The Process of Human Life - Essay Example

Human life, like the life of a leaf, goes through various stages from birth to death and Mrs Diane Ackerman’s symbolic representation of this process helps one in comprehending the real nature of life. The process of human life is symbolically similar to that of a leaf that changes from a green leaf to the dirt, according to the laws of nature. A leaf is very tender and light green when it starts its growth and it becomes green and full of life when days pass by. Similarly, a human being grows from his infancy through adulthood to old age and he becomes part of mud and dirt when he dies. It is a process that is similar to the growth of a leaf from a green leaf to the dirt and this process asserts that change is essential for nature by which it preserves the balance of the world. Mrs Diane Ackerman effectively presents the process of human life through the symbolic representation of a leaf’s life from green leaf to the dirt.

Human life is a process that starts with birth and ends in death, and it is according to the law of change that keeps nature in balance. First of all, when a child is born it is like a tender plant or leaf and both grow to become mature. Then, the tender leaf grows to become a green leaf and it is an important phase of its development. Similarly, a human child grows to become a young person and then a mature person. Therefore, there are various stages in the life of a human being including birth, childhood, adulthood, old age and death and Mrs Diane Ackerman rightfully represents this process of human life with the symbol of a green leaf.

Mrs Diane Ackerman makes use of the symbolic representation of the changes in nature by which a green leaf turns out to be part of the dirt. First of all, she suggests that the life of a green leaf changes according to the law of nature which always creates and saves a life for the next season. Next, the green leaf grows old o become yellow leaf and later to peter out. When it is dead, the leaf becomes part and parcel of the dirt. Finally, Diane Ackerman compares the growth and death of the green leaf to the growth and death of human beings and the process of human life becomes lucid to the readers.

In conclusion, Mrs Diane Ackerman symbolically represents the process of change in human life through the example of the changes of leaf from a green leaf to the dirt. According to her, nature always changes, creating and saving lives for the next season. Likewise, according to Mrs Diane Ackerman, the process of change affects human life which changes from birth to death and finally human beings turn to be one with dirt.