The Romantics

Now, what about Romanticism? How has Romanticism influenced our understanding of the Alps and our own view of nature?

The Romantics certainly did change the way modern man would view the Alps. We no longer concentrate on their "horror." We may contemplate their vastness and man's relative smallness by comparison, but we see their beauty and we see them as an adventure! How many hikers with special hiking gear have we seen here! Men and women do not run from the Alps; they run to them. I appreciate the Romantics influence upon our image of the Alps, and the whole paradigm shift. I do believe it would have been more interesting/life-changing to have read their works before our minds were already removed from the image of old myths and residual fear of the mountains. How we would have wondered...and contemplated the meaning of those words (of the Romantic poets). So, it is hard to say how much our lives would have changed if we were to have read their works 150 plus years ago. We might have agreed. We might have disagreed! Nevertheless, we are indebted to them at this time in history and to the writers before them who recognized the beauty in the Alps (the mountain flowers, streams, and pines). Due to the writings of such individuals, I do not fear the mountains, and I was able to approach them without fear (though I do see the potential danger in the glaciers). I am glad to have experienced the new truth of their loveliness and beauty. Aren't you? ;D