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Evelyn White and John Muir have contrasting relationships in regards to how they evaluate nature and wilderness due to their different epistemologies. Because of the privilege he holds as a Caucasian male, Muir is able to focus on the beauty of nature by emphasizing specific measurements coupled with religious descriptions, while White details how she is unable to experience this form of nature-sublime because of the perilous stories of her ancestors.

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Schager, Allard. Getty Images, Yosemite [n.d.].

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Muir's writing, especially while detailing Yosemite, is overflowing with specific measurements and religious comparisons. The way that Muir describes nature is akin to how elements are described in religion, “...that the Valley, comprehensively seen, looks like an immense hall or temple lighted from above. But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life” (Muir 2). This religious-like description highlights how enamored Muir is with nature. Muir is able to feel this way about nature and explore it in such detail because of the privilege he experiences as a Caucasian male, which is evidently very different from Evelyn White's experience.

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A large part of John Muir's writing is his specific descriptions and measurements of what he encountered in nature. This demonstrates that Muir was there, as Muir stated, “It is 3300 feet high, a plain, severely simple, glacier-sculpted face of granite, the end of one of the most compact and enduring of the mountain ridges, unrivaled in height and breadth and flawless strength” (Muir 4). By sharing detail-oriented notes and measurements, it is obvious that Muir was at Yosemite and spent a substantial amount of time there. His admiration of the things that he encountered shines through his descriptions; he views nature as something that is amazing and wondrous, not something that is scary.

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(n.a.) Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails. National Park Service [n.d.]

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Muir's writing represents a sublime approach to nature writing, as he includes many aesthetic physical attributes of nature, as well as sizes and distances. Both of these writing tactics are shown here, “Returning now to Yosemite and ascending the middle or Nevada branch of the Valley, occupied by the main Merced River, we come within a few miles to the Vernal and Nevada falls, 400 and 600 feet high, pouring their white, rejoicing waters in the midst of the most novel and sublime rock scenery to be found in all the World” (Muir 6). Once again, Muir's descriptions call attention to his ability to comfortably enjoy nature and spend time there. When comparing this comfort to Evelyn White's discomfort, it is apparent that the main underlying reason for this difference is race and the privilege, or lack thereof, that one experiences in wilderness.

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Throughout Evelyn White's reading, she details her fear of the wilderness due to past stories and memories she learned while growing up. It is evident in these shared stories and memories that the wilderness is equated with violence against Black Americans. White demonstrates this fear, “I was certain that if I ventured outside to admire a meadow or to feel the cool ripples in a stream, I’d be tainted, attacked, raped, maybe even murdered because of the color of my skin” (White 3). Here, White expounds on the pure terror she faces while thinking of the wilderness. Because of the color of her skin, she grew up associating the wilderness with violence. This represents the difference in privilege of Evelyn White and John Muir, because White was unable to experience nature in the same glamorized way that Muir did.

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Evelyn White depicts various memories that exhibit atrocities committed against Black Americans in relation to the wilderness. As these stories are shared, it becomes very apparent to the reader that White's negative associations with the wilderness are completely well founded. White shares examples of these stories in the text, “My genetic memory of ancestors hunted down and preyed upon in rural settings counters my fervent hopes of finding peace in the wilderness” (White 3). On this note, it's obvious to readers that hearing her ancestors' stories played a significant role in her view of the wilderness. It can be assumed that Muir did not grow up being personally affected by stories of this nature, due to his race. Saying this, Muir was able to view nature through a sublime perspective because he did not have a reason to fear the wilderness. This demonstrates how nature and culture are intertwined, as their backgrounds and epistemologies have effected the way they not only view nature, but the way they write about it as well.

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One of the main topics discussed throughout lecture is how different nature writers decide to compose their writing. As it is evident throughout his writing, John Muir uses sublime. Sublime is "a temporary aesthetic experience of diminishment in the face of God/nature, which hints at a universal (mortal/material) connection to the more-than-human world" (Menrisky). The use of sublime is sprinkled quite frequently throughout Muir's writing, demonstrated by his religious-like descriptions while describing Yosemite. This is especially exemplified in Analysis Post 1, where Muir refers to Yosemite as a temple, glowing with life (Muir 3). The use of sublime is a privilege, as it is a privilege to view nature and wilderness through a perspective of such astonishment. Not only this, but it is also a privilege to not have to fear it.

