The Natural Things in Life

Rashid Hampton

10/5/12

English 7

 NATURE

I believe Ralph Waldo Emerson’s work should be taught in high school.  His writing is like poetry without rhythm.  Emerson has a wide vocabulary; also his use of figurative language is very interesting.  His work encourages people to value nature no matter what the age.

Emerson’s work actually teaches something.  In the passage “Nature” Emerson says “nature never wears a mean appearance”.  Even at its worst nature is still amazing.  For example, my classmates and I took a field trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on a rainy day.  Even after the rain I was still able to see the true beauty of the nature that surrounded me.  The rainfall was bad however through it all nature still stands.



Emerson’s work also influences a childish spirit to emerge, which would actually help other students gain the true hands on experience with nature.  In his passage he says “the lover of nature is he who inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other, who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood”.  What Emerson means by this quote is if someone is a lover of nature they have preserved their spirit from childhood in order to have an appreciation for nature.  For example, when a baby is exposed to any form of nature you can see their true feelings toward it.  If you were to keep that kind of enthusiasm toward the natural throughout life, you would truly become a lover of nature.  I believe I have some sort of childish spirit still in me but I could use a little enthusiasm.

Reading Emerson’s work causes a student to actually put effort towards opening their mind more.  In his essay he says “all natural objects make a kindred impression when the mind is open to their influence”.  What Emerson is trying to say here is that as long as you open your mind to something it may have a great impression on someone.  Every environment has a certain appeal towards someone.  Another example, when I stepped my foot on the grass of the Botanical Garden I was filled with a certain reverence.  I opened my mind to the influence of nature that surrounded me.

Although some people may feel that Emerson’s work shouldn’t be taught because it’s hard for children to understand transcendentalism.  I disagree; I believe that Emerson’s work teaches a lot.  In order to understand what he is really trying to get across in his work it requires a lot of thought.  So if the youth refuses to put their minds to it society would see as Emerson’s failure.  When actually the problem is that the youth of today are lazy.

All in all I believe Emerson’s work teaches a lot.  I feel that schools should continue to teach Emerson’s work in order to help them induce enthusiasm in the youth today.  Additionally to help them build an appreciation for the natural things in life.  Emerson is trying to teach the youth a well deserved lesson.  It is up to us to learn it.