The landscape descriptions found in the fourth chapter of “The Compleat Angler,” are used to illustrate the human experience and emphasize the teachings of Free will see from Irenaeus of Lyons.
The first half of Chapter IV starts off with observations regarding the “Nature and Breeding of the Trout” (64). The Piscator (who serves as the main narrator this chapter), systematically examines the ins and outs of Trouts, including the differences among Trout breeds, color as an indicator of ripeness, hibernation/feeding periods, common Trout parasites (Sugs (69)) etc. Additionally, the environments of different Trout species are explored. For example, we learn that Trout’s taken from the Lake of Geneva and Lake Leman can be up to “three cubits long,” but Trout from Winchester never grow to be “bigger than a herring.”
Overall, this half of the chapter is rather straightforward and factual. The Piscator makes some imaginative similes throughout the chapter, comparing the trouts feeding habits to that of Buck and Ox as well as their growth to that of a Crocodile (68), but for the most part, there is little left to be interpreted: It is simply a collection of observations regarding Trout in their respective environments. The second half of the chapter differs drastically from this format. The Piscator and the Venator begin speaking and go to the Piscator’s “Hostess” (71). On the way they find the attractive Milkmaid and ask her what song her daughter was singing. Throughout this section, the environment is viewed in an entirety different perspective than it was earlier. Instead of using blandish/objective dialect, the Piscatator uses much more maliloquent language to emphasize the beauty and livelihood of the landscape. For example:
“But turn out of the way a little, good Scholar, towards yonder high honeysuckle hedges; there we’ll sit and sing whilst this shower falls so gently upon the teeming earth, and gives yet a sweeter smell to the lovely flowers that adorn these verdant meadows.”
Additionally, the aforementioned Milkmaid song is full of this lush dialect, transforming the readers view of the environment into a beautiful, living, ecosystem rather than a manipulatable/observable tool to better someone’s Trout harvest. This difference between appreciation of nature vs. application of the environment is closely related to Iraneaus’s views of Free will seen in “Medieval Philosophy.” Iraneaus has similar views of free will to other Philosophers we have seen this year. Iraneaus compares humans to infants and God’s wisdom and knowledge to the milk used to raise us (90). He states “Those who do not await the times of increase, but ascribe to God the infirmary of their nature, are thus irrational in every respect.” Or those who are angry at God for making us capable of sin are irrational.
The depiction of the Environment in “The Compleat Angler” is representative of the two sides of nature we see today: The exploitable, and the beautiful. While Walton’s expansive knowledge regarding fishing was not representative of the exploitable nature of the environment at the time it was written, we can view it now as text that represents the continuous degradation of the environment for personal gain. To relate this back to the teachings of Iraneaus, we as a species, are aware of the negative effects of environmental exploitation, yet we continue to degrade the environment because it is profitable and beneficial to a select few. We chose this exploitation at the expense of the natural beauty and safety of the planet.