Calling for Harmony

Abstract

Though is read as of natural ravishment, but as an allegory, it is Wordsworth's contemplation of nature and human society. With vivid description of narrator's feeling through whole of nutting, Wordsworth reveals relationship between Nature and human society. With mutilated scene at end, he suggests it should develop new harmonious relationship between Nature and human society. Key word: Wordsworth harmony nature Nutting is one of these poems that Wordsworth wrote during his hard times in Germany in 1798. It is narrative description of Wordsworth's boyhood experience. The poem itself is a of natural ravishment (Curran 233), telling story how boy broke beautiful scene of nature in order to get nuts. While Austin suggests that Nutting reflects the destructive side of man which is of man's learning process (173), Jacobus holds that it is a poem of instruction and Wordsworth's most obviously sexual and sexualizing approach to question of nature's (254). From different points of view, scholars reveal many potential intentions of Wordsworth, even far beyond discussion on gender of nature. Though with many explanations, there is one thing in common. Wordsworth is worshiper of Nature. It is acceptable to take look how Wordsworth describes Nature in his work in order to find out what he thinks about it. Wordsworth has seen destruction that human society has brought to nature in his time. He might seek out better relationship between human society and nature. From this point of view, Nutting can be read as an allegory. Wordsworth tries to suggest new harmonious relationship between human society and nature by revealing true relation between them. In Nutting, narrator marches into nook to collect nuts. As only person in this poem, narrator represents human society, and nook where he collects nuts represents Nature. The relationship between nook and narrator symbolizes relationship between Nature and human society. In beginning, narrator tells time of event. It happens in an ordinary day, One of those heavenly days that cannot die. It suggests that such kind of action could happen on any day of life. And action is one part of life. It should not be surprised to see it. The purpose of nutting is not for food, but in the eagerness of boyish hope. The boyish hope is understood as desire to show one's abilities instead of making living. In his pleasure principles, Epicurus distinguishes different kinds of desires: natural and necessary, such as food; natural and unnecessary, such as sexual pleasure; neither natural nor necessary, such as luxury or popularity