Above all, Transcendentalism reveres individuality and moral conscience. A Transcendentalist’s convictions, consequently, are superior to those of his friends, fellow citizens, and even the government. Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, two influential Transcendentalist essayists and poets of mid-19th century Massachusetts, impart a message of societal withdrawal, exceptionality, and a meaningful spiritual center. Despite the liberating commentary in both “Civil Disobedience” and “Self-Reliance,” written by Thoreau and Emerson, respectively, the quotations from each piece exemplify different ethics. Thoreau desires an alternate society in which the individual is free from governmental restriction. Emerson, on the other hand, is more
Thoreau approaches Transcendentalism in a political sense, exposing higher governmental powers as a restraint to individuality, whereas Emerson admires Transcendentalism in a spiritual sense, valuing nature and one’s deeper self. Thoreau’s utilization of authoritative diction, such as “right” and “law,” emphasize the oppressor in the relationship between the regulation and overbearing nature of society, and the free-thinking individual. As a result, Thoreau’s focus on society makes him appear more aggressive, rather than compassionate with the individual. This vision of Transcendentalism directly contrasts Emerson’s. Unlike Thoreau, Emerson utilizes sympathetic and romantic diction, integrating the words “believe,” “private heart,” and “true,” to equably describe one’s role in life. To Emerson, the individual achieves their greatest self through introspection and independent thought. Notably, this viewpoint accentuates the oppressed rather than the oppressor, the controlled individual rather than the force limiting their self-determination. Although both writers convey a message of sovereignty for the societally oppressed, Emerson and Thoreau approach the matter from completely different
Despite the liberating commentary in both “Civil Disobedience” and “Self-Reliance,” written by Thoreau and Emerson, respectively, the quotations from each piece exemplify different ethics. Thoreau desires an alternate society in which the individual is free from governmental restriction. Emerson, on the other hand, is more carefree, and yearns for a world of self-focused and moral consciousness. In search of a Transcendentalism, individuals must specifically look toward the values of Emerson to completely immerse oneself in a world based on the singular mind. Although drifting from societal norms is a significant aspect of self-determination, Emerson’s credence to “Self-Reliance” as a manner of transcending better exemplifies the true depiction of Transcendentalist
Two men, similar in their transcendentalist beliefs and yet so different in their methods of expressing their beliefs on handling the issues of society, were major voices in the anti-slavery movement. While their focuses are more on the subjects of morality and individual choice, they still reflect on how slavery should be addressed by the American people, American referring to the free whites who actually make the decisions. Ralph Waldo Emerson is highly regarded for his views on Transcendentalism during what some of deemed the “American Renaissance.” Emerson establishes his place in history by expressing his liberal agenda through his beliefs that truth is based on intuition and law should be based on individual reflection. He believes that the only way one could truly learn about life is by ignoring knowledge from outside sources and relying on one’s internal voice; he incorporates this belief into the convincing rhetoric of “Last of the Anti-Slavery Lectures.” While Emerson asserts his views on self reliance, he is really trying to sway the views of his audience. This makes us ask the question: Is he really right, or is he only convincing us that he is right? Henry David Thoreau, however, serves as both a complement and a foil for Emerson; while he also expresses his transcendental beliefs, he converges on a split between these beliefs and reason. He articulates his ideas in “Slavery in Massachusetts,” a piece that illustrates how Thoreau separates himself from his own state because of his “contempt for her courts” (1991). While some would argue that Thoreau is somewhat of a better writer than Emerson, it cannot be denied that one cannot reach...
Transcendentalists Thoreau and Emerson conveyed strong, specific viewpoints on the world through their writing. The transcendentalist ideals differ vastly with the lives lived by most of the modern world today. Firstly, the two differ on views of self-reliance. Secondly, they have different outlooks on the government and organized groups. Lastly, transcendentalist and modern American views vary by the way they view nature. These differences between transcendentalism and life today are essential in understanding life then, as well as life now.
While Emerson never truly factored his transcendentalist ideals into his daily life, Thoreau made a point out of living out his days as a man free from society and connected to nature. In 1846, he refused to pay his poll tax to the government because he believed the war was unjust and did not want to support the government. In doing this, he showed that he remains strong in his own beliefs and will not agree with something just to conform to society. He also showcases Emerson’s philosophy on learning by forming beliefs based on his own life and morals, which were based in nature, receiving instruction from Emerson’s ideas on self-reliance, and taking action against something he believes is unjust. In an excerpt from one of Thoreau’s books, he says, “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” (Thoreau 16). What he is saying through this is that he wants to evaluate himself in the context of nature and understand what life is like in its purest and fundamental form. He hoped to gain a knowledge of the world and explore what nature had to offer and learn from his experience. Also, Thoreau is letting his readers know that connecting with nature is essential in finding yourself and
Henry David Thoreau wrote “Resistance to Civil Government” that showed examples of transcendentalism within this movement. 2. “Incidents in the Life of a Slave
The 1830s was a time of serious religious conflict. Many people, especially authors, had different opinions on how to find true spirituality. In the end, authors in America created Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that searches for individual truth through spiritual reflection, complete solitude, and a deep connection with nature. Because this was established by authors, many of them wrote different pieces reflecting and using the beliefs of Transcendentalism. Ralph Waldo Emerson was considered to be the father of Transcendentalism. He wrote many influential pieces that follow and emphasize major Transcendental beliefs. The major beliefs include the over-soul, nature, and senses. In addition to those, there are minor beliefs and overall ways of living. These beliefs were included in Transcendental pieces as a general way to share the belief and to create a movement. Due to the use of nature, senses, and the over-soul as its three core Transcendental beliefs, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” successfully explain the fundamentals of Transcendentalism.
