Wordsworth heavily criticized the fatalistic effect of man’s decadent materialism. For the poet, the material world is what is foremost in man’s mind, preoccupying and consuming his entire being. In the process, man forgets the beauty of nature in his life full of “getting and spending.” Wordsworth’s insight into the relationship between man and nature transcends his time on earth. He saw that man’s materialistic progress will find a dire consequence in the destruction of the environment. Basing his observation on the ill effects of the Industrial Revolution, Wordsworth foresaw that man’s shortsightedness will persist and continue to wreak havoc on nature.

Nature, however, may not necessarily be as helpless as it seems. The dire consequence of man’s irresponsibility will reverse its trend. This change will not be initiated by man himself, as he is too blindly preoccupied with his materialistic pursuits. This overturning of fate will be done by nature itself. So, really, in the relationship between man and nature, man is the one that is helpless when nature turns its wrath upon its destroyer.

William Wordsworth wrote an ominous prediction of the effects of capitalism, consumerism, greed, and global economics as they have brought about environmental degradation. The price to pay is now happening. Man is already paying the consequences of all his “getting and spending” at the expense of nature that has already been destroyed. Wordsworth’s words are
perpetual and everlasting.

Today, the degradation of forest resources has worse effects on mankind than the current economic crisis. The loss of biodiversity brought about by deforestation translates to the extinction of many of the world’s flora and fauna species. Trees that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen are now dwindling in number. The grave effect is climatic disruption. An abundance of CO2 released into the atmosphere has caused greenhouse gases. The result is global warming and climate change.

Global warming is now a huge global issue. Rising temperatures have proven to have an adverse impact around the world. Sea levels are rising, threatening to inundate, even obliterate, small island nations and erode coastal soils. Global warming also affects rainfall patterns, contributing to heavy rain and floods in some regions, while causing droughts in others. Climate is now unpredictable and behaving both erroneously and erratically.

Developed nations like the United States and developing economies such as China contribute significantly to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Pollution from motor vehicles’ smoke and the burning of fossil fuels in power plants and industrial processes are the culprits. Pollution from substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and methyl bromide, coming from car exhaust fumes and burning of fossil fuels in power plants, have contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Man’s greed is also affecting the seas and ocean. Overfishing has resulted in the depletion of marine resources. Other harmful fishing methods are causing the near-extinction of sea creatures. Pesticides and industrial wastes that get into the waterways are also killing marine life. These have also killed the world’s coral reefs.

I completely agree with William Wordsworth’s assumptions as I see today the proof of his angry prediction. I also agree to the fact that man has not changed his materialistic attitude and behavior, but the world has changed. Nature has been reduced to a state that is a far cry from what it used to be. I also know that nature has turned its wrath on man who is now paying the price of what he has done to nature. Environmental degradation results from the overexploitation of renewable resources due to man’s greed. Man’s pursuit of material wealth, fired by his materialistic ambitions, has destroyed nature.

Wordsworth has been right all along. Man is irresponsible as to see that he destroys the very resource from which his material wealth comes from. He has been ignorant of his destructive ways. Nature has been helpless all that time. But things have changed. Nature has overturned the situation. With nature’s revengeful wrath, it is now man that is helpless.