Literary critics Nina Baym and Joseph Moldenhauer our familiar expression for knowledge and ignorance” [1] (9), supply useful means for understanding Emerson’s meaning that light is a metaphorical representation of metaphysical desire as rooted in Greek thought. Though intellect and darkness is of a lack of understanding.
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