Meet Clarisse, a 17 year old from on of my favorite novels,
“Fahrenheit 451”; a story about a futuristic society where it is illegal to
read books. Books are burned. All independent thinking is suspect.
In Clarisse’s world most people are in a rush and do not
have time for day dreaming or contemplation or for truly seeing nature. In this world you can be arrested for being a
pedestrian because the state does not want anyone to really think too deeply
about anything. In this world most people simply interact with their
technological devices.
But Clarisse is different. She notices things in the natural
world. She has no interest in the technological devices of her times. She does
not like the ‘parlor walls’, (a type of flat screen interactive device that
people talk to and refer to as their “family”). She challenges the mad rush every
one seems to be in. She says, “I
sometimes think drivers don’t know what grass is, or flowers”.
Clarisse understands what it means to, “Consider the Lily of
the field”.
Clarisse challenges the main character, Guy Montag, one of
the firemen, to think and feel for the first time by simply asking him some questions;
“Are you happy”? “Have you ever smelled
old leaves”? . She goes on, “Bet I know something else you don’t. There’s dew on the grass in the morning”.
I think of a line from the book of Job, “Who has begotten
the morning dew”?
Guy Montag did not know about the dew. He did not know how to answer Clarisse. Do
we? Maybe if we can’t see the morning dew
we will not see the fish rise or at least we won’t see it in the same way.
I am an educator who like many of my colleagues is concerned
with the disconnect many of us have from the natural world. I particularly worry
about many kids who know little of the morning dew or the sound of snowflakes
falling in a forest or what it is like to walk in a Spring meadow.
Can we hear the sounds of a
river?
Or, can we see a fish rise?
I think Marissa could.
With the small mayfly and caddis hatches coming soon to the South
Platte River we can only hope to sharpen our vision.
I walked outside today and noticed the heavy dew on grass and flowers alike. Spring here (I'm currently in Memphis) is fully in bloom.
ReplyDeleteYes, Fahrenheit 451 is a classic with the chilling theme of control of individuals through mass media. You are right, so many children of today know nothing of playing outside and experiencing nature. Rather, they are connected to their iPod, Wii, and video games. Even adults get sucked into this.
I was fortunate and spent my childhood being outdoors, swimming in streams, and playing in the woods. Today the woods are maybe not so safe, but we still need to get kids off the couch. You've mentioned that you take groups fly fishing. That's a great contribution toward awakening the senses. What are other approaches?
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It makes me somewhat "happy" when I hear of people like yourself who did venture out into nature as a child. You are right, somehow rather quickly things changed. A short time ago it seemed that kids spent hours playing outside and now kids mainly play with their gadgets inside. I don't know what the outcome will be???? Other approaches to getting outdoors could include... Skiing, walking, running, cycling, boating, painting, writing, gardening and farming to mention several. I know nothing of farming but I would imagine that would be a great way to learn of nature and "directly" connect to the land. You have asked me for meaningful books so I will suggest two others somewhat related to this topic (but covering much more). One is Robert Bly's, "The Sibling Society" and the other is Beldon Lane's, "In the Solace of Fierce landscapes". I have re-read these two books dozens and dozens of times. Enjoy the rest of your stay.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Atlas Shrugged? While very different stories, the book has somethings in common with Fahrenheit 451: the non conformists to the status quo (society has become dumbed down and indolent) and the small group that bands together to re-build society (or preserve the entrepreneurial spirit).
ReplyDeleteNo I have not read "Atlas Shrugged". I will look for it. Sounds like something I would enjoy. I think I have said this before but I have re-read again and again G. Orwells' 1984. Similar themes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the book references above. I just picked up 1984 and am really enjoying re-reading it (my first read was many years ago and I'd forgotten many of the details). I hope to pick up the other 2 books in the near future. I am fairly certain you will like Ayn Rand's book.
ReplyDelete-L