Final answer:
Nature in literature can carry significant symbolic value, often depicted with deep respect, longing, or seen as a source of fear, as demonstrated by the protagonist's intense perception of nature, Wordsworth's desire for a simpler nature-centric life, and Hawthorne's representation of wilderness. Wordsworth and Whitman both utilize nature to emphasize themes and contrasts in their poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
In literature, nature often has a profound symbolic value and serves as a reflection of characters' emotions, a backdrop for thematic exploration, or a character in its own right. The detailed descriptions of nature in the provided text reveal an intense connection between the protagonist and the natural world, indicative of naturalist literary movements or transcendentalist ideals. The protagonist's heightened senses allow him to perceive nature at an extraordinary level, as seen when he noticed the prismatic colors in dewdrops and the individual trees, leaves, and insects.
William Wordsworth's poetry, especially in works like "The World Is Too Much with Us," offers a critique of the modern world's alienation from nature, expressing a longing for a closer relationship with the natural world. Wordsworth's propensity for anthropomorphizing nature and his wish to see the divine within it show a deep respect and yearning for a simpler, more nature-integrated life.
The symbolic value of nature in other literary works, like Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, contrasts the wilderness with the orderliness of civilization, depicting it as a chaotic place linked to sinfulness and fear. This symbolic dichotomy is prevalent in American literature and remains evident in contemporary culture. Similarly, in Whitman's poetry, nature is often juxtaposed with urban elements to emphasize the poet's thematic purpose.