ipl-logo

Comparing Emerson And Thoreau Transcendentalism

645 Words3 Pages

Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that occurred in America after the Enlightenment and before the Civil War. Transcendental authors espoused closeness with nature while at the same time nonconformity with mainstream society. These ideals were clearly expressed in the literature written by both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
When comparing the the feelings of intimacy and respect held toward nature within this time period it is beneficial to look at both Emerson’s “Nature” and Thoreau’s “Walden”. Within both of these essays the bond between man and nature is portrayed as being positive. Evidence of this positive bond can be found in the quote from Emerson’s essay, “There I feel that nothing can befall me in life- …show more content…

This individuality was seen as the product of nonconformity and reluctance to societal influence. Emerson and Thoreau wrote literature explaining how the individual was of utmost importance. This newfound way of life was influential and inspiring seeing as it came after a movement which promoted logical thinking and reasoning. Throughout this time period people such as Emerson and Thoreau began to place superiority on individual thought more so than on societal views. This thought can be seen in quotes by both authors. In Emerson’s essay “Self Reliance” the reader can decipher this thought by looking at the quote “Trust thyself:Every heart vibrates to that iron string”. Within this quote Emerson emphasizes the importance of self sufficiency and singularity. You can also find examples of the same views held by Emerson in a quote from Thoreau’s “Walden”. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away”. This quote promotes the thought that we as people need to feel the freedom to pursue individuality and expression. Due to their desire to alleviate societal influences on themselves as well as others the bond between the transcendentals and society was more on the negative side of the neutral

Show More
Related

  • How Did The Second Great Awakening Influence American Society

    1264 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Transcendentalists' dissatisfaction with their society was focused on policies and actions of the United States government. The Transcendentalists opposed the treatment of Native Americans, the war with Mexico, and the continuing and expanding practice of slavery. Transcendentalists urged that each person find, in Emerson's words, “an original relation to the universe” Transcendentalists the best way to experience “intuitive insights” was to return to God’s direct creation: nature. They also believed in independent thought, civil disobedience, and

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Thoreau And Dun

    468 Words  | 2 Pages

    Which means that everything is up to the individual and you have to be self-reliant rather than rely on others. Emerson also states, “self reliance gave me permission to be a free thinker and to rigorously question everything around me.” What Emerson really is saying is that him being self reliant gives him the right to think however he wants and he doesn’t have to listen to anyone else’s thoughts because he doesn’t rely on them only on himself.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Transcendentalism And The Second Great Awakening

    228 Words  | 1 Pages

    Transcendentalism is a highly competitive world of the market revolution which strongly encouraged the identification of American freedom without any restraints on people who were seeking financial improvement and personal development. It was a world in which regional developments along with the market revolution crushed traditional and social borders. For example moving from one place to another was a common characteristic of the American life. Transcendentalism believed in individual judgment over existing social traditions and institutions.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Transcendentalism In Emerson And Thoreau

    187 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are examples of transcendentalist literary figures who displayed arguments and accounts of social commentary within their works in order to utilize nature as a means of spiritual and political furthering. Emerson’s theory of transcendentalism argued that “Our age is retrospective.” (508) He claims that his age is obsessed with the past, and that they are missing out on experiencing culture, poetry, religion, and philosophy. He presents a solution for this social complacency, and states that one must become like a “transparent eyeball” in order to be filled by the divine and fully appreciate nature.

    Read More

  • Transcendentalism Research Paper

    430 Words  | 2 Pages

    The idea of individuality and the importance of the individual mind, obtained my attention, because I am a highly unique and individual person myself. “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist,” (Applebee). In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, “Self Reliance” A nonconformist

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance

    562 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the piece, Emerson uses extensive metaphors, making comparisons to things that are important to the audience, which increases their understanding and engages them. To open the third paragraph, Emerson makes this comparison: “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that

    Read More

  • How Does Ralph Waldo Emerson Use Rhetorical Devices

    959 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ralph Waldo Emerson uses multiple rhetorical devices such as metaphors, analogies, and allusions to argue his main point. The idea that one must rely on themselves and achieve greatness alone is told within these devices. The use of allusions in Emerson’s essay creates deeper understanding whilst supporting his point. These allusions cause the thought that if these historic people could achieve greatness despite nobody believing in them at first, you may be able to do the same. There are also analogies in this essay, mainly speaking about society’s disapproval about individuality and acceptance of conformity.

