Life and Death in Nature and Civilization
In Tom Sawyer, there is a clear distinction between the town and the nature that surrounds it; they are separate and distinct worlds. The town is a world of order, structure and human control. It is based on human values, morality and is governed by human interactions. Nature, on the other hand is beyond human control, and therefore looked upon as a wild place. This is because it does not have the same values and structure that human society does. There is also a distinction between Tom’s mentality (which appears in his friends at times) and that of the rest of the town. Nature is fascinating; full of life and freedom to Tom whereas for the rest of the town it is an unfortunate part of the world that has not yet conformed to keep up with society’s latest trends.
One thing that really struck me was the connection between life and death, and what was what in regards to the town and nature. The townspeople view the town as the hub of life, thriving with activities, church and chores. They also consider nature to be dangerous, with the power to take away life. This is demonstrated in two separate occasions, first when Tom and the Pirates go to the island and second when Tom and Becky are lost in the cave. These two cases once again bring up the difference in perspective. To Tom, the experiences (mostly) were an adventure, a taste of freedom. To the townspeople it was a verification of the need for security. But it seems to me, that in the case of the island, Tom finally got a chance to live. There is a certain dullness to his existence in the town and to really enjoy life he must make up games that go against the town’s values. In nature, he is constantly appreciative. As he lives in nature, there is a “delicious sense of repose and peace in the deep pervading calm and silence of the woods.” This glorification of nature is both beautiful and accurate. It suggests that nature brings to life the quiet and speculative actions of humans. What I see most in this quote however, is the argument that nature provides the most real experience in life, whereas the town is full of fake customs that distract from real life. The stalagmite in the cave, which cruelly prolonged Injun’s life and gave him a sick hopelessness, gives the final implication that nature is real life. The rock has been there for years, throughout countless human histories; and will continue to be there for many more. In addition, the rock has a purpose to help human life on its greater path.
In Walt Disney’s Bambi, nature is portrayed in a similar way. It is the sanctuary of life, in which love blossoms, friendship is strong and family is even stronger. Through these positive and caring relationships, life thrives in the completely natural environment of the forest. Clearly, nature is where real life is found. But there is a threat, and that is not sublime nature. It is man. The animals are used to sublime nature and know that it can be dealt with. Not man. Man comes in and ruins nature, and destroys lives and relationships. Like the town, man has an agenda to civilize nature and to control nature. This correlates to Man’s selfishness, in focusing on only their interests and not those of nature. But as Bambi, Tom Sawyer and even Flannery suggest, nature will prevail in the end and live through him history; recovering, responding and growing.
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