Introduction
The essay, “What a Certain Visionary Once Said”, by Tomson Hemingway is an attempt by the author to relay his feelings over what he perceives as a loss of connection to the natural world by present day society due to its constant quest for modernization. He does this by relaying visions of flat prairies, unspoiled forests, vast untouched landscapes and a certain “wildness” to the surrounding areas that Hemingway indicates is a scene few people appreciate today.
This is in contrast to the brick, mortar and asphalt scenery people are used to that has become synonymous with a modern day existence. In fact it can be seen in the essay that Hemingway indirectly criticizes the modern day lifestyle of mankind by indicating that the waters far from civilization are purer and cleaner and thus safe to drink without any worries.
What must be understood is that most rivers that go through various cities and population centers in the world today such as the Yangtze River in China, the Ganges in India, and the Pasig River in the Philippines are polluted and unsafe for human consumption. This is a direct result of modern day industrialization and as such most people today are rather reluctant to drink from water sources that are not from a bottle or untreated from a faucet.
Contrasting Nature and Modern Lifestyles
Hemingway indicates that in places far from today’s population centers there is a certain beauty and purity to the area where a person can sit back, relax and absorb the sounds and sights of nature. This view is in direct contrast to the rapid and fast paced lifestyles most people experience wherein speed and efficiency take precedent over slow meaningful appreciation.
From start to finish the essay is a way in which a person can contrast their modern day lifestyle with the visions of pure wilderness that Hemingway is attempting to relay. In fact it can even be assumed that what Hemingway is attempting to accomplish in this essay is that he wants people to question whether the modern lifestyles they are enjoying at the present is truly worth what they lost in terms of their connection to nature and an appreciation for its unique wonders.
Towards the end of the essay the author mentions that not only does the Earth have an emotional, psychological and spiritual life but it is not really ours in the first place. One interpretation of this is the belief of the author that the entire planet is a living, breathing entity that is not ours to bend to our will but rather for us to appreciate, examine and enjoy the natural wonders it has.
Conclusion
In conclusion it can be said that the entire essay is a form of critique against modern day lifestyles where the author uses examples drawn from nature in order to show the difference between what was lost and what was gained. Overall the essay was a fantastic piece of literary work and speaks volumes of how as a species we have lost our connection to nature and that in itself is a great tragedy.