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Nature and the Sublime in the Romantic period (LSSEV)

In the pre-romantic and romantic period Nature represents more than the biological world around us: it becomes in fact the mirror of the human soul, feelings and emotional experiences.

Nature is perceived by poets and writers as a whole, a living being, the origin of our lives and the final destination. When man dies, he becomes part of it again, he merges with the natural elements.

Nature is not only a system of mathematical rules which we are optimistically able to discover. Our intelligence, our brain are not enough.

A mystery is hidden behind the life of Nature and man takes part in it, he belongs to it, he recognizes the mystery of his own existence in it.

As a consequence our Reason is no longer the guide to unveil the unknown, because the unknown lies in the deep of our heart and soul.

What we can do is to let Nature surprise, enchant even scare us. Our Imagination and not our Reason is the capacity we have to apply to the knowledge of Nature. The mystery has to be silently and carefully approached and unveiled, as it could reveal an amazing truth, as if we could see the world with new eyes, from the perspective of our inner sight, the sight of Imagination.

 

Look at the two pictures and express the emotions they convey to you

John Constable, The Cornfield, 1826

 

William Turner, Shipwreck of the Minotaur, around 1810

 

Do the paintings above convey the same feeling?

In which way are they different?

 

Edmund Burke, a British philosopher, published his A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful in 1757.

The distinction between the concept of the Beautiful and Sublime was not new in itself but the book contributed to the philosophical discussion which developed among thinkers and even influenced Immanuel Kant when writing his Critique of Judgement.

 

Burke defined the sublime a delightful horror.

Man looks at natural phenomena and feels little and weak but at the same time he is attracted by what he sees.

 

 

 

 

 

The idea of Sublime is not opposed to the idea of Beautiful. It may be considered more like complementary since the Sublime is passion, movement, dynamism and energy inside the Beauty of Nature.

It represents the strength of Nature, its powerful essence. The Sublime is the troubled side of Beauty.

A tempest at sea, a volcano erupting, a hurricane or a storm with thunder and lightning are all sublime experiences which convey a mixed sensation.

The spectator is both frightened by what he sees and fascinated.

He cannot take his eyes off the amazing event. He feels attracted to it. He feels fear and pleasure at the same time.

All this can happen provided the spectator is not involved in the event. It is him just watching from a distance, from a safe position. He needs not to be in danger himself, otherwise pleasure would turn into pure terror and he would run for his life.

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