Additionally, Emerson and Thoreau both warn the reader of the dangers when individuality is marginalized. Emerson views society as a “conspiracy against the manhood of every one of...
...ed to an optimistic emphasis on individualism, self-reliance, and rejection of traditional authority” (American 1). The major players in the transcendentalist movement are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. They shared ideas such as self-reliance, and ideas about how there is a divine being that controls every person. They influenced many other writers and they even had an effect on the American society, then and now. Transcendentalism was a philosophy and a way of life. It will continue to be this as long as we have access to the great minds of the transcendental movement.
In “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau emphasizes the need for self-reliance (“Clendenning”). This statement is fitting because Thoreau was one of the most self-reliant men of his time period. He was an individual and enjoyed nature. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) is closely related to the Transcendentalism movement, which lasted a mere ten years in the 1830s and 1840s. Transcendentalism is the belief of self-reliance, individuality, social reform, and relying on reason. Henry David Thoreau’s love of nature, languages, and contemporary English, as well as the growth of Transcendentalism greatly influenced the life of this great American Author.
Someone once said, “ A revolution isn't always an act of violence that results in a bloody battle”. Transcendentalism has affirmed that fact indeed, since it is a movement expressed in a form of revolution that uses letters and words as its only weapon, its a form independence and individual improvement in which one reflects his own opinion, and radical ideas through using a pen and critical thinking as the best form of expression. Ralph Waldo Emerson, was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendental movement of the 19th century. To Emerson, independence and self-reliance were his main focus, hence they provide a unique link between one’s self and what goes beyond. His sole abstract ideas, vivid expressions, and symbolic
A transcendentalist whom strongly urged passive, non-violent resistance to the government’s policies to which an individual is morally opposed wrote his ideas in his essay,“On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” in the year 1849. Thoreau’s transcendentalist belief is seen in his text continuously, “In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs”(Thoreau 4). As a white male who was given the right to vote, Thoreau’s writing is more direct and
Thoreau wrote, “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.” The words transformed people’s lives to think more of the why in life and live with a purpose not just do what they are told, which was a driving idea within the Transcendentalist movements. Transcendentalist were hard to define, but perhaps one of the fathers of transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson defines it most gracefully in a speech he gave, “The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine, He believes in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power: he believes in inspiration, and in ecstasy”. As Emerson’s key student and self-proclaimed Transcendentalist Thoreau fulfilled these requirements to help further this movement of higher
"Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them . . . or shall we transgress them at once." Popular transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, believed that obeying “unjust” laws would hold people back and they should not be okay or “content” with following them. He thought that civil disobedience was an important concept and that people must “transgress” civilization and make their own laws and restrictions to remain happy. Civil disobedience and protest against society was a large contribution towards the Transcendental movement that began in New England in the 18th century. It urged Americans to not give in and do what society saw right but instead, encroach civilizations laws by following their own rules. In addition,
“Do not go where the path may lead you; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, the father of Transcendentalism, emphasized the importance of nonconformity in a world filled with followers. Instead of molding into society’s creation, or following “the path,” Emerson promoted abstaining from losing one’s individuality and creating a new “trail.” Emerson’s belief in refusing to conform and protecting one’s differences remains an integral part in living a transcendental life. As one of the fundamental rights of the movement, maintaining a distinct identity was an elusive but interesting concept, especially in the nineteenth century. Moreover, the act of finding one’s self in nature exists prominently
In the early 1900s, a philosophical movement emerged known as Transcendentalism. Its, including renowned writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, believe in five main principles: non-conformity, self-reliance, free thought, self-confidence, and the importance of nature. These principles inspired Henry David Thoreau’s essay entitled “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”. This is a bold, powerful piece of work that is very progressive for its time period, and has sparked a fire in the hearts of all those who have indulged in its words.
Transcendentalism, a philosophy based on principles that reality is to be discovered by the study of the thought processes, or a philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical. Society has taken this philosophy and has implemented it as part of the daily lives of its people. Transcendentalism makes its connection to society and real life in many ways. The “Resistance to Civil Government” by Thoreau embodies what transcendentalists believed. Throughout time there have been more people like Thoreau who believed in Transcendentalism. For example, Phillip Berrigan who’s dying words were “I die with the conviction, held since 1968 and Catonsville, that nuclear weapons are the scourge of the earth; to mine for them, manufacture them, deploy them, use them, is a curse against God, the human family, and the earth itself.” Thoreau’s piece relates to Phillips Berrigan’s Quote because they both represent the fact of individualism and to not abide by what the government says.