View of the Yosemite Valley from Point Lookout
In this article, John Muir describes how despite the vastness of the canyons, they have been shaped and polished by the different elements of the wilderness, blending to create masterpieces that can only be assembled by the hands of Mother Nature. One of them is none other than the Yosemite. Muir introduces the Yosemite to his readers and passionately describes how the perfect harmony among the natural landscapes of the Yosemite.
John Muir standing beside the Merced River, Yosemite in 1908
Introducing the Yosemite
One of the most notable characteristics of this article is the continuous use of personification when describing the elements of the wilderness in the Yosemite.
An extract from the article:
| Awful in stern, immovable majesty, how softly these mountain rocks are adorned and how fine and reassuring the company they keep–their feet set in groves and gay emerald meadows, their brows in the thin blue sky, a thousand flowers leaning confidingly against their adamantine bosses, bathed in floods of booming water, floods of light, while snow, clouds, winds, avalanches, shine and sing and wreathe about them as the years go by! |
By attributing humanistic characteristics and quality to nature, Muir taps on and enhances one’s anthropomorphic perspective of nature. Which in turn plays a role in cultivating appropriate attitude and behaviour towards nature.
Destruction to the region
This article also discusses the potential destruction as a result of human activity such as lumbering. Man-made fires to clear the valley’s ground of debris and rubbish also cleared the land of its flora and fauna, and some even ultimately led to forest fires that spread out of control. Farmers allowing their livestock to graze on the pastures in the valley mountains also resulted in the undeniable loss of vegetation.
Call to Action
To gather the support and awareness of the people in making the Yosemite a national park. As protection of the Yosemite would not only preserve the natural landscape and biodiversity residing there but would also play a role in the protection of other neighbouring forests.
To read the full article, click here