Innate vs. Acquired

Evans and Nash both point out how the wilderness appeals to man. Evans main goal is to show that if dig deep enough, past the obstacles presented in today’s society, we can return back to the “savage life” we once lived. He uses the word “divest” to show that originally we were once living a simple life, one with nature; however, layers upon layers of civilization have brought us to where we are today. He instills a sense of hope and desire for this utopian world. Likewise, Nash shows his antipathy toward “man and his works”. On the other hand, his strategy is to “escape” our corrupt world and pursue the wilderness, rather that retrieve it. It’s a lifestyle change that humankind needs to acquire. Evans and Nash indicate similar, yet completely different portrayals of nature. Evans depicts the wilderness as a state of mind that is innate and once existed; on the contrary, Nash describes it as a way of life that we need to obtain.