Abstract This paper examines the poet's writing styles and shows how we are so accustomed to thinking of William Wordsworth as the quintessential Romantic poet ? a man in love with the idea of a simple life lived close to nature ? that we are apt to overlook the fact that his relationship with nature is in fact a somewhat ambivalent one, or at least a complex one.
From the Paper "While Wordsworth will always be known for the clarity and undiluted Romanticism of "Tintern Abbey", to assume that his stance vis-?-vis nature in this poem constitutes an adequate description of all of his connections to and understandings of the external world does him a disservice. To do so would be to equate his passion for the natural world and the necessity of direct human connection to nature for a simple-minded sort of tendency to ramble on about beauty. Rather, if we look beyond "Tintern Abbey" to the whole body of his work, we came to a fuller understanding of the ways in which he embraced the human as well as the natural world around him. "St. Paul"s?, a poem that Wordsworth penned in 1808 but never published, is an excellent instrument to use through which to discover the complex worldview of this poet."
Abstract This paper looks at a classic example of naturalism within literature by examining London's short story. It analyzes this story which was published in "The Century Magazine" in 1908 with its themes of the fragility of human survival and the ways in which we as humans are defined by the ways in which we are at odds with the rest of nature. The paper examines how this story epitomizes all the typical characteristics of 'naturalism'.
From the Paper "In literature, Naturalism extended the tradition of realism, aiming at an even more faithful, unselective representation of reality. It is not coincidental that the rise of Naturalism should follow the rise of photography as an artform (and as a technological possibility), for both photography and naturalism (whether in literature or in the visual arts) attempted to give to the audience or reader a sense of looking at unmediated, uncreated life. Jack London does not want us to remember that we are reading a story that he has made up, but rather he wishes to give us the sense that we ourselves are there. His writing is meant to be invisible, presented to us like a documentary photograph without moral judgment."
Abstract This paper examines how the themes in "Power" by Linda Hogan are centered around nature and the unity of nature and human beings and how these are also themes that are touched upon in "Sacred Hoop" by Paula Gunn Allen. It analyzes how, for the Native American, all creatures are united in a "sacred hoop", all events are cyclic ,and how the symbolism used by Hogan focuses on images from nature. It looks at how most prominent among these are the panther, the snake, the tree called Methuselah, and the storm.
From the Paper "Both the healthy and the sick panther are connected with Omishto's Taiga tribe of the "Panther Clan". Omishto and Ama are representative of a people who is dying, like the panther. She attempts to explain this in an essay for a class assignment, but gives up, knowing they will not understand. This shows that she is experiencing the unfamiliar sensation of being disconnected from other living beings. She cannot identify with the white people, their religion or their traditions. She is unable to adapt to the invasion, and experiences a kind of sickness imposed upon her and her people."
Abstract This paper reviews and analyzes two particular works from American naturalist writer Jack London who focuses on the weakness, vulnerability and impermanence of human beings, juxtaposed against the strength, power and permanence of nature. This paper details the author's use of nature in his short stories, "The Law of Life" and "To Build a Fire." This paper details the common threads in both stories which include the laws and cycles of nature, the power of nature and human beings' fundamental vulnerability to nature's strength and permanence. This paper describes how in both works of writing, London creates nature, in particular the Arctic cold and snow, as a sort of character in and of itself, with which human beings are forced to interact, based on their being forced to respect nature's own power. This paper also contains various portions of text from both works of writing.
From the Paper "Within "To build a Fire", then London implies that an animal's instincts, unimpeded by the prideful stubbornness of humans, are superior to those of humans. Animals, for instance, know that they cannot control nature; therefore, they respect it. Humans, on the other hand, having learned to control a great deal of their natural environment and have, therefore lost their fear of all natural environments. Animals like the husky of this story wisely and instinctively respect the power, mystery, and fickleness of nature; people such as the hiker sometimes do not, to their detriment. Because humans adapt to environments, the man attempting in vain to build a fire believes he can adapt himself even to this one, that he will be, somehow, invincible against the freezing temperature."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that when Kate Chopin wrote 'The Awakening', several themes were popular in literature. One of these was naturalism, or the belief that natural forces, such as heredity, environment and physical and emotional drives motivate people to act as they do. The writer points out that "The Awakening" includes numerous examples of how naturalism impacts character Edna Pontellier's values, thoughts and actions. More importantly, the book shows what happens when one's natural inclinations conflict with an awakening of unconventional and "unnatural" desires. The writer relates that ironically, it is the sea, a true part of nature, which carries Edna away for the very last time and allows her to disappear forever from her internal conflicts. The writer concludes that in the end, according to Chopin, nature wins.
