The God of the Woods

The name of the Van Laars’ home at the preserve is taken from an essay titled “Self-Reliance” by American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, a renowned figure of the Transcendental Movement—a belief system that emphasized the innate connection between humans and nature and valued interpersonal connections as well. The essay argues that nonconformity is one of the most important states that all humans can aspire to.

The home itself is a source of pride for the Van Laars, and they enjoy hosting guests at annual events such as the “Blackfly Goodbye” party. The home’s lavish nature symbolizes the Van Laars’ wealth and privilege. Although it stands beside Camp Emerson, an unspoken boundary exists between the house and the camp; the house is only accessible to the elite guests of the Van Laars, and it therefore becomes an exclusive status symbol that looms over the less privileged campers at Emerson and others like Louise, who are deemed unworthy of entering.

The irony of the house’s name becomes evident as the novel unfolds, for the Van Laars are far from self-reliant; even their ancestors relied on the free labor of the town to construct the house.