Final answer:
The word "wilderness" in the statement symbolizes isolation and loneliness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word "wilderness" in the statement, "I AM THE WILDERNESS," symbolizes isolation and loneliness.
In the 19th century, American attitudes towards wilderness started to shift. Previously seen as chaotic and confusing, people like John Muir began to argue that wilderness was a place of solitude and seclusion where one could find peace and simplicity.
The word "wilderness" in the statement can be interpreted as representing a sense of being alone and cut off from others, suggesting an emotional state of isolation and loneliness rather than fear or uncertainty, strength and determination, or doubt and insecurity.