"...all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all."
This quote, I think, sums up the overall meaning of Ralph Waldo Emerson's, Nature. It is true that when surrounded by nature takes away the ego in everybody. There is nothing to compete with or be greater than in nature. He is one with nature--a part of nature. All a person can do is sit there and stare. Emerson said he is a transparent eyeball, meaning he sees everything for what it really is and should be seen as. He could look at the birds and not think about how obnoxious their chirping is, but how their songs are so beautiful. He is nothing. Emerson is still and silent while admiring the natural surroundings. He is not thinking about anything except the beauty. He sees everything for its true value and not what it has evolved to be known as. I really cannot think of any words to describe this, but I can see it in my mind. I see that Emerson sitting in the most random part of the woods, staring with no emotion on his face but his wide eyes are taking in everything with out any thought. As hard as it is to explain in words, it is so easy to be that transparent eyeball Emerson wrote about.
Jacqui,
ReplyDeleteNice post! i really enjoy the way that you 'visualize' Emerson, sitting here in the woods, waiting for transcendence. I think you're right, too, to note that Nature seems to be a key component in this process.