America in the mid-nineteenth century was known as the land of opportunity and was a place where many immigrants came to start over. During this time, the country underwent some major changes. The population increased greatly from the vast amount of immigrants that moved there and many people began to move away from the agrarian culture or agriculture as a means of support. Industrialization occurred causing the removal of a lot of trees and animals habitats in order to build large factories, buildings and homes to support the millions of families now living there. In America today these problems are still occurring and have become worse. Our advancements in technology and overcrowding have severely impacted nature and create threatening impacts on life today.
In Emerson’s story, he explains the wonder of nature to man. He is amazed at its beauty and appreciates it deeply. He often goes there to be in solitude and feels a spiritual connection with it. Emerson writes, The infatuation and love for nature is not as persistent today as it was during Emerson’s time. Nature has been drastically changed by mankind. With a steady increase in population, more and more trees are being removed and replaced with small towns or cities. A multitude of forest and wild life are either lost or becoming extinct. The natural habitat for many animals is gone. The open fields and beautiful scenery that Emerson refers to cannot be seen on a large scale. As we cut away at the trees we take away from nature and also make it harder for animals to find shelter and support themselves and offspring.
“Neither does the wisest man extort her secret and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection” (p. 562).
Although, there are efforts to try and preserve nature and wildlife, our ignorance to potential outcomes has lead to further problems. Global Warming is one. Harmful chemicals are being released into the air and creating holes in the ozone layer. Ultraviolent sun rays that were once prevented from getting to earth are now coming through the holes and warming earth’s temperature and dramatically changing climates and environments. The ice caps are melting causing ocean levels to rise and animals like polar bears to go extinct. Climate is also affected. Places like California that normally do not get too cold, have now received freezing temperatures and received large amounts of snow. Emerson writes,
“For nature…the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as…is overspread with melancholy today” (p. 564).
This is true; nature as it once was has been drastically altered.
While growing up, I have been able to see the affects of what mankind has done to nature. I am from Kentucky and the winters there have temperatures around fifty and sixty degrees. We very rarely got snow and when we did it was only a light dusting that melted rapidly. Now the winters there are much worse. The temperatures get down to freezing or below that and we receive much more snow. I can remember having to get my first winter coat with gloves and a scarf. My mom would by us coats but they would be suitable for the mild weather we would receive. This temperature change is believed to be brought in by global warming. In my high school we learned about global warming and the affects that are occurring today.
In Emerson’s story he has a deep appreciation for nature. He was among some of the people who did not agree much with industrialization. Today that idea I think is not as prevalent. With the advancement of technology there are many cities across the U.S. I think people are more concerned with the advancement of mankind, rather than the preservation of nature. Now that all of these problems are occurring people realize that we should have done more to protect it. I do not believe many people thought nature played as big a role as it does in how the world works. I have never been one to actually enjoy nature and see the beauty in it, but in seeing how important it is, I do believe we should do more to take better care of it.
Nature has been greatly changed due to humans. With the removal of trees and animals habitats, and causing global warming, mankind is greatly impacted by this. If we continue on the path that we are going are world will only become worse. If we want to continue to advance as a people, we should focus on ways to protect our environment in our continuously changing world.
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