Nature by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Nature
2. The central theme of the poem Nature by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is spiritualism/death. In his poem, Longfellow makes two or three comparisons that relate to Nature being one’s mother—Mother Nature—that calmingly leads one by the hand to the eternal resting end; and how one may not want to leave due to the luxurious materials that cause joy. One arrives into this world with nothing and exits with nothing.
3. For example, Longfellow makes a comparison between a fond mother and Mother Nature when he states, “As a fond mother, when the day is o’er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed,” and when he later states, “So Nature deals with us, and takes away…” He makes this connection because Mother Nature is like a loving mother that takes us by our hands and slowly walks us through the process of life until the day arrives where everything comes to an end—death. Another comparison he makes is when he compares the small child to adults when he states, “…Half willing, half reluctant to be led and leave his broken playthings on the floor, still gazing at them through the open door, nor wholly reassured and comforted By promises of others in their stead..” and when he states, “Leads us to rest so gently, that we go Scarce knowing if we wish to go or to stay..” This comparison relates to the theme spiritualism/death because the child did not want to stop playing with his toys, but as his mom takes him to bed he watches them while she talks to him about the playthings—toys—being better in his dreams. In the same way, the child represents an adult that does not want to be taken to bed to rest in enteral happiness by Mother Nature because he/she does not want to leave behind all the materials they own.
4. Playthings- a thing to play with; toy
2. The central theme of the poem Nature by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is spiritualism/death. In his poem, Longfellow makes two or three comparisons that relate to Nature being one’s mother—Mother Nature—that calmingly leads one by the hand to the eternal resting end; and how one may not want to leave due to the luxurious materials that cause joy. One arrives into this world with nothing and exits with nothing.
3. For example, Longfellow makes a comparison between a fond mother and Mother Nature when he states, “As a fond mother, when the day is o’er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed,” and when he later states, “So Nature deals with us, and takes away…” He makes this connection because Mother Nature is like a loving mother that takes us by our hands and slowly walks us through the process of life until the day arrives where everything comes to an end—death. Another comparison he makes is when he compares the small child to adults when he states, “…Half willing, half reluctant to be led and leave his broken playthings on the floor, still gazing at them through the open door, nor wholly reassured and comforted By promises of others in their stead..” and when he states, “Leads us to rest so gently, that we go Scarce knowing if we wish to go or to stay..” This comparison relates to the theme spiritualism/death because the child did not want to stop playing with his toys, but as his mom takes him to bed he watches them while she talks to him about the playthings—toys—being better in his dreams. In the same way, the child represents an adult that does not want to be taken to bed to rest in enteral happiness by Mother Nature because he/she does not want to leave behind all the materials they own.
4. Playthings- a thing to play with; toy