Harmony in Emerson's Nature

Harmony in Emerson's Nature

I would like to address two points in my discussion on Nature. One I just found interesting and the other is to examine the idea of unity and harmony presented throughout the work. While I was rereading, I noticed in the beginning Emerson mentioned "horizons" three times. I know Emerson is sometimes redundant, but to me he was trying to tell us the importance of the horizon. When he was writing about who owns what property, he mentions a "property in the horizon which no man has." Somewhere in the distance is a place on earth that belongs to itself. "In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature." The last time seems to sum it up- "The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough." To me, horizons represent all that is possible in the world. When we look out into the world, we can see the horizon, which is an ending, but all the space in between is just the beginning. The sun rises and sets over the horizon. It is where each day begins and ends We can only see so far, but we know there is so much more to be seen. If for some reason you don’t like what you see, then there is always the hope that you can change it, because you can see all the possibilities.

I also think I can tie the way Emerson views children into my interpretation of the horizons. He writes in Chapter 1 that the true love of nature has a deep connection between their "inward and outward senses" and still seems to maintain "the spirit of infancy." Children can truly see the meaning of the world, without the deceit and anger that some adults choose to see with. Children are connecte...

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...ious mind. But, twice Emerson notes that nature is a presence that shines through us, not around us, but through our bodies. So, to me, it is very evident that nature is indeed a part of our soul. But I guess our souls are outside of our bodies. Maybe nature flows through our souls not our actual bodies. Sometimes I forget my body and my soul are separate, but maybe they aren’t and that is what Emerson is trying to say-Everything is connected, we are all one.

To sum up my point on harmony between man and God and Nature, I would like to give you one last quote - "The aspect of nature is devout. Like the figure of Jesus, she stands with bended head, and hands folded upon the breast." She loves us and respects us and only demands the same. Or will we kill her on the cross, stripped of all that was once hers? But, Jesus came back, do you think we will?