Analysis of Edward Hoagland's "Heaven and Nature" by Rachel Bowman

 

Too many human minds are composed of dark labyrinths, some of which spiral out of control, creating a void of self-destruction. One man who decided to record these previous notions is Edward Hoagland, an American author, and a 1954 alumni of Harvard University. Best known for his works in nature and travel writing, Hoagland published an essay, “Heaven and Nature” in 1988. The essay delves into what it means to be a suicidal adult, while creating reasoning why suicide is viewed as a painless or vengeful way out. As a man in his mid 50’s, Hoagland establishes a personal ground with his middle aged audience, by first referring to suicide as a deplorable condition. He creates a grim mood, referring to suicides’ commonality by saying, “Our building, across the street, seems imposing from the water and over the years has acted as a magnet for a number of suicides” (Hoagland 518). This literary device paints a vivid picture in order to bring out emotion in readers. Despite this fact, Hoagland’s direction changes when he expands on how love and nature can affect a person’s mental health; specifically, the shame in that people spend more time worrying rather than enjoying the beauty in life. From this, Hoagland uses rhetorical devices such as the simile to institute a purpose; he states, “In killing himself a person acknowledges his failures during a time span when perhaps heaven and earth had caught him like a pair of scissors – but not his life span” (Hoagland 519). Although it is true that Hoagland did not save the lives of every suicidal man/woman by composing this piece, he did clearly establish a valuable idea. In other words, look at life as though it is a painting. Every work of art has rough spots where the paintbrush - in this case, heaven and nature - did not glide over so smoothly. However, this does not make an unsightly painting, only a louder canvas.

"To beautiful to leave"

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