nod at or acknowledge a person. He insists that there is some hidden relationship between people and the things that grow in Nature.

At the beginning of chapter 2, Emerson writes that

Beasts, fire, water, stones, and corn serve [man]. The field is at once his floor, his work-yard, his play-ground, his garden, and his bed . . . Nature in its ministry to man, is not only the material, but is also the process and the result.

In this way, Emerson paints Nature as a servant to humankind, something that lives to help us and make our lives better.

Emerson uses personification in the introduction of his essay to imbue the era in which he lives with uniquely human characteristics:

"Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchers of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticism."

Here, Emerson attributes sentience, critical thinking and even the ability to erect tombs (sepulchers) to a non-human, intangible idea, “our age,” which most nearly means, “the times in which we live.”

A little later, at the end of the first paragraph of chapter one, when discussing the ability of nature to evoke awe and wonder in humans, Emerson again employs personification to lend human characteristics to the stars in the sky.

“But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”

Here, Emerson designates the stars as “envoys,” which in common parlance means diplomatic messengers. This is clearly a human description of a non-human object. Then Emerson describes the stars as wearing an “admonishing smile,” another uniquely human characteristic.

This latter example of personification (the admonishing smile) is part of a larger motif present in much of Emerson’s works; he imparts aspects of human behavior and physicality to the natural world in order to convey his feelings of intense kinship for nature. Again and again throughout Emerson's writings, the reader can see that he views the natural world as his friend and constant companion.

Though Emerson spends much of his essay examining man's relationship with nature, and the actions humankind must take to truly appreciate and align with nature, nature itself is an active character within the piece. Emerson presents nature as a generous and welcoming figure, almost motherly in her attention and care to humankind. In speaking of a lover of nature, she says,

He is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me.

She is understanding of humankind's dissatisfactions and mundane trials but accepts them anyway and seeks to relieve them of these woes.

However, later in the essay, Emerson's tone changes slightly:

Nature stretcheth out her arms to embrace man, only let his thoughts be of equal greatness.

In this slight shift, Emerson suggests that though nature is welcoming of humankind, the nurturing she offers must be mutual. She will show respect and love to anyone who shows her the same in return.

Though Emerson depicts nature as a constant presence in our world, she does not act or appear in a consistent manner. He notes that

nature is not always tricked with holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolics of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.

Nature is changeable and cannot be expected to be always in full bloom. She alters with the seasons and even with the passing of days or hours. But in studying nature, Emerson suggests that we are not seeking perfection but divinity, which he believes to be separate ideals. Nature embodies the ideal of divinity by acting as a source of goodness and compassion towards mankind and welcoming all who approach her with kindness.

Nature makes Emerson feel as though he has achieved true solitude, as it is not enough to simply seclude oneself in one's house. One must actually remove oneself from all trappings of society, including our houses filled with worldly things, to be alone. Emerson feels that nature is imbued with the divine, and he glorifies the "heavenly bodies" in the sky as well as the "perpetual presence of the sublime" in nature. These clearly inspire him in the deepest feelings of happiness and purpose.

For this reason, Emerson views nature with reverence and respect, and he feels that its constancy makes it no less complex or less suited to humanity's needs. Despite its importance and its constancy, Emerson feels that most people do not really take the time to notice and appreciate nature. However, he believes that there is "nothing that can befall [him] in life, —no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair." Nature, for Emerson, is a balm to the spirit when he is sad, a helpmeet when he must problem solve or ponder some question, a friend to feel his joy with when he is happy. He feels that, in nature, his ego, his self, vanishes, and he recalls that he is truly "part or particle of God."

In short, being in nature makes Emerson feel as though he is connected to God, a part of the creation that is so beautiful to observe and experience. It fulfills him and satisfies any need he has.