Transcendentalism Of Ralph Shildo Emerson And Ralph Waldo Emerson

Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, central figures of Transcendentalism, expressed their beliefs through works such as “American Scholar” and “Into the Woods” in the nineteenth century. They believed that one must be in simplicity, solitude, and away from technology to appreciate the beauty of nature, which is essential for a better spiritual understanding of oneself. Transcendentalism, which focuses on spiritual interactions with nature, is relevant in today’s hectic life with temptations of materialistic goods and burdens of technology. The retreat that Webb offers every year is a good example of how Transcendentalism shapes students to have spiritual richness and mental strength. On retreats, students go off campus with bare necessities for three days to camp sites in nature to reflect and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. Viewed through the lens of Transcendentalism, retreats allow students to prepare for a new and busy school year to come by helping them to realize their own goals, to get rid of distractions of technology, to get inspired by nature for a better understanding of themselves, and to enjoy a moment of solitude to truly reflect on the deeper meanings of life.

Transcendentalism is an American movement that primarily featured literature, politics, and philosophy. It began in the early 1800s and centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson (Goodman). Although Transcendentalism did not emerge until the 1820s, the roots of this movement can be traced back farther in the religious history of America, all the way to American Puritanism (Finseth).

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the pioneer of the transcendentalist movement and Edgar Allan Poe, the pioneer of the American gothic movement, had ideas that sought to explain the state of mankind; ideas which were considered revolutionary for their time. It can be argued that both authors speak about something the soul longs for. Emerson encourages individuals to be self-reliant, which is to be true to oneself. On the other hand, Poe writes much darker works that deal with the human psyche and directly confront the problem of evil. Poe’s “The Imp of the Perverse” and “The Black Cat” can be read as criticisms and refutations of transcendentalist ideas, such as Emerson’s, by analyzing why the narrators commit murder and expose themselves.

Transcendentalism was a movement to break away from the societal norms, and to find your own passion for life. At the time, many wanted to part ways with what they thought was the correct life to live, and to find their own voice. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a transcendentalist writer at the time, wrote, “you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it … but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson). There will always be people telling what you can and cannot do, but you must be independent; to not let anyone live your life but yourself. It is an unfortunate reality that some people cannot find themselves and live the stereotypical lifestyle, which society labels how we should go through life. Scenes from the film Dead Poets Society, and opinions from Henry David Thoreau show impactful similarities to Emerson’s text. There is much truth in Emerson’s essay, in the sense that nobody should have to live the life of someone else; needing to break free from those societal norms to be independent and become their own person.

Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson are both completely different people and yet share the same ideals which is transcendentalism. Louisa May Alcott was born November 29, 1832, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of transcendentalist Amos Bronson Alcott, and her early life was profoundly influenced by Transcendentalism. Throughout her childhood, the family was quite poor but idealistic. In 1843, Alcott, her three sisters, and her parents joined the transcendentalist uprising commune Fruitlands, which she writes about in her essay "Transcendental Wild Oats" (1873). Alcott never left her liberal rising behind and, as an adult, she supported the abolition of slavery and women's suffrage. Still living in poverty, she took

For my historical event analysis, I have chosen to write about a Massachusetts-born American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson who was part of the Transcendentalist movement which geared philosophical thinking that involved viewing women as equal. Philip F. Gura, "Transcendentalism and Social Reform," History Now, assessed May 14, 2017, https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/first-age-reform/essays/transcendentalism-and-social-reform.

Transcendentalism is the philosophy of rising above traditional empirical thinking and use one’s own intuition instead. In other words transcendentalism is the idea of “lifting us above the conflicts and struggles that weigh on our souls.” (Brodrick.) With the restraints of everyday life forgotten, it becomes easier to feel a stronger sense of freedom and unity with others around us. One reason why Thoreau had troubles with converting people to transcendentalism was in part because people had a hard time completely abandoning the facts and theories they had always known for new imagined ideas. In the 1800s, people preferred absolute theories on which they could stand on instead of practices that did not have any backing to them. In today’s society though, there are an innumerable number of new ideas and opinions that would shock people back then. Transcendentalism may have been a way of living that was too soon before its own time, but with all the progressiveness that is seen in society today transcendentalism may have a fighting chance of becoming a popular movement.

