Humanity’s connection to the natural world has always been complicated. On the one hand, people make significant efforts to protect and regenerate natural ecosystems and resources. On the other hand, several of humankind’s advances toward technological progress and solidifying its spot on top of the food chain have resulted in the displacement and extinction of hundreds of species throughout humankind’s comparatively brief rule over Earth. It may seem that a steady population increase and a strong dependence on an industrialized lifestyle are the primary reasons humans have had such a negative influence on the environment. Still, it might be more significant than that. In a chapter of The Romance of the Faery Melusine titled “The Great Old Hunter,” a depiction of man’s ideals implies that humanity’s connection with nature is influenced by a desire to demonstrate supremacy.
The story points out that, in the time of the Great Hunter, Aimery, humans and nature lived close together. The chapter describes nature as a sort of hidden threat, stating, “In hamlets and villages wild animals in their lairs could watch unseen all that went on around human dwellings” (Lebey and Knight 11). The wording in this sentence gives off the impression that humanity was surrounded by nature in an almost malevolent way. This notion of impending violence is further supported by the next sentence, “Foxes and wolves knew just when to raid” (Lebey and Knight 11). In this section of the story, humans feel more like the wildlife, while animals seem to be the hunters. It shows us that humans were fearful of their bestial neighbors. In describing the aftermath of one of these canine raids, the author makes a direct reference to the Devil, writing, “A strange wild smell, something like sulphur, hung in the frozen air, stinging the nostrils, as in a room where a fire, smoking before going out, has left a scorched smell like He of the cloven hoof” (Lebey and Knight 11). Cloven hooves are found in animals like sheep, deer, and goats. The personal pronoun “He” infers that these cloven hooves belong to a human, as any other reference to nature is met with the pronouns “they,” “them,” and “it”. All this suggests that this simile is an easily understood comparison between nature and the Devil. This just further proves that humanity was scared of nature, and it helps justify their rationale for hunting.
The forest itself is described as “…stretched beyond, menacing and dangerous, full of the unknown, concealing the surprising and the supernatural” (Lebey and Knight 11). Describing the forest as “stretched beyond” gives the audience a good idea of how surrounded early humans felt. The word “beyond” suggests that the forest’s reach had no visible end. It’s hard not to imagine a raft in the middle of an endless ocean. Both the hypothetical raft and the aforementioned hamlets and villages are stranded, encircled by a not-so-obvious danger. The audience knows that the forest is dangerous because the first two paragraphs describe the animals who come from the woods to terrorize people – but also because the text uses the words “menacing and dangerous” to personify the woods. Writing that the forest is “full of the unknown” is important, as the word “unknown” will be repeated later in the text to explain what drives Man to be brave. To say that the forest conceals “the supernatural” indicates that not only is nature frightening to humankind, but it is almost incomprehensible – it doesn’t follow humanity’s rules; therefore, it is mystical and fantastical.
The story then shows us that humanity is able to defeat these evils – the story says, “…evil reigned only if heroes failed to confront its dangers” (Lebey and Knight 12). This sentence reveals a lot of information to the audience about humanity’s values. Saying that “evil reigned” strengthens the prior implications of mankind’s stranded identity. To reign over something is to predominantly rule something. The idea of nature (AKA evil) predominantly ruling over the world is an alien concept to modern humans, as the tables seemingly turned millennia ago. The text continues, stating, “It seemed that the one existed to give rise to the other,” (Lebey and Knight 12). The nonspecific nature of this sentence fragment is purposeful. Its obvious implication is that evil exists to make humans stronger, but it also implies that the existence of humans makes the surrounding evil more powerful. This one fragment opens up the possibility of an infinite cycle where humanity and nature progressively become more and more impactful on each other. With melting ice caps and other adverse effects of climate change, it’s safe to say that this relationship between man and the natural world is still in effect. The sentence ends by saying, “for humans do not show their mettle if left to themselves.” (Lebey and Knight 12). A rough translation into simpler terms would be that humans do not show their tenacity if there is no evil to brave against.
The word “unknown” returns in the sentence, “In those days men identified with things that could lead them further into the unknown;” (Lebey and Knight 12). The last time the word “unknown” was used, it described the “menacing and dangerous” essence of the forest. Using a phrase as vague as “the unknown” in this sentence works great; it describes that humanity has an instinctual fascination with things it does not understand, as well as further exploring humanity’s association with forests and nature in particular. The story continues with, “they sought in all directions the extension of their physical and spiritual power” (Lebey and Knight 12). It seems humans have always been determined to take over everything, as demonstrated by the phrase “in all directions.” The sentence mentions both physical and spiritual power, and this is like saying violence and understanding. The order in the wording is crucial to understanding the implicit attitude humans have towards the unknown – destroy first, understand later. Since nature is akin to evil in this story, it would be fair to think that these early humans would try to defeat nature before they try to observe and reason with it.
All this is not to say that Man never tried to understand nature; in the next paragraph, the narrator says, “Man developed without dissociating or abstracting himself from the world,” (Lebey and Knight 12). When one dissociates or abstracts oneself, one removes oneself from one’s own existence and lets go of any attachments that are associated with one’s sense of identity. This remark demonstrates to the audience that whatever information that humans have accumulated about nature has been done so on a level that is ultimately trivial. If one wants to have a complete understanding of anything, one must put oneself in that thing’s position and make an effort to see the world from the perspective of that thing. In the absence of the dissociation and abstraction processes, no attempt is made to fully understand anything.
Finally, the narrator discusses hunting, saying, “Hunting, so different from our own… maintained the extension of human power” (Lebey and Knight 12). To get better at killing something, one must learn its behaviors and use them to one’s advantage. This is the “spiritual” power mentioned before. Through hunting, people can demonstrate their spiritual power through the act of tracking and the use of animal calls. The kill itself is the obvious demonstration of the physical power humans crave. This sentence paints hunting as a necessary activity for humans to partake in to maintain balance in the natural world – but it seems like hunting is necessary to keep human beings secure in themselves, which is a lot less valiant than the former.
In conclusion, “The Great Old Hunter” illuminates the intricate dance between humanity and the natural world, revealing a timeless struggle for supremacy. The text suggests that humans understand nature as evil, but humanity’s view of the wild seems to be a lot more positive in the contemporary era. If the ideals presented by the text were widespread, then this could explain why humans still tend to negatively impact the natural world. But it’s important to remember that the relationship between Man and nature is complex and changes over time. Stories from the past like this one teach about how people thought and felt in earlier times, but they also make us consider how humans think and act now when it comes to the environment. In order to try to solve the environmental problems of today, it’s important to understand how complicated our relationship with nature is and work toward a peaceful union that respects both humans and the environment. Understanding where we fit in the environment as a whole is important, should we want to face the difficulties of the future with knowledge and kindness.
