Discussion on title “The Gray Beginnings”                    SMK

Rachel.L.Carson who sensitively interprets scientific data in her essay in “The Gray Beginnings” describes the origin and creation of the word “gray”.

The gray beginnings refer to the shadowy, dark and cloudy atmosphere of the world when it came into existence. The earth at the start was a molten mass. The cooling earth was covered with clouds which did not let the sun rays reach the dark gray earth. These were the beginnings of our world. It was much later that the earth cooled from liquid to solid, the moon was born and the oceans were formed. And then life and vegetation became possible.

The gray beginnings are the opening chapter of the Sea Around Us. It is an illustration of the scientifically accurate and lyrically beautiful way in which the writer stretches the reader’s imagination by revealing the magic and mystery of the sea.

Carson used gray colour in the title to communicate a variety of symbolic messages. Gray is a mixture of two colours; black and white. Black symbolizes darkness, despair, uncertainty and the feeling of sheer abandonment. While the white colour symbolizes clarity, hope, certainty and purity. In this way hope and certainty are associated with life.

The writer of the essay admits in the very beginning that whatever facts she is going to narrate are taken from different sources. It is a story which is “pieced together from many sources and containing whole chapters the details of which we can only imagine’’. This is the limitation which is reflected in the dark tinting of gray. But certainty comes when she says that this story is “founded on the testimony of the earth’s most ancient rocks”.

 But as no man was there to witness this cosmic birth so it lacks eye witness facts. In this way these facts become controversial and carry disagreement.Carson estimates that according to an old rock the creation of world took place some 2.3 billion years ago. In the same way by the pull of a wandering star a huge piece was separated from sun. Again another piece from the earth was separated due to the pull of sun Because of which a basin or a depression was created on the face of the earth. At that time the outer crust was cooling. As the earth went round the sun spinning in its axis, cracks were created opposite the depression. These cracks widened with the passage of time, and as a result continents were created. These cracks and depressions were later filled with the water which was present around the earth in the thick dark layers of clouds. These dark clouds poured down for centuries. Thus these reservoirs of water were the basis of life. Life in ocean started from one celled creatures. Some of them found way to live on earth and then complexed forms came in to being which was later to invade the land.

Carson says “the 3/4 of the geologic time the continents were desolate and uninhabited’’. So sea according to the writer is the mother and production house which supplied land with all kind of life. Meanwhile the process of readjustment of the earth was taking place. Because of this readjustment the fossils of earliest forms of life was destroyed.

This is the data which is estimated and as human beings themselves are imperfect then how can their findings be accurate and exact. But still we are ordered to find an explore.

After such a long history of dark origin and unclear growth, man today walks proudly on earth he is much smaller and weaker than

the early sea and land creatures. Man made buildings and structures are no match for the mountains, hills, trees and underground depths of Nature. Only religion explains and guides us regarding the uncertain past and future of man. God is the only and ultimate support for us. Science and search can not help us beyond a certain point. So it is advisable to live as well as we can to make our surroundings better providing the best of facilities of life and maintaining all that is valuable in Nature. But we should learn to be humble in our attitude towards life feeling strong only in our faith in God who sustains the whole Universe. When the treasures of the earth begin failing him, the oceans can open up their wealth. Then, with God’s help, another brilliant chapter in man’s existence can begin. And after the oceans, the other planets in our solar system, then in other solar systems, can open up avenues to further progress and glory.

Yet, after all these phases of man’s progress and development, he will continue to be unsure of his past, present and future in all his littleness and limitations. The continuity of progress will ensure by the continuity of his race, the individuals being insignificant.

Prepared by;              Syeda Misbah Kazmi