Reed Ruddy Variations on Nature

This chapter begins with a discussion of Nathanial Hawthorne's mid 1800 essays and stories written while living in a small house in the wilderness. While a discussion of his house becoming a gateway to the wilderness is being developed, I began to wonder if it would be possible for a man-made environment such as a house, to be capable of becoming a true part of wilderness? It is interesting to think about because I tend to see man-made creations as anything but wilderness. Even some outdoor settlements such as camp grounds and some parks feel less like wilderness than they actually look. Although in most cases I would agree that any man-made or man-altered setting cannot be seen as wilderness, I can't help but think of old childhood stories about cabins and settings deep within wilderness that have integrated themselves into their environment and become a true part of the wilderness as opposed to a reprieve from it. Because of this I think it probably is possible that the cabin Hawthorne visited could be considered a part of nature. I'm not sure exactly what qualifications would make a man-made place a part of wilderness, but I can't deny that it is possible for the change to occur.