The Connection of God and Nature in Bryants Thanatopsis :: essays research papers

The Connection of God and Nature in Bryants ThanatopsisThanatopsis, by William Cullen Bryant says that disposition tells us different thingsat different times. When we are having good times, God and nature attribute to that. When we are having bad times, God and nature are willing to suspensor us through ourproblems. In this poem, Bryant makes a connection between God and Nature throughsociety, imagery, mess, status, and trust.Although Thanatopsis is the Greek word for meditation on death, it similarly rear beseen as a meditation on nature. Nature is being portrayed as the main influence andsupporter of the society She has a sound of gladness, and a smile/ And eloquence ofbeauty, and she glides/ Into his darker musings, with a mild/ And healing sympathy, thatsteals away/ Their sharpness, ere he is aware. (4-8) More over, the poem indicates clearexamples for a relation between nature and God. In fact, Nature is a direct connection toGod ... all the infinite host of heaven... (4 6) Therefor reflecting back to the previousstatement, God is always thither for people, especially for those who are suffering. The poem also is mainly based on thoughts about death. The following lines aredescriptions and images of death When thoughts/ Of the last bitter hour germ like ablight/ over the spirit, and sad images/ Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall/ Andbreathless darkness... (8-11) But the three succeeding lines that no one should be panic-struckand that Nature and God have the power to reconcile Go forth, under the open sky, andlist/ To Natures teachings, while from all around/ kingdom and her waters, and the depths ofair/ Comes a still voice. (14-17)Even if you die alone the living will not live forever and eventually have the samedestiny So shalt though rest, and what if thou withdraw/ In silence from the living, andno friend/ Take not of thy departure? All that breathe/ Will dowery thy destiny. (58-61)The death is there and cannot be ignored. However the message of the poemstates that death is not bad, for it is a natural thing that is apart of everyones life. Thereis also no distinction among the status of people and all souls will be united in heaven Yet not to thine eternal resting place/ Shalt though retire alone, not couldst thou wish/Coach more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down/ With patriarchs of the infant world-withkings,/ The powerful of the earth-the wise, the good/ Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages