The answer is blowin' in the wind…or at least the question is. Nature is really important in Cold Mountain. It shows people things about the world, each other, and themselves. It serves as a symbol of various things in the world of the novel. And it's appreciated for itself. Humanity's relationship to nature is everywhere.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- Why are quotations about nature from Bartram's Travels so important in this book?
- How does learning to farm change Ada's relationship to nature?
- How does Ruby's practical work to get things done also include respect for nature?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Ada's love for nature grows and deepens even as she sees its tougher side in her farm work.
Ruby loves nature in her own way, although her view of it seems unromantic.