From the Paper "In Victorian times, women were primarily recognized as mothers and wives or, as in The Awakening, even possessions of their husband. In several instances, the book's characters confirm this role. For example, in an early scene, Mr. Pontellier criticizes Edna for not attending her sick child and worries that she is not a proper mother. Although these demands on women are part of the patriarchal society, they are based on the belief that women bear the children in the human species and have, or should have, an innate need to nurture and protective their children."
"Edna is a complex character who has many sides to her nature. Part of her recognizes the need, in fact is inwardly driven, to be a good mother."
Abstract The writer of this paper examines the plots and main characters in both works while detailing the various similarities. Both stories revolve around the struggle to survive, both within and against nature, which becomes a dominant character in both respective tales. The writer contends that Crane's novel is naturalistic, as it describes circumstances where man learns the true power of nature. The same holds true for "Cast Away," which focuses on one man's survival against the elements of nature. This paper explores how both the main characters in each story are at first angry and defiant towards nature, yet within time, both become respectful and resigned to its forces. This paper discusses the powerful magnitude of the ocean in both works, while also detailing the fact that nature pays no attention to time, which seems to go by with agonizing slowness.
From the Paper "In both works, time, of which nature pays no heed, goes by with agonizing slowness. Nature, after all, is indifferent to any of humanity's temporal, spatial, or physical needs, and reminds characters in these works of this often. The ordeal of "The Open Boat" is shorter than that of Cast Away, only one night as opposed to four years, but to the trapped men on the open sea, it feels interminable. They spend the night merely enduring their fate, guessing if someone has seen them from shore. In Cast Away, Chuck, in his pre-island life at FedEx, often told fellow employees, "Time is our enemy." Once alone on the island, however, it becomes Chuck's enemy (but eventually, his friend) in whole new ways. In both works, nature takes command of time, indifferent to human needs. Chuck initially spends his days just learning to survive."
Abstract This paper argues how the main characters, in Michael Ondaatje's novel, "Anil's Ghost", revolve around nature's authority on the human experience. It describes in depth, the microcosm of the story as adorned with verbal illustrations of Sri Lanka's natural endowments and qualities.
From the Paper "To achieve a comfortable understanding of any world or circumstance should require a confident understanding of the environment that frames it. This is something that an author, when crafting a universe for readers that must be assumed ignorant, needs always to retain in cognizance. Certainly this was an underlying element to the process by which Michael Ondaatje rendered Anil's Ghost, a novel that decisively revolves its prime players around the criticality of nature to the human experience. This is so much the case in this piece, in fact, that nature itself takes on a dynamic character role, subject like many of the actual characters to dramatic shifts in temperament, exertion of authority and necessary seasonal routine. As such, Ondaatje is insistent upon integrating nature's participation into actions, anecdotes and memories of great significance in imparting his story. Throughout Anil's Ghost, Ondaatje employs devices embedded in the concepts of a narrative shaped world, a reader shaped narrativity and a network of knowledge systems in order to investigate the numerous functions of nature therein, and consequently illuminating the social circumstances that his character's experience. "
Abstract This paper looks at the three writers of the British Romantic period (roughly 1789-1832)-two poets and one novelist. How each of these writers addressed the concept of nature is examined with a detailed discussion of at least one of their works in this connection. The poets are Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats; the novelist is Jane Austen. In order to appreciate the context within which each considered the concept of nature, a general background of the period in which the Romantic period developed is outlined. Each artist is then considered in turn, before some conclusions are put forward.
