John Muir and the Sublime: Essay

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"with rough passages here and there they are flowery pathways conducting to the snowy, icy fountains; mountains streets full of life and light, graded and sculptured by the ancient glaciers, and presenting throughout all their course a rich variety of novel and attractive scenery -- the most attractive that has yet been discovered in the mountain ranges of the world" (Muir, 1912, p 2). By reading his works, individuals who had never set eyes on the Sierras felt an emotional and personal connection to them.

Muir was also careful to address the sublime nature of these mountains. According to Edward Burke in his classic writings about the nature of the sublime, "when danger or pain press too nearly, they are incapable of giving any delight, and are simply terrible; but at certain distances, and with certain modifications, they may be, and are, delightful as we every day experience" (Burke, 1757, p 32). As such, the concept of sublime entails not only amazement, but also a strange concept of respect for the danger it holds within. These mountains were definitely beautiful, but Muir also respected their danger. The wilderness is not a forgiving place. Thus, Muir uses the wild nature of the wilderness to further his amazement. Again, Burke writes in his classic text, "the passion caused by the great and sublime in nature, when those causes operate most powerfully, is astonishment; and astonishment is that state of the soul in which all of its motions are suspended, with some degree of horror" (Burke, 1757, p 45). Burke's concept of the sublime can be seen in Muir's sheer amazement of the beauty and danger found within the western American wilderness. He clearly expressed his astonishment throughout his writings, which coincide with Burke's descriptions of how sublimity in nature is an astonishing sight that can freeze the rational mind in a state of amazement and wonder.

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The sublime is not something to be just wondered at, but also to be respected. By connecting the concept of the sublime to his description of the Sierras, Muir is asking not only for his readers to be amazed with the wild place, but also to respect it. This respect is essential in conversation efforts, and as such was a powerful rhetorical tool used in his writings.

His writing also utilized heavy religious undertones to help present the wilderness and its sublime nature most effectively. Muir himself was brought up within a strict Calvinist environment (Fleck, 1979). As previously stated, sublime is both amazing and dangerous. This definitely coincides with the concept of God's omnipotent power over the earth. As a result, his writing is steeped in religious undertones. Here, he writes "and from the eastern boundary of this vast golden flower-bed arose the mighty Sierra, miles in height, and so gloriously colored and so radiant, it seemed no clothed with light, but wholly composed of it, like the wall of some celestial city" (Muir, 1912, p 2). He likened the wild wilderness to God's majestic creations, thus further linking his description of the Sierras to the concept of the sublime.

John Muir helped mold the American consciousness in order to admire and respect the nation's natural resources. He used vivid imagery and religious undertones to show the nation the power and awe of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Without his effort and contributions, the modern world may not be able to still enjoy the majestic landscape he fought so hard to protect......

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