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In This Excerpt from "Nature,"Emerson Discusses His Philosophical "transparent Eye Ball"metaphor. It's Complicated. So Read and Re-

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In this excerpt from "Nature,"Emerson discusses his philosophical "transparent eye ball"metaphor. It's complicated. So read and re- read, and then explain what the heck he means by this metaphor. Finally,create your own metaphor to describe how you feel in nature. "In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, - no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes) which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space, - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me: I am part and parcel of God...I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty...In the tranquil landscape and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature." -Emerson's "Nature"

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Quincy Master · Tutor for 5 years

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Emerson's metaphor of the "transparent eyeball" in this excerpt from "Nature" symbolizes a profound connection between the individual and the natural world. When he stands in the woods, Emerson suggests that he becomes like a transparent eyeball, implying a state of pure perception without the interference of personal desires or ego.In this heightened state of connection with nature, Emerson feels a sense of unity with the universe. He transcends his individual identity, becoming an instrument through which the "currents of the Universal Being" flow. This metaphor encapsulates the idea that in nature, one can experience a direct and unfiltered connection with the divine or cosmic forces, transcending the limitations of the self.Now, for my own metaphor:In nature, I feel like a dewdrop on a leaf at dawn. Balanced delicately, I reflect the world around me, mirroring the intricate details of the foliage and the colors of the sunrise. In this serene state, I am a tiny part of a much larger ecosystem, a transient jewel in the tapestry of the natural world. The gentle embrace of the morning air surrounds me, and I sense a harmonious unity with the environment, akin to the interplay of light and nature in the quiet moments of dawn.