From the Paper "The careers of the three writers being examined were at the culmination of the Romantic period. This was in an age which, following on the series of successful wars that had established British power all over the world, was one of the gloomiest in British history. If in some ways the England of 1800-20 was ahead of the rest of Europe, in others it lagged far behind. The Industrial Revolution, which was to turn Britain from a nation of peasants and traders into a nation of manufacturers, had begun; but its chief fruits as yet were increased materialism and greed, and politically the period was one of blackest reaction."
Abstract This paper is a general sketch about how modernism developed after World War I, with strong influence by 19th Century realism and naturalism. There is a description of firstly, the development of realism, and secondly, the development of naturalism, which leads to the beginnings of modernism and its purpose.
From the Paper "After World War I, American people and the authors among them were left disillusioned by the effects that war had on their society. America needed a literature that would explain what had happened previously and what was happening to their society. American writers turned to what is now known as modernism. The influence of 19th Century realism and naturalism and their truthful representation of American life and people was evident in post World War I modernism. "
Abstract This paper discusses the works of Thoreau and Emerson and the birth of the transcendentalist movement in U.S. literature. The author looks at Emerson's essay "Self Reliance" and "The American Scholar" and Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" and "Walden".
From the Paper "Henry Thoreau and Ralph Emerson were two of the romantic American writers of the transcendentalist movement, which in essence stresses that less is more, that nature is to be studied, to be a true intellect you must read the classics and that living a life off the beaten path is more satisfying than one on the beaten path. Though Emerson began his writings first, Thoreau and Emerson are both credited with this movement. Emerson was clearly the founder of this initial movement, but Thoreau's writings were also critically acclaimed."
Abstract The writer of this well-researched paper defines human nature as the full scale of human behavior that is believed to remain constant for long periods in time and does not differ in the context of the various cultures that are seen in the world. This paper examines various theories on human nature, in which each possesses a distinctive view on the subject, including that of Plato. According to Plato, there is an intellectual soul that is resident in the brain of an individual. This paper analyzes the topic of human nature by focusing on the opinions and theories of Thomas Hobbes and David Hume. Thomas Hobbes is considered one of the individuals responsible for the transition from the medieval way of thinking to the modern thought process in Great Britain. This paper touches on Hobbes' book "Leviathan" and his views on human nature which are very clear. Hobbes' conception of human nature is a mechanistic one. Hobbes contends that the study of the movements of the physical bodies would prove to be enough in explaining all that goes on in the universe. Hume's approach to human nature differs from that of Hobbes. Hume contends that we, as humans, can only make inferences on what would happen in the future by what we have experienced in the past. The writer contends that Hume progresses from there to say that we would be incorrect to believe that this knowledge and experience of the past is enough to justify what would happen in the future.
Table of Contents:
Hobbes
Limitations in Hobbes' View of Human Nature Hume
Ethics of Reciprocity
References
From the Paper "There have been several theories that have been put forward on human nature and each of them possesses a distinctive view on human nature. The earliest views on human nature of substance come from Plato, whose thoughts on life were influenced by Socrates. In the view of Plato there is an intellectual soul that is resident in the brain of an individual and an appetitive beast that is to be found in the belly and genitals of the individual. The role of the former was in keeping the latter in check and over a period of time escape from this uncomfortable cohabitation by welcoming death. This dualist theory of Plato did have immense on the thoughts on human nature and that time and this influence can be seen in Christian theology with the Gospel of John. The extension of these beliefs of Plato on human nature had their influence on Descartes and led him to formulate the theory that man is made up of a soul that thinks and a body that is an extension of it."
Abstract In this article, the writer declares that early proponents of natural law argued that people have common sense and are born with an intuitive knowledge of right and wrong. This paper discusses that human rights are those rights that are based on human nature. The writer examines how human rights grew from natural rights. It argues that conceptions of right and wrong are not based on an unchanging, eternal order, but are negotiable; that is, open to revision as the years go by and times change. It is seen, for example, how women and children have used natural rights arguments to gain rights that formerly were denied them.
