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4.3 The Oneness of Man and Nature
This book proves to us continuously that Thoreau keeps a harmonious relationship with the nature. He takes the nature as a good and intimate friend. He is so busy that he has to learn different kind of knowledge every day and does not have time to care about whether he is lonely or not.
In the West, nature is characterized as an enemy, a monster or at least a mystery. Nature VS Humans’ relationship is rooted in western natural philosophy. God is the creator and endows humans with the dominance over nature. Therefore the early western ethics only cares about the existence of humans.
As a pure lover of nature, Thoreau likes to saunter through wood and over hills and fields alone, where he is absolutely free from all worldly engagements without any disturbance. Returning to harmony with nature and deeming nature alive is an everlasting theme and an important connotation of eco-literature. The pursuit of a simplified material life and rich spiritual life in nature as advocated and practiced by Thoreau is an ideal life style dreamed of and described by many ecological writers. They agree that adopting this way of life is practical. Besides, it is the premise of a harmonious coexistence with nature. The present estranged and tense relationship between man and nature is the due result of traditional man-centered view. So Man has to amend his wrongdoings by ceasing his rapacious exploration of nature, treating everything on the earth equally and believing nature has emotions and feelings and can make communications with human beings. Only in this way can man attain forgiveness, back to harmony with nature and abandon the solitary feelings.
Thoreau lives in Walden alone but does not feel lonely because he thinks he is a part of it. Over and over again, he enjoys being part of nature in his morning bathing, in his afternoon walks, in his bean fields. Even in his working in the fields, Thoreau does not feel a bit of dominance over nature. He denies his power over the beans, as does he refuse to be the slave of his field. He is seeking for a complete harmony with nature, and does not want to harm the harmony and their friendship on account of his participation.
4.4 Contemplation in Solitude
Firstly, solitude is a means of self-understanding. Self-understanding refers to the process of knowing yourself, knowing who you are. A deeper understanding of nature and a peaceful and solitary space would enable us to understand ourselves better. In studying nature and tasting loneliness, Thoreau’s primary concern is about the self and the individual, who controls the environment rather than passively observes it.
The nature in Thoreau’s mind is alive and is a friend who can talk with him, accompany with him, and teach profound knowledge to him. This kind of solitary consciousness is very meaningful for living a simple and natural life. Thoreau enriches his experience of nature and himself so that he will never feel truly solitary. Fishing teaches him about fish and the other living things in the pond, as well as about himself. Through the experience of natural objects, such as feeling changes in the weather and observing the natural course of the day, humans are delighted; yet the power to produce this delight does not reside in nature, but in the individual.
In the chapter of “Brute Neighbours”, Thoreau depicts in precise detail a battle between red and black ants and elevates the fight into an epic war between the “red republicans” and the “black imperialists”: I observed two large ants, the one red, the other much larger nearly half an inch long, and black, fiercely contending with one another. Having once got hold they never let go, but struggled and wrestled and rolled on the chips incessantly． I have no doubt that it was a principle they fought for, as much as our ancestors, and not to avoid a three-penny tax on their tea； I never learned which party was victorious, nor the cause of the war; But I felt for the rest of that day as if I had had my feelings excited and harrowed by witnessing the struggle, the ferocity and carnage, of a human battle before my door.