To a vast majority of individuals seasons come and go with some barely noticing the transition. To others though-especially those whose lives are heavily affected by this annual variance-seasons mean a lot and are always alert to their alarms. A perfect embodiment of the latter group was Henry Thoreau. In his book titled Walden through a chapter ‘Spring’ Thoreau explains not only his long stay in Walden but also his keen observation of cyclic seasonal changes. His observant nature is well captured by his ability to effectively explain to great detail the continuous phenomena that occurs as winter gives way to spring. Significantly enough is the fact that he records daily occurrences. While obviously fascinated by the arrival of spring, it is quite obvious that Thoreau figuratively compares this seasonal phenomena to human life. He demonstrates a striking resemblance of nature to not only the creation of the human body but also to its physiology. This essay aims at demonstrating a link between Thoreau’s enthusiasm with nature and an inherent belief of humans improving themselves within the confines of nature. Additionally it explores the features of style that he utilizes to make his statement.
Fascination with nature
Ice on the Walden Pond fascinates Thoreau a great deal. He describes that among his attractions to come to the woods was the opportunity and leisure of witnessing spring in Walden. Thoreau watches the breaking of the ice in great awe of the mystery and goes on to describe in great depth the patterns of an early sign of impending spring that is the thawing of sand and clay which are flowing and often come before the leafy foliage that is yet to come. He takes great pleasure to the effect that the beginning of spring brings along it a new lease of life. He seems well aware of what to expect as he describes the behaviour of life-both from birds and plants –that accompany spring. His interest can also be demonstrated by his willingness to listen to older men and women that have lived through many seasons. He narrates how he encountered an elderly man, a close observer of the seasons, narrated to him his wonder at Natures operations (P.325).
Human betterment.
The vigour with which Thoreau observes the incoming of spring is hugely reflective of people who are highly cautious with their lives. He says that “Every incident connected with the breaking up of the rivers and ponds and the settling of the weather is particularly interesting to us who live in a climate of so great extremes.” A clear demonstration of a community that have to learn nature and adapt to all its provision. Sand foliage is symbolic; it exemplifies that life is organic, and the earth is not merely an artefact symbolic of dead history but rather a dynamic place.
Thoreau tries to decipher the signs in nature which typify the onset of spring. He goes ahead to question the role played by traditions, revelations which have been written and chronologies at a time like this. He makes a comparison of nature and the human body in both ways and says that it is not the hand which is spreading the leaf of a palm with its veins and the lobes (p 330). Reoccurrence of ‘life’ in spring; which was ‘dead’ in winter, suggests immortality. He utilizes imagery by stating that in Spring, we are walking on the corpse of winter noting that streams of water are carrying blood of winter. In winter, Walden had disappeared but had re-emerged with vigour and intense endurance during this period of spring. Likewise, the narrator is also rejuvenated and he becomes elastic another time. Similarly, the thoughts and deed of man as well as his ideations seems to benefit from the freshness that accompany spring. He gets a chance of a ‘fresh start’, more like a second chance in life. Thoreau goes on to elaborate on the rigid nature of the wildness and adds that if it did not exist then life would have been stagnant. He goes ahead to make comments concerning our constant need to do exploration and have an explanation of our longing to discover the mysterious. Whichever approach is taken, it is not possible to get enough of Mother Nature. She happens to be the chief source for all the power and a hallmark for the life which is beyond the span of our human potential. Thoreau talks about the seasons "rolling on into summer," concluding his narration in suspense, leaving the reader yearning for more. He then writes of his two-year stay at the pond saying, "…the second year was similar to it." He concludes by noting down the date he will depart away from the pond as being September 6, 1847. ‘
Another notable use of symbolism is his comparison of living and non-living nature. As Spring breaks, Thoreau first explains of how sand behaves and then he draws parallels between the behaviour of sand and the behaviour of vegetation. To him the sand creates the same form as does the living beings.
A key dimension of Thoreau’s writing can be seen in his zeal in religious comparisons. He enthuses in the presence of a supreme being heavily borrowing analogies more specifically from biblical quotations and ancient Greek beliefs. He acknowledges that God being this Supreme Being is the Creator of all life; an example is when he says that one hillside illustrated the principles of all the operations of nature. He further states that the Maker of this earth but patented a leaf. He further describes the new spring life being a laboratory for God. He explains that the laws that creates the flows of sand as being similar to those that guide the physical appearance of humans linking them to one supreme origin. Across this text, biblical characters are symbolically referenced. Old age for instance has been referenced to Methuselah, a bible character that outlived most individuals. Additionally, the nature of Cosmos creation as inferred in Greek mythology-one from chaos-has been compared to the creation of the world. Origin of spring is also compared to the realization of the golden age; a period right after creation where man lived at peace with himself and God. This can be equated to the time at the origin of man in the biblical Garden of Eden. Thus every human being is deemed as being given a new lease of life creating a freshness within humanity just as Adam and Eve had in the beginning of times before their fall from grace. At this time, the themes of redemption and forgiveness are brought to the fore. Thoreau argues that just as the Walden Pond is born to life at the beginning of spring, so does man also have another chance. The major challenge however with man is the fact that he rarely takes his chance, choosing to remain the old self. The in-depth description of melting ice is alluded to the redemption that was promised to Christians through baptism. Thoreau coincidentally brings together three cycles’: one of the day, one of the year and one for creation and says that each morning of these cycles presents human with an opportunity to get reborn. He says that the bird must always nest within a cloud.
Another theme that has been referenced in Thoreau’s essay is the Apocalypse which has been written and explained in Revelations- last book in the Bible. It promises a future for our lives which has already been transformed. It is important to note that Thoreau does not share in the widely accepted beliefs that dead are sleeping in their graves. If that was the case according to him, they already would have been woken up by the pure and bright light. This is not to say that Thoreau doesn’t acknowledge the destructive tendency of nature. He says that he is aware that nature ignores compassion and death and violence are part and parcel of its package. In addition, the commander calling wild geese is symbolic of the great armies of the Apocalypses. Just like the angel’s trumpet blare that will signal the start of Judgement Day, the blare in the angel’s trumpet is evoked by the honk in the head of the goose.
Conclusion
In this essay, Thoreau clearly demonstrates his huge admiration of nature. In particular he comes out as someone who really takes pleasure at the occurrences of change of seasons. His knack for details as to how seasons begin and the different signals for the origin of spring, clearly depicts one who is determined to self-improve. He has effectively used odd imagery to show how just like spring brings a freshness to existence, humans are always given a chance to change their ways, something that they unfortunately ignore.