William Cronon’s essay “The Trouble with Wilderness” is a critique of post American Romantic views on the idea of wilderness. Cronon claims that the contemporary view of the wild, in which we see nature as a test of individualism and escape from modern responsibilities, is not only historically inaccurate but socially damaging. He refers to pre-nineteenth century accounts of people exploring far from civilization and notes that nearly all of them are marked by fear and awe rather than wonder and contentment. This change in outlook was accompanied by a strict line being drawn between the natural and civilized worlds, with the former being glorified and the latter being demonized.
Cronon’s argument holds up well, as we are in fact prone to holding some stretches of nature in higher standing than others. However, I feel he puts too much emphasis on our intrinsic motivation to maintain beautiful expanses of nature and not enough on our desire for clean air and water for our own physical well being.
In the center of a small university in rural New York, on the boundary of human creation and natural formation, stands a tree. Some local organizations have painted messages on this tree, most of which are ignored by the surrounding population. For the most part, the community doesn’t care about this tree, much like how they don’t care about the buildings they frequent, the pavement they walk on. No, concern for these objects pales in comparison to “larger” matters; studying, going to work, spending time with others, etc. Looking at humanity from the tree’s perspective might make it feel excluded or unappreciated, as if its labor and its functionality go completely unnoticed in the way of others’ self-interest. Why does the tree continue to provide as a medium for other people when no one takes the time to look at it? Because while contemplating its purpose the tree forgets life’s biggest motivator: its meaninglessness.
The tree was born one day, and the tree will die one day. The elapsed time surrounding these events infinitely outweighs the time between them, so what the tree does with its existence will never matter. It may feel limited, but that is the curse of existing with roots. To find comfort, the tree would do better to look at its blessings: living on a college campus with people that care enough to paint on it.
