Fear In The Sublime

The magnitude of power that nature has over the world is astounding. It still leaves scientists and researchers puzzled at times as to how or why phenomena occur within nature. The unknowing and inability to control the world around us causes great fear when faced with our own mortality. Once one realizes their insignificance relative to the world as a whole, it creates our strongest emotion; fear. William Bartram and Phillip Freneau referred to the true source of fear as “The Sublime.” As William Bartram traveled to Charleston, South Carolina in search for valuable goods, he couldn’t help but notice the sense of fear when he looked at nature around him. When he sailed to South Carolina, Bartram he commented, “there are few objects out at sea to attract the notice of a traveler” (626). Although Bartram was not too impressed by the scenery during sailing, he was able to view the sea as a powerful component which evoked fear. “The seas themselves, in a tempest, exhibit a tremendous scene, where the winds assert their power, and, in furious conflicts, seem to set the ocean on fire” (626). To experience such a large body of water, and to realize how small one little boat is in comparison, lead Bartram to a …show more content…
He describes a honey suckle he finds in the wild: “Untouched thy honied blossoms blow, /Unseen thy little branches greet: / No roving foot shall crush thee here, / No busy hand provoke a tear” (619 line 3-6). His fascination with untouched earth had undertones of disgust against the human race for destroying nature while exploring, conquering, and building villages. Freneau sees that nature will be destroyed with the continuing explorations across the sea. “Now driven to wars, and now oppressed at home, / Compelled in crowds o’er distant seas to roam, / From India’s climes the plundered prize to bring / To glad the strumpet, or to glut the king” (621 line