Nature Evokes Feeling in the Romance of the Forest

1346 Words6 Pages
Nature Evokes Emotion In Ann Radcliffe’s novel The Romance of the Forest, Radcliffe is able to depict the beauty in nature through picturesque and romantic descriptions of the landscapes. Nature plays a significant role throughout the Gothic novel, because it somehow has the power to influence people. To some extent, I agree with the idea that an individual’s feelings can be manipulated or induced by nature, for nature is used to seduce the senses. However, nature can only influence someone if nature is seen and appreciated, and not if individuals disallow nature to impact them. Pleasure can be stimulated by beautiful scenery, but nature also creates a subtle ambivalence that has the power to evoke entirely different emotions. Nature influences people in a way that makes them socially benevolent, and is able to evoke emotion. The heroine, Adeline, is struck by the landscape, in which her “mind was delicately sensible to the beauties of nature” (9). Radcliffe allows Adeline, who is pure of heart, to flourish in the natural environment. The scenery that Adeline is fondly admiring symbolizes her emotions. The repetition of how happy and benevolent Adeline feels is portrayed as the morning breeze lifts Adeline’s spirits and as her heart is warmed and overjoyed. Adeline feels that way just as her senses are heightened. Nature is kind to Adeline, so she is able to feel kindness in return. Adeline feels the fresh breeze; she sees the flowery luxuriance of the turf. Her senses all lead to the feeling of enjoyment, as happiness and warmth flow throughout her body. As the setting is described, it seems as if time stops, so the character can absorb all the nature she is viewing. Radcliffe depicts the environment so perfectly that readers breathlessly follow the scenery with rich images. It’s an almost magical setting that depicts particular feelings, mainly pleasure
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