ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The transparent eyeball is a philosophical metaphor originated by American transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. In his essay Nature, the metaphor stands for a view of life that is absorbent rather than reflective, and therefore takes in all that nature has to offer without bias or contradiction.

Detailed explanation-2: -The eyeball is “transparent, ” which reflects the idea that a person comes to a clearer understanding of God and the world by spending time in nature. Emerson argues that people must not allow religion, tradition, science, or authority figures to dictate how they understand the natural and supernatural.

Detailed explanation-3: -There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God.

Detailed explanation-4: -As an example of metaphor used is “ i became a transparent eyeball” (Emerson, 867). Basically Emerson is saying that in nature people can see right through him. There is nothing he needs to hide. Being a transparent eyeball means that he is no thing and he could see all as well.