The enterprise these men embark on requires no clothes at all which further emphasizes the quality of innocence and trust that the Sacred Pond possesses. Thanks in part to Mr. Emerson's suggestion, the Sacred Pond takes on the role of the Garden of Eden through the emphasis on nature and the contentment felt by its visitors. .
Not only does the Sacred Pond remind us of the Garden of Eden, this scene is also significant because of the effect it has on George. When Freddy and Mr. Beebe call on the Emersons, it is the same old George, "dusty and somber," that we find (118). However, George's indifferent manner disappears along with the dirt from his skin when he arrives at the pond. It isn't an immediate change, but rather a process that began with George, "Wetting his hair first – a sure sign of apathy" (120). The descriptions we get of George throughout the novel paint a picture of someone who appears to be indifferent or apathetic about most of what is going on around him. He rarely speaks, perhaps because his father takes it upon himself to speak for them both the majority of the time. This is the impression the reader gets from his attitude during most of the time they are in Italy. However, there are a few instances where something affects him enough so that we see that he actually feels quite deeply beneath his outer layer of silent stoicism. The scenery is so powerful in Fiesole that George cannot repress his emotion and impulsively kisses Lucy. This is very similar to the way the scenery of the Sacred Pond works on him. As soon as his skin comes in contact with the water, the despondent attitude begins to dissipate and is replaced by the desire to actively live life which George first expressed to Lucy in Italy. When all three men had immersed themselves in the pond, "for some reason or other a change came over them," and "all the forces of youth burst out" (121).
