emerson`s nature .

Lines chosen: “Nature, in the common sense, refers to essences unchanged by man; space, the air, the river, the leaf. Art is applied to the mixture of his will with the same things, as in a house, a canal, a statue, a picture” (Emerson).

When I first read these lines, they seemed powerful, but at the same time I was not exactly sure what Emerson was saying. I read it over tons of times and I think I got an idea of what Emerson is implying about nature. I believe Emerson is saying that nature are these subjects which man cannot change, it is impossibly for man to make go away or for it to change it. Space, air, the river, and the leaf are the sense of nature. However, art is what man takes from nature (space, air, river, and/or leaf) and adds his work to it. Man takes nature and adds his own handwork to build or make a house, a canal, a statue, or a picture. In conclusion, I think that overall Emerson is trying to make the impression that men actually do work with nature, even if it is not noticed so suddenly.