Circles, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the midst of all of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essays, “Circles,” is undoubtedly a piece which masterfully incorporates Emerson’s philosophies of etymology with the spiritual. Etymology, down to its core, deals with the origin of certain phrases, words, or examples used to describe an object of meaning. Emerson uses this technique to craft a spiritual essay that pushes the reader to see the universe from a different perspective, and to tear away from the social norms of what is expected of religion to follow his or her own path. To do this, however, Emerson stresses the importance of understanding and reason. To understand is to classify, differentiate, and compare. To reason, on the other hand, exceeds understanding by serving as the intuitive facility to the soul. To do this, one must become a poet as described by Emerson.

“Circles” begins by starting small and describing the circles of the eye, then gradually moves to the circles in the universe, explaining that the circles in the universe are never ending. For example, Emerson himself explains “around every circle another can be drawn” (Emerson 123). This is the understanding portion. However, there is one caveat. Emerson explains that the circles eventually go on to reach God, who is both the circumference and the center of the circle. If God serves as both the circumference and the center of the great chain of circles, it means there is no clearly defined beginning or end. Nevertheless, like many things in nature, the presence of God as a figure of the circumference of circles symbolizes his elusively. If one circle can be drawn after the other, and God is the circumference of the circle, it symbolizes the beauty and elusively of nature. This is the reason port...

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...se many of their attachments to nature are dormant, and pose and obstacle to the individual to break past their shell. Nevertheless, the potential is always there, the real question is, can the person bring themselves to discard their inhibitions? In the sinister the difficulty is greater. However, in those who are righteous, walking into the unknown becomes an adventure, a righteous person will also be more readily able to accept their spiritually while attempting to capture the beauty of their surroundings. Like the never ending circles of the universe, there is never a limit to the amount of people who can accomplish this, because every person is capable of reason.

In conclusion, Emerson’s Circles en omposes the meaning of many of his other works to masterfully craft an essay rich in etymology and spirituality, emphasizing the role of God and a Poet’s mind.