The tensions between human aspirations are their perceptions of the wild and the reality of the forces of nature have been shaped in both complimentary and contracting ways in the play The Tempest by William Shakespeare, and Tim Flannery's The Explores, a collection of diary entries of explorers of Australia. In particular, the entries Coal Black and Stark Naked by Jan Carstensz 1623, Panic and Shake by Robyn Davidson 1977, and The Little Explorer's Diary by Emily Caroline Creaghe 1883, show the extent of the relationship between human perceptions of the wild and the reality in which they are confronted, both in The Tempest and in The Explorers.

Through the exploration diaries of Jan Carstensz we are able to conclude that he initiated a large degree of conflict or tension between the civilised world and humanity. We join Carstensz on his journey of exploration with ten musketeers, portraying the assumption that in his view, the world and its inhabitants were hostile. Carstensz exhibits a negative attitude toward the wild, and this is evident through his comment regarding the foreign landscape. "This is the most ba

It is clear in both The Tempest and The Explorers that the tensions between human aspirations and the perceptions of the forces nature and the reality can shape contrasting or complementary views perceptions of human in the wild. This is dictated by their experience in the wild, whether their safety is threatened or their idealistic aspirations are contradicted.

It is clear in The Tempest and The Explorers that tensions exist between human aspirations. This can be seen as a result of going in the wild, into a foreign place where "there (are) no reference points" as asserted by Davidson and "the elements" are "the ministers of fate" as described by Shakespeare through the symbolism of the element air with spirit Ariel. The unpredictability and the rhythms, as their safety mechanisms "weapons" are "tempered" by nature and it has the capacity to destroy them.

The contrasting aspirations and reality of the experience of Caroline Creaghe's The Little Explorers Diary can be seen to show a relationship between the threat of survival posed by the reality of the natural world, and the individuals perception of the wild. As Davidson describes, the wild in a foreign context, such as in contact with the natural world "There is no reference points." Nothing to keep the world controlled and bound together". It is clear through Caliban's description of the wild as harbouring "sounds and sweet airs that delight and hurt not" that those that love in harmony with nature, their perception of nature is not an idealistic perception of it. Creaghe's description of the "barbarous northern frontier" of Australia where "the flies are something dreadful" and "the mosquitos were something terrible", shows a constant, pessimistic tone as a result of the

Some common words found in the essay are:
Jan Carstensz, Explorers Diary, Robyn Davidson's, Tempest Explorers, Tempest Davidson, Tempest Ferdinand, , Slave Caliban, Rattle Shake, Caroline Creaghe, natural world, perception wild, tempest explorers, human aspirations, forces nature, tempest explorers tensions, harmony nature, australian landscape, delight hurt, explorers tensions, reality confronted, human aspirations perceptions, reality forces nature, perceptions wild reality, tensions human aspirations,
Approximate Word count = 1173
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)