Nature and Man

Estwick Evans' quote about nature explains his desire for simplicity and return to the 'savage' life of man. To him, there is no real meaning in the present civilization that he occupies. He wants to 'divest' himself of the problems that civilization has given him. He wishes to return to a simpler time when life had meaning. In contrast to Evans' quote, Nash gives his perspective on nature. To begin with, Nash's quote is much more encyclopedic and not as personal as Evans'. The quote seems to take the opposite approach to Evans'. Evans' feels that nature will automatically cure any man of his ills and wants by "(finding) amidst the solitude and grandeur of the western wilds, more correct views of human nature". However Nash's quote ends with the wilderness being 'a perfect setting for either melancholy or exultation.' While Evans wants to experience the 'pleasure of suffering, and the novelty of danger, Nash warns that you could very easily be disappointed or even killed.