The writer concludes that human rights have evolved from natural law and natural rights and that human rights are intimately connected to morality and ethics.
Outline:
Introduction
Natural Law and the Concept of Rights
Changing the Law in Response to a New Moral Awareness
Human Rights for Women
Juvenile Death Penalty
Rights versus Utilitarianism
Conclusion
From the Paper "More than anyone else the philosopher John Locke influenced the shape and form of democracy in the United States. He argued that human beings have certain fundamental rights, which governments cannot take away. He argued that no individual has a natural right to rule over others, and that a person's natural state is a state of freedom. Freedom, he explained, was not the same as license or permission to do whatever one wants; rather, freedom is based on the "law of reason which places precise limits on our behavior". Not everyone is able to enjoy their natural rights because other people and the government sometimes violate them; therefore, Locke suggested that men assemble and choose leaders who can be trusted to protect their natural rights. The primary function of government ought to be to protect the natural rights of its citizens, to protect citizens from other states, and to establish and maintain internal order. He suggested that oppressive governments (governments that had broken trust with the people) could, and should, be overthrown; in other words, sometimes, revolution is justified--especially if the government violates the natural rights of its citizens. In questions where natural rights are not the issue, then the will of the majority should prevail. His ideas profoundly inspired the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence; moreover, the Constitution was written mainly to protect the people's rights from government interference, to insure internal order, and to establish defense."
Abstract The paper gives the opinions of both philosophers regarding natural law and homosexuality and addresses the Christian conception of natural law. Further, the paper asserts that many of the claims for a source for natural law are descriptive and are then distorted into something prescriptive. The paper concludes that natural law is not "natural" at all but is an artificial explanation for why certain behaviors are classified as unnatural.
From the Paper "When we say something is unnatural, however, there is no objective measure for this term. Man-made laws emerge from the social contract, the mythical agreement by which society was created and by which those who join society agree to abide by its laws. Thus, we know what a law is, we know what breaking a law means, and we do not argue about whether we ought to obey or not because we have accepted this precept as part of the social contract. We are all part of society, so we are all subject to society's laws."
Abstract This paper explains that idealism claims that the world is beautiful, everybody is good and a person can adopt high goals and adhere to them though ideas rather than material forces; on the other hand, naturalism is the view that nature alone is real. The author points out that nature has its share in the life of the soul and, in its numerous manifestations, deeply influences human life; but this natural life of the soul is peripheral, merely an appendix to the material phenomena of nature. The paper contends that modern science has not been the result of a gradual accumulation of sensual perceptions but rather a deliberate break with the entire stock of traditional knowledge.
From the Paper "Technological progress becomes even more exciting when it enters into the service of the social idea, which demands not only a small elite but also humanity at large should profit by it. This demand creates an entirely new challenge, requiring tremendous energy but also giving rise to new complications and harsh contrasts which, in turn, intensify the passion of man's work in this world and enrich its meaning. The transformation of environment has become the purpose of human life; life seems real only insofar as it deals with things. Man no longer needs to escape to an invisible world in order to find and realize exalted goals."
Abstract This paper discusses naturalism in relation to ethics. It explores various forms of naturalism in relation to the individual, and it selects a form of naturalism that appears to dictate a clear path for ethical living in modern society. The paper further explores the notion of duty in relation to ethics, and makes proposals on naturalism that is suited for life.
From the Paper "Naturalism can be defined in several forms within ethics. While there is the concept of the individual existing in nature with a natural law that corresponds with their ethics, there is also the concept of ethics as a natural flow of the inner human being that seeks what he or she believes is the natural life course to follow. Naturalism can be derived from the Ancient Roman philosophy found in Stoicism in which individuals learned to be ambivalent about life, and that an individual's existence was guided by virtue. Of these ideals the most effective for modern living would appear to be naturalism in relation to natural ideals. The concept of naturalism suggests that individuals have natural wants, desires, and goals in life and that in realizing these elements of existence the individual is being ethically in tune with his or her place in the world."
