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Waldo Emerson, 1836: 15)
This part is taken from Nature chapter one which depicts the harmonious relationship between human and nature, the inter-relation between human and nature is delicately shown. This harmonious relationship needs our human being’s maintenance and care. Striking the balance between human and nature depends on handling relationships, for instance, in our current point of views, those between population growth, the use of natural resources and natural protection. As what has mentioned above, eco-criticism is a term which has in some way stated the relation between human and nature, our human should not be satisfied only in basic living conditions but following the objective principle of the harmonious development of humankind and nature. The goal of building a harmonious relationship between human and nature is a substantial part of protecting our human’s long lasting existence and human culture. Nature is existing in an abstract form, but it can be felt by our human being. By direct communication with nature, we should communicate it with our whole-heart and with a kind of passion. One obtains spiritual and material wealth by following the objective principle of the harmonious relationship development of human and nature. The harmonious existence between human and nature is a circulated circle which can maintain the order of our universe.
Nature is a common link to the whole, the corresponding Heaven. Universe is not an isolated existence, and in which human and nature are mutual influenced, interactive, interrelated and interdependent with each other. A harmonious society needs a peaceful relation between the human beings and the nature.
3.2 Change and Continuity in the Human-Nature Relationship
To maintain the harmonious human-nature relationship is a long term and arduous task. Go back to early ages, we can see that our ancestor try their utmost to overcome difficulties while living without settled places or in wilderness, and they have a sense of respect towards nature. With time going, men perceive the human and nature relations quite differently. Take Emerson’s Nature for example, it stresses a balance between humans and nature in order to promote unity between heaven and the earth. In 1836 back in America, Emerson published his masterpiece Nature, from his description about nature, we could perceive the relationship between human and nature in a different perspective. And we may better understand how Emerson’s conception of nature.
“The western clouds divided and subdivided themselves into pink flakes modulated with tints of unspeakable softness; and the air had so much life and sweetness, that it was a pain to come within doors.”(Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1836: 33)
It shows the poet’s love of nature. Nature here has the function of comforting one’s feelings and refreshing one’s soul. Emerson means that the universe is composed of matter and spirit, and with the latter as the only origin. Nature includes both the common nature and man’s body. And Nature is brought by the over-soul. However, Emerson never denied or excluded the common nature. He had said in the introduction of Nature that “I shall use the word (nature) in both senses; —in its common and in its philosophical import.” So apart from the philosophical Nature, Emerson’s conception of the common nature also plays an essential part, which should never be omitted or neglected