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Nature Versus Industry in Wordsworth’s Poem

‘The World Is Too Much With Us’ is a heartfelt response to the loss of England’s rural economy. Today, it reminds us of the miraculous powers of nature.
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Nature Versus Industry in Wordsworth’s Poem
"Coalbrookdale by Night," 1801, by Philip James de Loutherbourg. Oil on canvas; 26 3/4 inches by 41 7/8 inches. Science Museum, London. Public Domain
Walker Larson
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William Wordsworth wouldn’t have known what to do with the hectic pace of modern life. In 1807, in a poem called “The World Is Too Much With Us,” he lamented the encroachment of industrialization on England and its accompanying focus on productivity and making money.

People were becoming blind to anything outside of the fast-paced world of business and commerce, especially the mystery of the bountiful beauty of nature. Surely, he would only increase the intensity of his critique today as the pace of life has amplified greatly since 1807, and even fewer people spend time contemplating the natural world.

Walker Larson
Walker Larson
Author
Prior to becoming a freelance journalist and culture writer, Walker Larson taught literature and history at a private academy in Wisconsin, where he resides with his wife and daughter. He holds a master's in English literature and language, and his writing has appeared in The Hemingway Review, Intellectual Takeout, and his Substack, The Hazelnut. He is also the author of two novels, "Hologram" and "Song of Spheres."