by p.smith

Created on: June 21, 2008   Last Updated: February 07, 2009

Wordsworth was the David Suzuki of his era. His voice warned against the destruction of Nature because of the human tendency to acquire material goods. Unfortunately, although his voice was tolerated and even praised by his contemporaries, it was drowned out by the din of the Industrial Revolution.London's air was perfumed by the smoke of the factories, the sewage created by newly arrived factory workers, and the scent of human misery. In his poem, " The World Is Too Much With Us," Wordsworth laments man's failure to preserve the world's eco-system. He despises our lack of respect for Nature and employs the language of classical legend to praise Nature's strength, beauty, and ability to fight back!.

He opens his poem with the admission that man's flawed character has always driven him to " Getting and spending." He sees this trend continuing into the future, through use of the succinct phrase, " Late and soon." The poet states that men have surrendered their loving feelings, once lavished on the natural world, to material things. His condemnation of this disastrous trade is clear. He accuses us of exchanging our hearts for tawdry, materialistic prizes.

The Victorian society in which he lived was rapidly spearheading the destruction of ancient, rural communities in favor of unnatural urban overcrowding. Old, earth-based religions were being stamped out by a mandatory, narrow Christianity. There was no place in that environment for the "creed outworn," of Nature worship. Goods had to be produced for "Getting," and employees had to earn money for, "Spending."

Wordsworth feels immune from the distasteful developments of his world. He suggests that visions of Nature's ancient, mythological power would , " Make me less forlorn."

His description of "Proteus rising from the sea," brings to mind the power of a shape-shifting force in battle with its bewildered enemies. Proteus, the sea god, enraged by the destruction of Nature's balance would cause quite a stir if unleashed upon the offending merchant classes. For all his passionate love of nature, Wordsworth seems fairly vindictive toward his fellow humans, condemning their short sighted greed. He was a zealot in his own way.

In a final thought Wordsworth imagines the sea-god Triton coming to the rescue of Nature from his position of power and mystery below the sea. While Proteus is a wily adversary because he can change his appearance at will, his powers are eclipsed by those of Triton. This god is the undisputed master of the oceans of the world. His terrible wrath will cause a final showdown between man and Nature. Everyone will hear his " Wreathed horn," and know that the final battle is at hand. This conch shell trumpet echoes biblical trumpets, which announce the appearance of Supreme Beings. These messengers usually announce big changes.

Wordsworth's poetic vision of how man's poor stewardship of Nature might play out seems surprisingly accurate in light of the current spate of natural disasters. Although this work pre-dates the Luddite rampages, he was their spiritual father in his rabid hatred of anything which replaced the old human order with cold industrialization.The Luddites were unable to stop the progress of industrialization through their hands-on opposition.Wordsworth, however, has left us this powerful poem which takes on more relevance daily.

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