Nature, through the ages of evolution of literature and art, has reserved its position as an often recurring presence. Nature has been a frequently discussed subject among the Romantics of the European society prior to the World Wars, and in their works, it has been talked about with awe -its “very nature” that is characterized by both its beauty and terror. However, such an amazement towards nature itself has not been restricted only to Europe. Literary works, and works of other arts, for that matter, have displayed a peculiar, but quite familiar, presence, of the natural surroundings of the respective geographical areas from where they have originated. The presence has been so impactful, that even works produced in the modern ages, i.e. post-World War, following drastically transformed surroundings, could not subtract this presence altogether.
The familiarity of nature comes from one’s birth and process of growing up amidst nature, which has undergone changes through the progress of the history of mankind. The abundance of cities and a rational lifestyle of homogeneity has made such an experience scarce, and nature, in modern vocabulary and understanding, is often reduced to an object of utility, and is largely restricted only to it. In contemporary times, the useful aspects of nature, in relation to mankind, are the only ones that are often stated and recognised. Such a language of communication is commonplace with both the general mass and the thoughtful environmentalist who is trying to restore nature in our everyday lives, largely only by stating the benefits that it has in store for mankind. Thus, the stressing upon planting trees around our workplaces or in miniature jungles (that we call “gardens”) around our residences, and the scientific theory of photosynthesis, with plants generating oxygen(necessary stuff for survival) and absorbing carbon dioxide(adverse to human survival) that has been talked to exhaustion – all of it- for the well being of ourselves, the human race.
Other than the many psychological adversities that literary works of modern periods have associated industrialisation with, the contemporary ever-growing industrial consciousness has also resulted in the growth of Anthropocentrism. Human beings amidst their self-constructed cityscapes have felt quite like the toddler surrounded by his building blocks. The mutual feeling is that of familiarity with objects available for humans to be shaped and manipulated. For that matter, there is also a sense of pride when one, whose life revolves around the industries they are associated with, looks out on the street and finds behemoth structures of office buildings -the beauty and magnificence of the creation of the species they belong to, inside which, fellow members of the same species are in constant operation, surrounded by familiar objects- a confirming nod to the larger feeling of Anthropocentrism.
This Anthropocentrism has also largely contributed in destroying the “awe” of nature, so popular amongst the Romantics. The Indigenous belief of the land belonging not to humans, but the latter being only a part of the former, has been largely turned upside down in the contemporary world. As a result, the awe of nature loses its value and in doing so, it also becomes a neglected presence subject to human regulation and subtraction in accordance to the environment of their choice. However much one attempts to include “nature” in one’s surroundings in the town or city, one ends up only with an imitation of it, distorted beyond recognition. The “nature”, in this way, that is present in the city as a necessity and an object of utility, loses its grandeur -its very magnificence that was the subject matter of generations of Romantics.
For one who has spent one’s life amidst the vastness of natural surroundings is also familiar, of other things, with the peculiarity of nature. When one walks up to the edge of a hilltop, if only to view the surrounding scenery beneath, covered in dense forests and perhaps layers of mist, one acknowledges, of other things, not only the vast magnificence of the sight beneath, but the sheer indifference that nature displays towards human beings. One may, now, oppose this realisation with the utilitarian aspect of nature, but this is the very perspective that blinds one towards the peculiar aspect of nature. The peculiarity lies in this factor of indifference, the acknowledgement of which, in most, is set in motion, when viewing beneath from a hilltop, or gazing at the ocean, or comprehending the vastness of a desert. Apart from the view of magnificence, this acknowledgement is also potent enough to make one restless, to make one think of things never thought of before -thoughts and feelings so intense that they may not be successfully rendered in language. The feelings accompany, of many other things, an urge of submission to -to dissolve in- the natural surroundings one is in the presence of. Nature is indifferent, and fully capable of manifesting itself into both of our linguistic binaries of good and evil, without being bound by man-made law, which gives nature its sacred quality- its ability to escape the grips of man-made reason. This sacredness makes nature intimidating. As much as we want to dwell in her “lap”, this desire is never devoid of such extremes as wanting to perish in the desert sands or the wish to be sunk by heavy downpour. Nature belittles us.
That is certainly why, for most, nature poses a threat. The cutting off of large trees prior to a forthcoming storm is not the only way by which nature has been reduced to utilitarian motives of humankind. Such motives, of other things, also backed by the fear and “awe” towards nature, has made mankind take the mightiest step towards Anthropocentrism -that of turning the tables by housing nature amidst his own self-made environment. But this fear and awe awakens, whenever we, as city-dwellers, find ourselves amidst the vastness of nature, and at that instant, the beauty of nature comprehended by the senses also carry alongside a strand of the urge to be succumbed -an urge for death, death by nature.
About the writer: A.M
I am a Masters graduate with keen interest in philosophy and literature. Being a music enthusiast I have the knack of resonating with music and i wish to expand beyond mu comfort zone. The future is unknown but I would like to maintain both my passion for music and my keen interest in Philosophy and Literature
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