The Theme of Nature in Big Two Heart River by Hemingway - Book Report/Review Example

The characters in this story are shown to always go back to the country to become regenerated. It is in nature that the fishermen of the hunters share their moment of triumph after getting a nice catch or kill. This article analyzes how Hemmingway depicts the themes of nature in his book where nature is seen as a book of human history, as a structural force and the relationship between nature and the human body. Nature as a book of human history             In this book, the human history is seen to be engraved in nature.

A good example of this is the railroad which cut across the land. In this book, the train is represented as one form of destruction that has come with modern civilization. The swamp which is used later echoes the train which is a symbol of the victory over nature through conquest and industrialization. The train is seen as the rift between the urban sphere which comes with complicated personal and social relationships resulting in major division and perfection in nature where man struggles with their inner self.

   However, despite the development that man may have had on nature, this has been seen to be futile since in the story no form of urbanization is visible in the “two heart river”. All have been destroyed with the buildings such as the Mansion House Hotel and the streets having been burned to the ground (Hemingway, 159). As such, forces of nature such as fire are seen to have more power than the work of man. It can thus be seen that nature has a way of clearing away the influence of man and creating an empty slate for a new life.

Fire in this case can be viewed as a renewing force and not as the destroyer. This is because after all forms of urbanization have been eradicated, it is now possible for a man to communicate with nature which helps in discovering one’s inner self-enhancing intellectual and spiritual growth. Nature as a structural Force             In his narration, Hemingway uses natural features as a way of describing the landscape. In his initiation to nature, he gazes at the movement of currents, the fish, gravel, and sand and this evokes in him some revelation.

In this, nature is seen as a structured form through which the creativity of the mind is promoted. This initiation into nature does not cause a transformation in Nick but he becomes adjusted to it. Nick does not believe in symbolism or abstraction and believes that nature should be taken as it is. The world should be seen like it since it is full of eminence. One should not be persuaded to find out is reflected by nature (Hemmingway, 111). Nature is this book is not an ornamental setting of the story in this book but it is directly inscribed into the character's experiences.

Nature and the Body             The body is seen to be directly communing with nature. His senses of touch, smell, and sight help him to perceive things in his surroundings. The body is said to act as the center of perception. In this case, Nick does not rely on his reason or thought but on his physical contact with nature. Nick acts as the focalizing in the book by mouthing his experience with nature. It can thus be concluded that nature in this book is based purely on aesthetic values and not intellectual contemplation.

As such, when being initiated into nature, Nick has to empty his thoughts, longings and needs except for the basic one and this makes it possible for him to perceive nature as he does in the book. Nicks's body reaction can be seen as his body responding to the powers of nature (Hemmingway, 176). In the different scenes, the contact with objects in nature is through feeling their attributes such as the hardness, softness, temperature, and resistance. Reflection             From writing this essay, I realized that the approach that we may have on nature influences our perception.

In this book, Nick approaches nature with an open mind without trying to contemplate anything. However, in most cases, we approach nature with the intention of trying to demystify it most we fail to enjoy the true beauty of nature. Approaching nature this way would make it possible to appreciate its aesthetic value and make our lives more fulfilling. Although I had a problem developing the different topic sentences, I was able to develop them in the end. This has enabled me to increase my skills in arranging my ideas in essay writing and giving the essay flow.