Final answer:
The 'The Last Leaf' demonstrates that a part of human nature is destructive towards nature despite an inherent value placed on it. Literature supports that humanity's current priorities often lead to the harm of the environment, impacting long-term success on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem 'The Last Leaf' touches upon how difficult it is to kill a tree, and yet, humanity still succeeds in doing so. This reflects that, despite knowing the significance of nature and the irreplaceable splendor it provides, there is a part of human nature that is destructive. It's not that humans are indifferent or powerless; rather, they do value nature but allow other priorities such as industry and commerce to overshadow the essential need to preserve it. The poem and various literature suggest that while humans succeed best when cooperating with nature, there is often a disregard for the long-term effects of their actions on the environment.
Authoritative texts like Wordsworth's poetry highlight the estrangement of humanity from nature, with concerns of getting and spending taking precedence over the conservation of the natural world. This behavior has resulted in the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems, which cannot be easily recaptured or replaced once destroyed. As humans, we should recognize that our ultimate success is intricately connected to the health of our planet and all of its inhabitants; damaging any part of our Earth is effectively self-destructive in the long term.