About Nature and Its Value - Essay Example

Both authors demonstrate their love for nature, but one can point out the main difference between them. Sigourney's language is rather apocalyptic because the author focuses on the negative effects that are the result of human irresponsibility towards nature. In turn, Whitman primarily emphasizes nature’s ability to recover and regenerate.

Sigourney is convinced that “man’s warfare on the trees is terrible” (n.p.). Considering nature as God's creation having holiness and innocence, the author notes with horror the fact that any intervention in nature even aimed at obtaining materials for the construction of dwellings is a crime against nature. Man has learned to use natural resources for his/her benefit. Man uses nature as a raw material for the creation of different things and objects, but people never think about the fact that their consumer attitude towards nature cannot be justified. Nature has value in itself, regardless of humans. Ignoring this fact, people commit violence against nature, which ultimately has a very negative impact on people's lives as well.

In turn, Whitman demonstrates above all romantic attitude to nature able to recover by absorbing everything that cannot be called life. Whitman is surprised that despite the huge number of dead bodies filling the earth, nature demonstrates a remarkable ability to regenerate and to please with its extraordinary beauty and harmony. Unlike the people who live and then die, nature is a constant cycle of rebirth. People believe that they are the crown of God's creation, but Whitman is convinced that nature is superior to humanity. Nature has a unique power that people do not have. Nature has greatness, while people are the fleeting moment on this earth. Nature is more valuable than humanity. “It gives such divine materials to men and accepts such leavings from them at last” (n.p.). Whitman considers nature as compost, which absorbs illness and death and creates a new life full of amazingly beautiful animals and plants. The plot of his second work “Song of the Redwood Tree” is slightly different, but still Whitman demonstrates a similar admiration for the greatness and cyclic recurrence of nature.

As one can see, both authors insist that nature has its value regardless of the people. Nature is a harmony of beauty and grandeur that can revive. Compared with nature, man is a mortal being. The main difference between the authors is how they describe the relationship between man and nature. Unlike Whitman, Sigourney expresses particular concern about the fact that people use nature as if is a soulless thing.