Ralph Waldo Emerson's Argument In Nature

Analysis of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Argument in Nature
Nature, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is a literary work about natural world and its properties. Nature is divided into an introduction and eight chapters. Emerson defines nature as everything separate from the inner individual. The inner individual meaning the soul. The titles of the eight chapters are: Nature, Commodity, Beauty, Language, Discipline, Idealism, Spirit, and Prospects. In chapter three, Emerson introduces the idea of beauty. Beauty is a part of the natural world and it serves our needs and desires. He makes it clear that beauty is a nobler want of humanity (Emerson, 944). Beauty is not absolutely necessary for the survival of man, but it is beneficial and extremely useful.

Emerson uses the shape of a circle as being the most perfect and the most beautiful geometrical form.

Emerson discovers that a landscape has a perfect order by comparing that landscape to a circle with a perfect shape. From this discovery, Emerson concludes that perfect order is composed of two parts: the eye looking at the scene and the natural light showing the scene’s beauty. Emerson claims that “There is no object so foul that intense light will not make beautiful” (Emerson, 945). Every object that is found in nature has its own beauty in one form or another, which can be seen when seeing the whole landscape. Emerson outlines three main points concerning the benefits and the uses of nature's beauty: the medicinal qualities, the spiritual elements, and the intellectual properties.
It is intriguing how Emerson determines the purpose of natural beauty he does this by writing “The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired so long as we can see far enough” (945). We depend on nature to balance out our lives. Nature gives us the views necessary to achieve

this.
Nature, according to Emerson, has medicinal and restorative powers. Nature restores and gives pleasure to a man. He gives examples of this physical beauty by referencing tradesmen and attorneys and how they become reinvigorated when they step out into the street and see the nature around them. Emerson basically says that walking in the woods or on the beach relieves and heals the individual who is exhausted by work and stress. However, Emerson says that if a man seeks out nature and its beauty for the restorative powers, that man will not receive those powers. Emerson points out that a man can only be rewarded by nature when the man unconsciously loses himself in nature, but a man who seeks out such healing will be tricked by nature and its illusions.
In addition to the healing properties of beauty, nature's beauty has many spiritual elements. It’s a natural beauty that is more spiritual compared to the physical beauty that can be seen. A noble person is allowed access to nature's beauty because nature prefers only those people who actively perform upstanding deeds and have pure thoughts. Emerson says “Every natural action is graceful. Every heroic act is also decent, and causes the place and the bystanders to shine” (946).
The last of the three points Emerson makes concerning the ideal beauty or the part of beauty is that it appeals to and is pleasing to the intellect. He claims that the intellect searches for the perfect order of the world. Emerson says “All good is eternally reproductive. The beauty of nature re-forms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation” (947). A never ending cycle, which is commonly expressed in the form of a circle, is created when man actively participates in society and then thinking about their actions and their experiences in the world. Emerson emphasizes that spiritual elements of beauty compels us into action. Emerson suggests that the understanding of the meaning of truth comes through spiritual thought.
Emerson also explains the meaning of taste and art. He says taste is the love of beauty and he says “Others have the same love in such excess, that, not content with admiring, they seek to embody it in new forms” (947). Art is the creation of beauty and Emerson says “A work of art is an abstract or epitome of the world. It is the result or expression of nature” (947).
Emerson concludes nature’s three points of beauty by stating that natural beauty is not supreme or superior; it is only one small part that makes up nature. Natural beauty is just an expression of the world. Emerson expresses his view of natural beauty as a way for man to heal and satisfy their soul.
Emerson provides many intriguing conclusions on the beauty of nature. His points of nature’s restorative powers, spiritual elements, and intellectual properties are simple and understandable. Emerson makes a distinction between man and nature. However, the assertions Emerson makes on his view of nature is inconsistent. On one side he is taking a naturalist point of view, where a man can only understand himself while in nature. Contrarily, Emerson say that the superior form of beauty is the intellectual form of beauty, where the inward and everlasting beauty is superior.
The eight chapters of Nature explain the different properties of nature.

Chapter three address the beauty of nature and the three main points on beauty. Beauty is a noble want and it pleases and restores man. Emerson says that to a man “natural forms are a delight” (945). Beauty is necessary for survival but it is extremely useful and helpful. Emerson believes that natural beauty has restorative properties, in that man is reinvigorated by the sight of beauty. He also believes that beauty shows spiritual elements. Only the virtuous can receive the benefits of beauty only when they are pure and do good deeds. Emerson lastly believes that natural beauty has intellectual properties. Natural beauty is shown in thought and action upon those thoughts. Emerson gives his view on nature and beauty. He presents his position well but it is slightly flawed. Emerson is inconsistent and at times seems to contradict himself. Although there are inconsistencies and contradictions, Nature is a great work of American

literature.