Transcending Through American Literature

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“Why should your reach stop with your skin?” (Lawrence 35). Explaining his beliefs, this is how the Transcendentalist embarks upon the metaphysical meanings of his philosophy. The first step in grasping Transcendentalism is to transcend by expanding your reach and taking yourself apart from the world, while also understanding that you are connected to everything. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the father of this school of thought, began a small group of philosophers called the Transcendental Club in the 1830s and the 1840s to pioneer this new philosophical paradigm. Among these great Transcendental philosophers was Emerson’s most devout pupil Henry Thoreau, who spent over two years isolated in the woods to be more in touch with his Transcendental self. They both found the majesty and import in nature, the power within individualism and equality, and realized the presence of good and evil in the world. Despite their movement only lasting about ten years, Transcendentalism had a profound impact not only on American society, but American literature. Thus the ideas and beliefs of Transcendentalists found their way into one of America's greatest novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the story of young Huckleberry’s mishaps and encounters traveling down the Mississippi River in an effort to free an on-the-run slave. During Huck’s journey in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain employs the core tenets of Transcendentalism: appreciation of nature, individualism, equality, and the fight against evil.
In the philosophy of transcendentalists, nature is seen as an escape from the harsh expectations of society and a means for an individual to distance oneself from civilization. During this time, one has the chance ...

... middle of paper ...

...ide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: “All right, then, I'll go to hell”—and tore it up” (Twain 214). It is in this passage we see Huck’s individual conscience shine through, going against what society has told him is right, especially how slavery is to be viewed.

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Nature”. Rpt. in The Language of Literature. Evanston IL.:
McDougal Littell, 1997.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self Reliance”. Rpt. in The Language of Literature. Evanston IL.:
McDougal Littell, 1997.
Lawrence, Jerome and Lee. Robert. “The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail”. New York: Bantam
Books, 1970.
“Transcendentalism: The Seekers”. The Language of Literature. Evanston IL.: McDougal Littell,
1997.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Bantam Dell, 2003.

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