Transcendentalism was an early philosophical, intellectual, and literary movement that thrived in New England in the nineteenth century. Transcendentalism was a collection of new ideas about literature, religion, and philosophy. It began as a squabble in the Unitarian church when intellectuals began questioning and reacting against many of the church’s orthodoxy ways regarding all of the aforementioned subjects: religion, culture, literature, social reform, and philosophy. They in turn developed their own faith focusing on the divinity of humanity and the innate world. Many of the Transcendentalists ideas were expressed heavily by Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essays such as “Nature”, “Self Reliance”, and also in his poems such as “The

Transcendentalism is a common characteristic found in numerous pieces of timeless classic literature. It has become an interesting yet strange ideal that still boggles the mind for many, but has become accepted in many modern minds. Various writers and poets demonstrate and practice in their writing such as Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ‘’Nature’’, where he tries to explain getting back in touch with the natural world. He speaks of the seas,trees and even of the sky. It talks about connecting with nature being away from society and all the hustle and bustle. He also demonstrates transcendentalism in a similar work titled ‘’self-reliance’’. Where he shows us images of people who all ‘’transcended’’ the common way of thinking, famous people who contributed

Transcendentalism was a philosophical and social movement that came about around 1836. Although it was just a simple idea, it goes beyond people 's senses. Transcendentalists were those who accepted the ideas that people had, not as religious beliefs but in a way of people understanding life relationships.

     Transcendentalism was a literary movement that began in the beginning of the 1800’s and lasted up until the Civil War. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a man whose views on life and the universe were intriguing and influential. Emerson, along with other great men, helped to mold what Transcendentalism was and what it was to become. Without these men, Transcendentalism would not have been anything. Nor would these men have been anything without this concept. So what is Transcendentalism anyway and how have men’s thoughts and outlooks been able make it what it is remembered as?

Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement that started in the mid 19th Century in the U.S.A as a reaction against the dogma and industrialization of the time, placing individualism and self-reliance above the views of social institutions and the government. It was also, in part, an attempt at creating a uniquely American literature style completely different to the established English/European styles used in the past. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a highly influential writer that led the transcendentalist movement, he was primarily concerned with individualism and in each person following their unique instincts and ideas. Another notable writer of this period is Henry David Thoreau, a transcendentalist author that believed in standing behind what you feel is right, despite the contradictions of the State or Government. Walt Whitman was another writer that had a profound influence on the transcendentalist movement, he was a poet that went against what people viewed as the typical format and rules for poetry and instead focused on what he wanted his poetry to be and how he thought it should be written. These radical free thinkers developed ideas and morals about society and the individual that, at the time, were viewed as “uncivilized free and wild thinking” (Thoreau, Henry. Walking) and which have influenced the development of America.

There have been numerous religious rebellions throughout history, but none quite like that of Transcendentalism. This movement embodies the idea that spiritual growth can be achieved through personal journey instead of conflicting with organized religion. By the time of the movement’s onset, newly gained religious freedom in the United States allowed for new ideas and beliefs to prosper freely. At the heart of this movement was Transcendentalism philosophy famous ambassadors, Ralph Waldo Emerson and apprentice Henry David Thoreau. These men believed nature is what forces us not to depend on other ideas but to develop our own.

Religion is a major component in the life of many people with the first practice of religion dating back to the nearly 4000 BCE with the finding of Egyptian myths (Religion Timeline). As the times have changed, so has religion branching off from Orthodox Judaism and Protestant Christianity to the Reformed Judaism and Mormonism have created religious conflicts that churches fought against each other based on views that they might not agree with. With all churches and members of these churches participating in challenging their own and other churches, Ralph Waldo Emerson went in a different path. He led the Transcendentalist movement that believed that the person could find divinity through nature by keeping an open mind and letting it change them for the good.

In writing his works, Walt Whitman was influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Transcendentalism. Themes like the power of nature, solitude, self-reliance, and the limitation of science can be seen in his works. Echoes of the transcendental notions that nature is all powerful and trusting oneself informs a reading of Whitman’s Section 6 of “Song to Myself” suggesting that death is not something to fear, as it is not the end. Laura, good job. Your thesis is clear and direct.