Natural is unparalleled in beauty. The world would say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and while that is true, beauty is everywhere in nature and it doesn’t ask for attention. Even if there was nobody around to observe that which was beautiful in nature, it wouldn’t matter, and it wouldn’t mean it was any less beautiful. True beauty seeks no praise. This doesn’t mean that we humans can’t admire the grandest things in nature from time to time.
True beauty is hard to define, and it catches you off guard in an instant. It can be portrayed through form, light, shadow, balance, texture and color. It isn’t limited to these attributes, but through the 5 senses we humans are able to experience beauty in this way.
Artists see the beauty in nature and use it as inspiration to write stunning literature. Here are some of the most famous works of literature inspired by nature.
This Tree Inspired a Play for the Ages
Ever heard of the play or movie Steel Magnolias? It’s one of the most famous stories out there, written by Robert Harling. The play is about a group of women in the south who are very close. They lose one of their own and the play explores how they deal with that. The name of the play seems a little strange. Why Steel Magnolias?
The story stems from an experience the writer had growing up. A lady who lived in his neighborhood had a floral metal paperweight on her counter that served many different purposes. She called it “the steel magnolia.” He didn’t understand why because it wasn’t steel, nor was it a magnolia flower.
He realized that magnolias are so beautiful, but they’re also very fragile and bruise easily. Southern women are often thought to be like this. However, if you look harder, you realize that women and their lives are not just fragile. If you look deeply you see the great amount of strength they hold inside. It’s really quite beautiful-just like the magnificent magnolia tree.
Into the Wild
There is really no lack of literature that delves deep into nature and the way it inspires and changes people. There are few books that do it like Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild. This story was also made into a movie. It is stunning, and places back into the human heart a royal fear and reverence for nature.
The story ends rather sadly, but it proves an even greater point that nature is not a force to be tamed. There are many other points to be taken home and pondered upon. Consider reading the book for yourself to understand the journey of a young man who gave up everything to find himself in the wild Alaskan wilderness.
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