Thoreau Vs. Emerson: Transcendentalism

At the turn of the early 19th century, a wave of new ideas evoked social justice, new literary techniques, and a sense of individuality. This revolutionary concept of life was later called transcendentalism. Transcendentalist focused their studies on reforming society and to better understand life's relationships. These educated Americans encouraged society to move forward and to cease looking towards Europe for inspiration, and to simply be themselves. Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson both were highly accredited transcendentalist.

Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher, praised for his originality and simplicity in his work. Today, Thoreau’s influence lives on for generation after generation of young innovators and mavericks. He sought an absolutely individual stance toward everything, looking for the truth in himself rather than in societal conventions. His ideologies are applicable today just as they were in 1854. Thoreau is most well-known for his book Walden, a reflection upon living simply in the beauty of untouched nature.

Walden Henry David Thoreau was a transcendentalist who attempted to acquire the truth and meaning in simplicity and live in harmony with nature and his conscience. In order to accomplish that, he lived two years in Walden’s Pond in Concord, Massachusetts; being away from the daily concerns, issues, and society. Clearly, Thoreau wasn’t considered a hermit since he received visitors, but nonetheless, he managed to live away from society. To reply to people’s speculations, Thoreau wrote Walden when he lived in Walden’s Pond. Thoreau pursued the true meaning of life and reality in a complex world by living in simplicity.

Literature Victoria Class One Final Walden, Of Mice and Men, and The Call of the Wild are masterpieces of Transcendentalism, about Existentialism, about Naturalism, and Human Nature. Walden is Thoreau’s self-reflection for spiritual quests while immersing in nature. Through a simplified lifestyle, Thoreau illustrates ideas about individualism versus social existence, self-reliance, and meditations of opposing to Materialism. Of Mice and Men superficially reflects a story that two migrant ranch hands search for job opportunities by moving from place to place. Instead, it portrays an inevitable tragedy of the ending, depending on existentialism.

There are similarities between Chris McCandless and Henry David Thoreau, but there is also many differences. Chris and David’s thoughts on the following ideas are just some of the many similarities they have: transcendentalism, materialism, individualism, and nature. One difference between McCandless and Thoreau is that Thoreau studied and enjoyed technology, while McCandless did not. The two characters may have extensive similarities, but their differences characterize their personalities.

To live deliberately is for a person to live to the full potential of the life they have been given. Thoreau believed to live was to discover the simplistics of life, he had moved to the woods for two years to experience his own definition of a “real life” opportunity before his death. Thoreau demonstrated his transcendentalistic ideas through many things but this will focus more on his essay Walden. “An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest.” (Thoreau)

Marisa Pope Professor Elizabeth Threatt English 231 17 April 2016 Title In “Walden”, Henry David Thoreau illuminates how society structures people’s lives and their actions. Within his works, Thoreau discusses how people should live their own lives and quit conforming to what society idealizes as the proper ways to do things. Thoreau is a very unique individual who cares nothing about what society thinks or feels about him.

1962 Relationships, to any degree, rely on individuals connecting and thriving off of the other’s existence. Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson aided one another in an unbelievable way. The two became acquainted through Emerson’s sister-in-law, Lucy Brown, who paralleled Thoreau’s journal to Emerson’s lectures. Not long after their first meeting, Emerson began writing of Thoreau in his journal, “I delight much in my young friend, who seems to have as free and erect a mind as any I have ever met.” This statement suggests Emerson felt satisfaction towards his current adherent.

What would you do if you were going to live in the woods for about two years by yourself, would you be able to do it? Society nowadays would not let you leave without the criticism of everyone. They would not be able to comprehend why you would just leave and live on your own. There was one philosopher that did this and his name was, Henry David Thoreau. Schneider stated, “was graduated in the top half of his class in 1837.

I Hope You are Thoreau(ly) Impressed with this Essay (TS) In Henry David Thoreau's memoir Walden, Thoreau relies upon symbols to illustrate that personal exploration in nature illuminates life more than material wealth. (PS1) Thoreau utilizes an isolated house as a symbol for living simply with influences of nature. (SS1) Thoreau recalls gaining independence when “[he] began to spend [his] nights as well as days [at his new house]” (1) on the same day as Independence Day representing the day he becomes self-reliant and an inhabitant of nature, thus leaving society behind.