Importance of Nature

Nature is an obvious theme throughout the book. Nature is the perfect place for the imagination to run wild. In the eyes of young children the world around them can become a safe haven from imagined and real, monsters. In the next instant the landscape can change into a terrifying world of shadows and trees that chase one into caves. Nature also serves to reveal otherwise unknown wonders. Anodos discovers a beautiful woman after her rock enclosures allows itself to be broken open through song.

Nature also has restorative properties. It is a natural phenomenon and cannot help promoting rebirth in the face of death. When Anodos reaches his lowest point in the depths of the earth, he feels abandoned and hopeless. Soon the earth vomits him forth into a desolate sea, which refuses to let him drown. The waters protect him until a vessel is...