The Restorative Power of Nature
The Wye Valley
“If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief,
Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts
Of tender joy wilt thou remember me,
And these my exhortations! Nor, perchance—
If I should be where I no more can hear
Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleam
Of past existence—wilt thou then forget
That on the banks of this delightful stream
We stood together; and that I, so long
A worshipper of Nature, hither came
Unwearied in that service: rather say
With warmer love—oh! with far deeper zeal
Of holier love. Nor wilt thou then forget,
That after many wanderings, many years
Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs,
And this green pastoral landscape, were to me
More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!”
(Wordsworth 146-162).
This excerpt is found at the end of the poem, “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798” by William Wordsworth. At this point in the poem, Wordsworth is addressing his “dearest Friend,” his sister (118). He suggests that her memories of nature can restore her during "solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief" (146). Wordsworth hopes that, in the future, his sister will remember their time in nature and be comforted by these “healing thoughts” (147). Even after his death, his sister will remember how he worshiped nature religiously (“worshipper of Nature”) as if it were the most important part of life (155). He also describes his feelings for nature as a stronger devotional or sacred love.
These ideas of nature as a renewing source are significant because they are not exclusively applicable to Wordsworth’s sister but to the readers as well. I believe that seeking solitude in nature has beneficial aspects such as reducing stress and withdrawing from society; however, I do not think nature should be seen as a god or greater than God. Nature is a reflection of God and we can see his creativity and richness through his creation. Therefore, next time you find yourself in nature, take a second to admire who created it and connect with God’s loving presence.
Do you agree with Wordsworth’s view of nature as restoring? Why?
What is your favorite element of nature? How does it influence you?
Great job James! I personally believe that being alone in nature is restoring because it gives the opportunity to bring yourself closer to God. My favorite element of nature is the night sky and flowers. I love how there is a cycle aspect to both of them. A flower grows and dies, and the moon has its phases.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analysis of the passage you chose. I agree with your perspective that though nature is something to be enjoyed and honored, there's a line that shouldn't be crossed, and it shouldn't take God's place in our lives. Wordsworth crossed that line and focused too much on the creation rather than the creator. My favorite element of nature is the earth and plants. Its intriguing to think about the fact that they are alive alongside us, and it just brings so much more beauty into this world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how you said that nature should be loved and valued, but not higher than its creator: God. There is a limit to how much value the creation should receive compared to its creator. My favorite element of nature is water. There are many different forms of water. It can also give the impression of serenity or chaos, peace or catastrophe. The calm lake can deliver serenity the same way an ocean full of waves can give the sense of chaos,. but it is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI do think that nature has the power to restore those that enjoy it. Though I do not feel nature has as much of an impact on me as it does Wordsworth, I do enjoy being in it, especially when hiking.
ReplyDeleteYou did the same part of the poem as Will and me, and we all talked about something different. It's incredible how poetry gives us all these ideas.
ReplyDeleteI think that nature can be restoring if you know how to appreciate it, because it can give you a great feeling of mental peace and the opportunity to think about your concerns. My favourite element in nature it's the water, because it's shape, colour and texture really amazes me. It makes me think about how can we have all this incredible things.