In George Eliot's "Adam Bede," the author reflects on the relationship between higher and lower natures. While it is often stated that the lower nature cannot grasp the complexities of the higher, the higher nature possesses the ability to perceive the lower fully. However, Eliot suggests that this understanding is not innate; instead, it requires effort and experience to achieve. Those with higher awareness must navigate challenges and learn through trial and error, gaining insight only after encountering difficulties.

Eliot emphasizes that the journey to comprehension is fraught with difficulties, symbolized by 'bruises and gashes.' This metaphor highlights the struggles one faces when attempting to understand and engage with different levels of existence. The process of learning to see things from a broader perspective involves missteps and a tendency to overestimate one's understanding of a situation. Ultimately, it is through these experiences that the higher nature can come to appreciate and integrate the complexities of the lower nature.