Undercurrents of the River Duddon: Human Consciousness versus Nature

\nThis essay examines the relationship between human consciousness and nature in William Wordsworth's "The River Duddon" sonnets. By adapting the method of literary analysis, Wordsworth’s portrayal of the River Duddon serves as a lens through which the boundaries of human understanding are examined, illustrating an unbridgeable gap between human consciousness and nature. After a brief introduction of research background, this essay elaborates on the River Duddon's unattainable origin as cloud’s child in deferral to both antiquity and industry, eco-Gothic wilderness in departure and return pattern, and nonperishable eternity compared with the transience of human. By deconstructing anthropocentric views prevalent in Romantic literature, the research emphasizes the urgent necessity of acknowledging nature's subjectivity and its independent existence beyond human perception. This essay not only revitalizes the poetic landscape of Wordsworth but also advocates for a non-human turn in literary criticism, promoting ecological awareness and respect for nature.\n