    Read More

  • Chris Mccandless Individualism

    1040 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the early 1990’s, Chris McCandless left his whole life behind to carry out a transcendental lifestyle. He hitchhiked up the entire West Coast, all the way to his final destination in Fairbanks, Alaska. Transcendentalism is a philosophy that has had a heavy impact on many people, including Chris McCandless, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. These men shared the belief in the importance of individualism, simplicity, and exploration, which molded McCandless’s experience into a dramatic and fatal journey. Arguably the most major principle of transcendentalism, individualism is what drove McCandless to get away from the life he knew.

    Read More

  • Henry David Thoreau And Transcendentalism

    783 Words  | 4 Pages

    Henry David Thoreau is one of the primary promoters of the transcendentalist movement and has been inspiring people to take on the transcendentalist lifestyle ever since the mid 1800’s. Mccandless was an admirer of Henry’s philosophy but he wasn’t as fully immersed in his work and ideals as Thoreau was to his own. His intentions were not as closely aligned to the movement as Thoreau’s and the difference between these icons are clearly visible. Self reliance is one of the most significant components of the transcendentalism movement that Henry David Thoreau contributed to in his literary career. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” - (taken from Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”).

    Read More

  • Self-Reliance Vs Transcendentalism

    1699 Words  | 7 Pages

    Emerson put the writing together to show people how self reliance can benefit you. He tries to show you to not be tiid and worry about what others tell you to do and how to live you life. There is no reason for you to have to go to another person to live your life so why let what they think change how u act. He wants his readers to understand that you have

    Read More

  • Ralph Waldo Emerson's Beliefs Of Transcendentalism

    1066 Words  | 5 Pages

    Transcendentalism is the belief that man is inherently good, is an independent thinker, and goes out into nature to get in touch with himself. Generally, man has good intentions and intends no harm unto others. In addition, man does not need society to give him and develop his thoughts, as he already has them within. To help bring out these already installed beliefs, man has the desire to go out into nature to get in touch with himself and find deeper notions within. In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writings “Self Reliance” and “American Scholar”, he writes about how being a true individual means that one must have his own beliefs, and not copy someone else’s ideas.

    Read More

  • Ralph Waldo Emerson Self Reliance

    429 Words  | 2 Pages

    7. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote an essay in 1841 entitled “Self-Reliance” whose content contains advice about individuality and avoiding conforming to societal norms. He encourages readers to follow their own ideas and blaze their own paths. An excerpt from the essay reads “For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure”. What he means is that if a person does not follow the accepted way that society deems fit than that person will be rejected as an outcast and will have a harder time even if that means living a less fulfilling life.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Transcendentalism In Emerson And Nathaniel Hawthorne

    1098 Words  | 5 Pages

    People consider Emerson the “father of Transcendentalism”. He believed that man would thrive if he trusted himself. Man was inherently good and could do no wrong. In Emerson’s “Nature”, a work about Emerson’s view on nature, he writes: “We must trust the perfection of the creation so far, as to believe that whatever curiosity the order of things has awakened in our minds, the order of things can satisfy” (Emerson Par 2). Man did not need to rely on society, or entangle himself in the patterns of the world; man’s intuition would be enough for his success.

    Read More

  • Figurative Language In Emerson's Essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson

    576 Words  | 3 Pages

    American Essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay "Self-Reliance expounds and backs up the ideal of how one should always rely on themselves and not depend on others, at a time when the Transcendentalist Movement during the mid-19th century and the Enlightenment and after the Scientific Revolution was occurring. Emerson's purpose is to make a change in people's lives on how they live and explain to them that one should always trust their own instincts and never rely on people because the only person you truly know well is yourself. He adopts a forthright, direct tone in order to get straight to the point and explain and get the reader to understand that they don't need anyone to succeed or get through life, they can do it themselves in his

    Read More

  • Walden Transcendentalism Analysis

    637 Words  | 3 Pages

    Transcendentalism, a philosophical and social movement, demonstrated how divinity spreads through all nature and humanity. One of the main ideals of transcendentalism, living simply and independently, define as the principle. In matters of financial and interpersonal relations, independence projects as more valuable than neediness. Henry david Thoreau elaborates on these transcendentalist ideals when he travels into the woods and writes an essay.

    Read More

More about Comparing Emerson And Thoreau Transcendentalism

Open Document