White And Forster Use Time example essay topic

E.B. White's essay Once More to the Lake (1941) and E.M. Forster's essay My Wood (1936) use time differently to develop their work. Both White and Forster use time to demonstrate timelessness of life, change as a result of progress, and the passing of time resulting in death. Many people will relate to White's description of the lake and Forster's description of his wood. Nature has a timelessness that is untouchable. White illustrates timelessness by emphasizing his feelings of dislocation that his son is he and therefore he is his father. Therefore it feels to him that the years were simply a mirage and nothing has changed.

In keeping with this idea White focuses on the similarities of the lake, the cottages, the actions of his son, and even the dragonflies to demonstrate how nature remains constant. White's essay flows from his memories of times at the lake with his father to the present where he is at the lake with his son. Subtly White is reinforcing his idea of timelessness through this writing technique. Forster examines the timelessness of nature in a drastically different way.

Forster emphasizes the need for possession as a timeless quality. Forster does not appreciate the timelessness of his land. In keeping with this idea Forster expresses his desire for his neighbours property to increase his possessions. As illustrated in the reference to Ahab and the vineyard he indicates that the desire for man to possess property is timeless. More important than the timeless aspect of nature and man's character is the affect of progress. White resents the effects progress has had on his lake and as a result the changes that have occurred at the lake.

White's essay shows that despite the timeless feel of a place change is everywhere and nothing is unaffected. White concentrates only on the changes that have occurred as a result of progress. In keeping with this idea White discusses the loss of the third track, people no long travel by horse and wagon. The tar that ends less than a mile from the shore, a convenience required by society. The arrival of the cottagers and the sound of outboard motors, again are changes, which bring him back to the present. He contrasts the changes that progress has made with his feelings of dislocation.

Outside, the road was tarred and cars stood in front of the store. Inside, all was just as it had always been, except there was more Coca cola and not so much Moxie and root beer and birch beer and sarsaparilla (54). Both White and Forster agree that change is constant. Forster discusses cutting down the trees in his wood or filling in the gaps with new trees.

If the wood were left alone these changes would occur naturally. Neither Forster nor White comment on the circle of life that occurs within nature. Seeds are spread and trees grow. Trees die and are broken down fertilizing the earth to allow for continual growth and death. They prefer to focus on how humanity has caused change. Forster again approaches change as a result of progress with a different attitude than White.

He embraces the idea of progress. He encourages making changes himself, such as building a wall or fencing his property. Changes occur as a result of progress but also as a person ages. White hints at the inevitable passing of time. White paints a descriptive picture at the beginning of his essay. He describes the restlessness of the tides and the frigid cold of the sea.

Using these phrases he refers to the passing of time and premonitions of death. Wind is often used as a symbol for change and growth. Many dislike change and feel like it is pushed on them much like the wind pushes on the limbs of a tree. In keeping with this idea the winds of life cannot be stopped and White shows this with his final sentence, "as he buckled the swollen belt suddenly my groin felt the chill of death (54)".

Again, the back and forth between the present and White's memories represent societies desperation to remain youthful. White was ahead of his time in that he was unaware that society would become more materialistic and the desire to remain young would cause us to fight the inevitable change just as White does in his essay. White's sense of dislocation also represents his fear of death, "Everywhere we went I had trouble making which was I, the one walking at my side, the one walking in my pants (54)". Forster discusses the journey of life from birth to death by referring to a parable. In the parable a rich man is unable to pass into the Kingdom of God, as he is obese with too many possessions. Unlike White, Forster does not fear his inevitable death in fact he does not focus on it.

In keeping with his style of writing he discusses human characteristics philosophically. He jumps from talking about the land he owns to discussing Ahab's desire for his neighbours vineyard or sending a rocket carrying the Union Jack to the moon to claim it for England. Forster shows that death is inevitable and our possessions will weight us down should we try to take them with us. He provides examples from the distant past and from the recent past to emphasize his point. He shows that everyone from Ahab, to Alexander the Great to himself will die and the desire to possess property will continue in the next generation. White and Forster use time to emphasize timelessness of life, change as a result of progress and the passing of time resulting in death in different ways in their essays.

White personalizes the essay such that you feel his resistance to the inevitability of death and change as a result of progress. Forster speaks to the reader in a more general way. He provides examples of people from history to show the reader that time passes and it does not matter what anyone does. White and Forster agree that time passes and change cannot be stopped. They also agree that life, as we know it is a never-ending circle. Birth and death are the beginning and end for each person.

The earth will be around longer than we will and for this reason it cannot be owned or changed permanently by humanity.