Final answer:
To support the thesis that Emerson wrote 'Nature' to inspire joy and peace, one should cite passage A. from section 4, which reads, "In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows." This captures the core of Emerson's transcendentalist belief about the uplifting power of nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
If one's purpose in writing about Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Nature' was to illustrate how Emerson aimed to inspire joy and peace in nature, a suitable passage to support this thesis could be excerpted from section 4 of the essay. Emerson states, "In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows." This passage encapsulates the essence of his transcendentalist belief that nature holds an inherent joy and peace that can uplift the human spirit, even amidst suffering.
Emerson's work, including 'Self-Reliance' and his ideas on individuality and the divine within, suggests that one must look inwardly and to nature for true happiness and understanding. His influence on his contemporaries, such as Henry David Thoreau, and his role in what is considered the watershed moment for transcendentalism further underlines the significance of his views on nature. His thoughts on the ecocritical voice and the authentic experiences nature provides were foundational in American literature and persist in their relevance.
Therefore, mentioning the correct option in the final answer, passage A from section 4 is the most appropriate citation to support the thesis that Emerson wrote "Nature" to inspire his readers to find joy and peace in the natural world.