Nature as a Protagonist in Literature

Nature runs the world in cycles, it works as an essential element in the earth, its function is undoubted in the world and that is revealed in Touching Bottom, The Salt of the Jungle and A Field of Wheat, which are written by Kari Strutt, Nguyen Huy Thiep, and Sinclair Ross respectively. They all gave nature a special meaning to let them lead the development in each story. Initially, the role of nature is similar in placing obstacles for the main characters. Besides, nature has a similar effect on changing the main character’s attitude in these stories. On the other hand, the influence of nature’s existence on the main character differs in each story. Nevertheless, nature plays a significant role in all three stories which is helping to develop each story’s theme.

Initially, the role of nature is similar in placing obstacles for the main character. In the story, The Salt of The Jungle, Thiep confers nature a power to exist as a divine figure, it warns Old Dieu when Old Dieu goes against nature. For example, after Old Dieu pushed the young monkey to the edge of the precipice, which leads the young monkey goes over the edge, nature returns Old Dieu through forming “terrible mist” that reminds Old Dieu of the town’s

belief that “Every year, almost regularly, someone became trapped by the mist in this deep ravine and died” (136). That reminder does not only help in warning Old Dieu in correcting his behavior towards other animals, but also helps develop the idea of harmony which is related to its theme. Similarly, the writer of Touching Bottom, which is Kari Strutt, uses nature to place barriers on the character as well. The main character dares to swim in the murky water because of her fear of the shadow that created by leeches when she was a child. As she said, “For the rest of the summer, I refused to go in the water” (1). That indelible shadow creates conflicts between character and nature, which helps to form the theme in process.
Besides, nature works as an important element also sets barriers in A Field Of Wheat. The setting of the story is full of hope—-“the wheat is filling well” and Martha’s family is totally living on the wheat (97). However, as the story goes, nature destroys Martha and John’s hope through the hailstones, “Nothing but their wheat crushed into little rags of muddy slime…….Even as waste it was indomitable” (103). Martha and John’s hope goes up in smoke. Nature brings them hailstones with a result of nothing left, which creates conflicts between character and nature in helping develop the idea of nature consumes a person’s soul and relationships. Therefore, the tantamount role of nature pushing characters into an obstacle is to promote their theme.
Furthermore, nature has a similar effect on changing the main character’s attitude in those stories.

In The Salt Of The Jungle, nature uses its power guide Old Dieu to a correct way. Originally, Old Dieu was greedy, his own attitude towards monkeys has been shown through his words “Nature had saved that very monkey for him and no one else (133). The combination of his thought and greed spurs him to hunt monkeys. However, nature judges Old Diue’s behavior as inappropriate with the response of forming“terrible mist”, which resulting Old Dieu feel guilty and start to correct his behavior through releasing the monkey. In that story, nature shows its influence on the character through Old Diue’s correction. That promotes the theme of empathy and

unity.
Likewise, nature shows its effect in Touching Bottom as well, the character was afraid of murky water while when she pulled herself deeper into the water. She found “it was so soft and warm under the deep blanket of water” (5). This imagery creates a mood of warmth and peace which is opposite to the character’s thought to cheer up the character to come up with an idea to conquer the current. For example, “I know about currents now…. Swim parallel to shore and you can be free of them in a minute” (6). Nature in Touching Bottom helps the character to conquer her fear and strengthen her heart going further which leading the story to its theme of facing uncertainty.
Besides, nature alters the relationship between Martha and John in A Filed Of Wheat. In the setting of the story, Martha feels bad about John and she said, “She had loved John, for these sixteen years had stood close watching while he died— slowly, tantalizingly, as the parched wheat died” that tells readers the relationship between Martha and John is on the brink of collapse because of nature (98). However, nature also evokes the memory of love within them, which alleviates that problem. For example, after the hailstones, “Mounting within her was a resolve, a bravery. It was the warming sunlight. The strength and nearness of John, a feeling of mattering, belonging” and as John left the house, Martha felt there was no sunshine (102). The turning point shows the change in their relationship. Nature comes as a redeeming figure and brings life again meanwhile it promotes the theme of nature consumes person’s relationship. Through these three stories, the similarity of nature is that it shows its ability in changing character no matter in their attitude or relationship. Consequently, the role of nature in those three stories is helping character be dynamic, that highlights the theme in each story.
Last but not least, the influence of nature’s existence of the main character differs in each story. In The Salt Of The Jungle, nature is a deterrent and god-like figure which promotes scares. Originally nature’s existence and abundance reveal Old Dieu’s greed, but on the other hand, nature is it helps Old Dieu to be good. Due to Old Dieu thought of nature saves all for him, Old Dieu hunted the monkey and pushed the young monkey into the cliff with carelessness. However, through nature’s effort of creating a landslide and the female monkey’s determination of saving her relative, Old Dieu attempts to consider having the idea of releasing the monkey. For instance, “Old Dieu felt sad to the depths of his soul..…..Well, I think I’ll just release you” (139). That proves Old Dieu has changed his bad behavior under the pressure of nature’s existence and develops the importance of unity and harmony.
However, Touching Bottom shows a different existence of nature. Nature presents as murky water and current. In that case, murky water and current represent uncertainty and challenges to the main character respectively. Even though the existences of nature are struggling and challenging, the character still attempts to conquer her fear, from the text: “I drove back to the pool. The water is different right now”, which shows the character’s change is based on her courageous regardless of fear that promotes the idea of facing uncertainty rather than running away from them (8).
Conversely, nature’s existence affects Martha and John in A Field Of Wheat is dissimilar. Martha and John live in wheat, nature controls their lives wholly, for instance, “Three hundred acres. Bushels, thousands of bushels… … And prices up this year. It would make him young again”(98). Therefore, nature exists as a sovereign figure in Martha and John’s lives, nature confers them everything they have. That promotes the theme —— nature consumes a personal’s soul. Thus, nature’s existence is different in each story, especially its influence on the main character while they all share the same feature in developing their theme.
In conclusion, nature works as a basic element in each story. Its function is similar in some way and different in one aspect regarding of three stories. Nature plays a vital role regardless of their function in helping the development of character or the theme in Touching Bottom, The Salt of the Jungle and A Field of Wheat. First of all, the role of nature is similar in challenging the main characters through setting obstacles as the story goes. Afterwards, the similarity of nature is that it has a similar influence on altering the main character’s attitude in these three stories. Ultimately, the influence of nature’s existence of the main character varies in each story. Those characteristics of nature create conflicts between the character and nature and promote each theme. Accordingly, nature plays a significant role which is helping develop the theme of each story.