What is William Wordsworth’s attitudes towards nature? How does he bring out his attitudes ?
William Wordsworth is a nature lover. He has written many poems based on beauty of nature. The poem ‘ She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways ‘ is one of them. That poem describes a girl called Lucy. Lucy represents nature. He brings out his attitudes towards nature with the help of Lucy. He has a very optimistic idea about nature. This poem shows how unsplit nature positively impact on man kind.
In the poem the poet has used the word she to describe both Lucy and nature. Lucy is in a very rural area. She is in a very natural environment. There are not many people around. So she is not sophisticated.
” She dwelt among the untrodden ways
Besides the springs of Dove
A maid whom there were none to praise
And very few could love . ”
The nature has described very beautifully in the poem. It shows the poet has a positive attitude towards nature. And he compares the girl Lucy to a violet and to a star. She is compared to nature actually. So we can find he admires the beauty of nature. He sees the uniqueness and rareness of Lucy. She has hidden from the world as she is not very social. And also she hasn’t spoiled with bad human qualities.
” A violet by a mossy stone
Half hidden from the eye “
And he compares Lucy to a lonely star in the sky. The poet appreciates nature very much. He sees the brightness , singleness and uniqueness of Lucy. He is also searching for the unspoilt nature. So this also shows how the poet loves nature. The poet is a person who can understand the real beauty hidden by the artificial things.
And finally he says Lucy has died. It is a great shock to him as he loves Lure as well as the nature. The poet uses the word ” ceased “ to describe Lucy’s death. Maybe he wants to show that its a natural death. And maybe he feels that a part of nature also buried with Lucy.
” Lucy ceased to be ”
He can’t bear that death. Lucy is a daughter of nature. She is an unspoilt , pure , beautiful girl. Also the nature in rural areas are not spoilt as there are not many people.
” And oh, the difference to me ”
Because of globalization and industrialization , the nature was spoilt. The poet is angry about that. The poet tells people never understand the value of nature until they need it. They neglect nature and try to build there their own world. So this poem shows how the unspoilt nature positively impact on man kind.
The poet has used many techniques to bring out his attitudes. He has used metaphors and smiles. They both combine with nature. So we can say he is a nature lover.
” A violet by a mossy stone ”
This flower is rare and somewhat unique. And because of mossy around it anyone can’t reach to that flower. So he shows how nature protect itself and he admires it.
And he uses a simile to show the brightness and singleness of nature.
” Fair as a star….. ”
He says Lucy is very beautiful. And also he suggests that she is not a social person. She lived unknown and died unknown. So the poet uses a single star to describe her. This also shows how he loves nature.
And he has used visual Imageries. The river Dove visualize the beauty of nature. And also a violet by a mossy stone and a lonely star in the sky also shows the beauty of nature. May be poet wants to convey the reader about the natural beauty of unsplit nature. He also uses his feelings to show his attitude towards nature. The word ” Oh “ gives a great impression to his idea.
By these things I can say ‘ She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways ‘ is a beautiful nature poem. William Wordsworth’s optimistic attitude towards nature has well shown here. And I think he has successes in showing his ideas about beauty of nature.