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Black Americans and Nature Writing - Context 2

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Black Americans and Nature Writing - Context 2

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An important theme discussed in lecture is how racism has affected the nature writing of Black Americans. It's noted that at the time of Emancipation, they had developed their own nature-based traditions, some even developing a romantic sense of belonging to the land (Menrisky). However, their relationship with nature is complicated and complex, mainly because romanticism is hard to disentangle from racist ideology (Menrisky). Saying this, Black Americans have always written about nature and wilderness, but their relationship is usually more complicated than Anglo-American nature writers (Menrisky). This is evident through Evelyn White's reading, as it is arguable that her relationship with wilderness is significantly more complicated than John Muir's. White's history with wilderness is filled with petrifying stories, while Muir is simply fascinated with the beauty of nature.

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The epistemological standpoint challenges the idea that everyone experiences the world in the same way, meaning that it rivals the concept of universalism (Menrisky). Comparing and contrasting Evelyn White's writing with John Muir's is an effective way of demonstrating that people have different epistemologies, and in turn, they have different perspectives of the world. As White grew up fearing the wilderness, this is reflected throughout her writing and her viewpoint of nature. It is assumed that Muir did not grow up with this fear, as he comes from a place of privilege - a Caucasian male - and only writes positive things about nature.

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Intersectionality helps describe how different aspects of one's sociopolitical identity - including race, gender, class, and more play a role in their point of view (Menrisky). This is a concept that helps individuals understand how multiple different factors can influence another individual's perspective (Menrisky). This is demonstrated especially in White's reading; Being a Black American is a large part of White's identity, therefore influencing her perspective and viewpoint of wilderness. This idea is supported by the stories shared throughout White's writing, which shares with readers her fears of what would happen to her in the wilderness. On the opposite side of the pendulum, Muir's gender identification and race put him in a place of privilege, which greatly contributes to his ability to view nature as a completely positive, marvelous wonder of the world. Consequently, these two authors represent two very different perspectives because of their differences in intersectionality.

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(n.a.) National Parks Conservation Association. Yosemite [2023].

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Muir and Preservation of Parks - Context 5

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Muir and Preservation of Parks - Context 5

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John Muir is famously known as the "Father of the National Parks", as he had a "direct hand in the creation of Yosemite, Sequoia, Mount Rainier, Petrified Forest, and more" (Menrisky). The piece of writing that was explored both in class and in this project is centered on Yosemite. This writing is essentially a plea for preservation by Muir. His greater-than-human-world descriptions emphasize his appreciation of the nature surrounding him, urging the readers to recognize the importance of untainted nature. However, to someone who is in a similar situation as White, nature has already been tainted; tainted with racism, cruelty, and brutality. It is important to consider these two epistemological standpoints: one that is appealing for preservation of nature (Muir) and one that is highlighting the dangers and horrifying history of the wilderness (White).

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Apple, Richard. Tallahatchie River, Wikipedia [3/31/13].

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White recounts the frightening stories in detail, which provide the reader with a greater sense of understanding of where her fear stems from. As illustrated in the text, White writes, “In his pummeled and contorted face, I saw a reflection of myself and the blood-chilling violence that would greet me if I ever dared to venture into the wilderness” (White 5). This quote is in reference to the story of Emmett Till, who was a fourteen-year old Black American from Chicago that was lynched and discarded into the Tallahatchie River in 1955. This story was prevalent throughout White's childhood, as well as many others. This demonstrates how many children in the same position as White were forced to recognize the dangers of the wilderness, even at a young age. In turn, this shows Muir's privilege in exploring nature freely.

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Apple, Richard. Tallahatchie River, Wikipedia [3/31/13].

Menrisky, Alexander. ENGL 2635E Lecture, [9/11/23].

Menrisky, Alexander. ENGL 2635E Lecture, [9/20/23].

Muir, John. The Yosemite. Binker North, 1912.

Schager, Allard. Getty Images, Yosemite [n.d.].

White, Evelyn. The Stories That Shape Us: Black Women and the Wilderness. Norton, 1996.

(n.a.) National Parks Conservation Association. Yosemite [2023].

(n.a.) Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails. National Park Service [n.d.]