Compare and Contrast the Way in which Emerson and Thoreau Represents American Identity

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Recommended: History of america in american literature

In the year of 1600’s, the United States of America was being colonized by European countries especially by England. However, on 4th of July 1776 America became independent after having drafted the “Declaration of Independence” initiated by Thomas Jefferson [History of the United States, Wikipedia]. The difference between these two time periods shows that Britain had colonized America for about 176 years which ultimately led to prosper European cultures. Although America became an independent nation, European culture was still playing its role. Therefore, American writers namely Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau presented an idea about American Identity.
Emerson in The American Scholar and Thoreau in Walden represents the idea of American identity by connecting this concept with nature and individuality but Emerson presents his idea about American identity in an intelligent manner whereas Thoreau uses mockery to present his idea.

Emerson and Thoreau both have connected the idea of nature and individuality to represent an American identity. Well, the reason for both the writers having mentioned nature and individuality is because they are transcendentalist. Ralph Waldo Emerson had first published nonfiction essay called Nature which brought about a movement called the transcendentalism (1840-1855) [American Literature Timeline, Honors American Literature]. This movement influenced many writers amongst who is Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism believed in individuality being affected by politics and religion. They also believed in God being reflected in nature. Emerson and Thoreau both being transcendentalist had different ways of presenting their ideas about transcendentalism with regard to American identity.
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...divert away from such cultures and to create a unique American identity, two transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson in his literary work The American Scholar and Henry David Thoreau in Walden represents the idea of an American identity with relation to nature and individuality. However, Emerson presents his concept on American identity intelligently whereas Thoreau uses mockery to present his idea on American identity.

Works Cited

American literature timeline. Retrieved from msbowman1290.com/Honors_Amlit-Timeline
.pdf

History of United States. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the-United_States

Emerson, R.W. (1907). The American Scholar. In Essays. Retrieved from http://www. gutenberg.org/files/16643/16643-h/16643-h.htm Thoreau, H.D. (1854). Walden; or life in the woods. Retrieved from http://www.
gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/205-h.htm

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