Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement in the late 1820s and early 1830s that focused on spirituality and individuality. The movement was a direct protest against religious and governmental institutions that they believed obstructed a person’s uniqueness. Ironically, the movement’s members were all mostly men, which to some point also obstructed the female viewpoint as there was a huge gender disadvantage. Despite an unleveled playfield, the contribution of transcendentalist women cannot be understated as their work helped defined the movement. Therefore, this paper will examined the women that influenced and gave life to the movement, rediscover other prominent women from the era, and analyze Margret Fuller’s role as a transcendental …show more content…
Aside from Margaret Fuller, Peabody is regarded as one of the most intriguing members of the movement. Alike May Alcott and Ripley, she was also an intellectual but was single as well. These are two things that were very uncommon for nineteenth century women as most did not have an education and most were married. Ultimately, this exceptionality made her a great fit for the transcendentalism movement as it pride on individuals, who went against the norms of society. Peabody was a “teacher, editor, publisher, translator, historian, bookseller, correspondent, essayist; and was gifted in linguistics, literature, history, theology, philosophy, and geography”, which made her an extraordinary jewel for the movement (634). Unlike the other previous women as well, Peabody did published numerous pieces of literature in different languages. She also worked for Waldo Emerson’s The Dial, which was the chief publication for transcendentalists. As if the woman did not have much in her hands, she was involved in activism. Her most notable activism accomplishments included the establishment of the kindergarten movement in America and the campaign for Native American reforms …show more content…
Without the teachings of Mary Moody Emerson, Ralph Waldo Emerson may have never been influenced to start a literary movement focus on the divinity of individuals. Abigail May Alcott, Sara Ripley, and Elizabeth Palmer Peabody all illustrated that they were just as capable as their male counterparts to earn an education and be activists against issues that not only concern the female gender but also other Americans. Ultimately, Fuller embodies the profile and diligence that a leader of a male-dominated movement would possess: education; integrity; and commitment. Without these movement, perhaps transcendentalism would have existed, but its survival as in scholarship and as a defining moment of American literature would have never
However, while embracing the often axiomatic freedoms of today, women everywhere should take time to acknowledge the struggles of previous generations. If one were to delve into the history of early American society, they would surely discover a male-dominated nation where women were expected to tend to their kitchen rather than share the responsibility of high government. During this time, a woman was considered the property of her husband, and was to remain compliant and silent. Nevertheless, two brilliant writers, Lydia Marie Child and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, resolved to confront and address the oppression afflicting America’s women. Although these two women have different styles of writing, they both advocate similar contentions.
“Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy.” U.S. History Online Textbook. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
McCandless was also a follower of transcendentalism. He read the works of transcendental authors thought similarly to them. On his Alaskan...
“Everyman, I will go with thee and by thy guide, in thy most need to go by thy side,” said Randolf Hayes while talking about Ralph Waldo Emerson. One of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s pieces of literature is The American Scholar. This connects to Jon Krakuaer’s novel, Into the Wild. All of these pieces connect because they all show transcendentalism.
In New York City, in the year 1819, Julia Ward was born into a strict Episcopalian Calvinist Family. Loosing her mother at a young age, Julia was raised by her father and an aunt. Not long after her mothers death Julia's father, a successful banker in the city, passed away, leaving Julia in the sole custody of her uncle. During her childhood she had been brought up believing in the strict and conservative views of Calvinism. Julia's mind was filled with the ideas and principles behind predestination and ramus logic, always encouraged to look for the hand of God first and then base everything else in society off of the premises she was taught (30). After the death of her father, Julia began searching for deeper meaning. She went through an intense period of revival as she attended church and became more and more involved with religious activities in the city. She soon began to notice, however, that men dominated this new conviction. Men wrote the sermons, men published the books, and men told her what she needed to do to become closer to God. Soon Julia's strict Calvinist kick would end (48). Prompted by Mary Ward, Julia took a winter "off" from any outside influences to get her thoughts in order. After this time she began to read and research Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson's introduction into Transcendentalism offered Julia the presence of God without the dominating male authority. Transcendentalism theory stressed the immanence of God and his active presence in everyone's life. She agreed with the idea that the bible was not meant to be taken literally, but that one's own intuition could lead to an understanding of God. These new and radical views for her time, coupled with her Calvinist upbringing, seems like it would be the recipe for disaster.
The Political, Feminist, and Religious view of Frances E.W. Harper, Phllis Wheatley, and Alice Dunbar-Nelson
In the nineteenth century the inequality of women was more than profound throughout society. Margaret Fuller and Fanny Fern both women of the century were much farther advanced in education and opinion than most women of the time. Fuller and Fern both harbored opinions and used their writing as a weapon against the conditions that were considered the norm in society for women. Margaret and Fuller were both influential in breaking the silence of women and criticizing the harsh confinement and burden of marriage to a nineteenth century man. Taking into consideration Woman in he Nineteenth Century by Fuller, Aunt Hetty on Matrimony, and The Working-Girls of New York by Fern, the reader can clearly identify the different tones and choice of content, but their purposes are moving towards the same cause. Regardless of their differences in writing, both Fern and Fuller wrote passionately in order to make an impact for their conviction, which was all too similar.
An influential literary movement in the nineteenth century, transcendentalism placed an emphasis on the wonder of nature and its deep connection to the divine. As the two most prominent figures in the transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau whole-heartedly embraced these principles. In their essays “Self-Reliance” and “Civil Disobedience”, Emerson and Thoreau, respectively, argue for individuality and personal expression in different manners. In “Self-Reliance”, Emerson calls for individuals to speak their minds and resist societal conformity, while in “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau urged Americans to publicly state their opinions in order to improve their own government.
...litical liberty. Another raised hand and another quizzical mind brought forth ideals, which changed to suit their life and times, to the very issues we undertake today, such as the Republican's crusade to ban late-term abortion. In Mary Wollstonecraft's time, what woman would challenge the Church (and other institutions) as boldly as a man would? Cady Stanton made it a point not only to upset intransigent religious institutions but to hopefully open the eyes of weaker, desperate people seeking a guide.
Truth connects women’s rights and abolition by defining a woman as a man’s equal by including examples of her experiences. Truth concludes her speech, “If the first woman God ever made...
Developed in the late 1820’s and 1830’s, the ideas of transcendentalism was a core belief that human beings are best when they are truly independent. Margaret Fuller, author of Women in the Nineteenth Century, was associated with this transcendentalist movement. For this reason, it is best believed that the education of women should be developed to their full potential and that women need the freedom to be able to develop.(Doc 5) Also, women should not be limited to doing labor work or being mothers but the education of women should be exceeding. Years after the Seneca Falls Convention there has been different opinions on the beliefs of women’s equality and rights. Although women are inferior to men since birth, they are distinguished as the caretaker of men.(Doc 7) And because the roll of the women was to nurture men, the ideal of “American womanhood” was subjected. For example, Catherine Beecher book called, A treatise on Domestic Economy, was her philosophy that men should dominate the political and economic rolls. Additionally, it was also a handbook/guidebook for the use of young women at home and at
In the mid nineteenth century America was going through an age of reform. The person who would be the center of these reforms would be the women in society. Women soon realized that in order to make sure that all the reforms went through they would need more power and influence in society. The oppression and discrimination the women felt in this era launched the women into create the women’s right movement. The women fought so zealously for their rights it would be impossible for them not to achieve their goals. The sacrifices, suffering, and criticism that the women activist made would be so that the future generations would benefit the future generations.
...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.
Women have faced oppression in the literary community throughout history. Whether they are seen as hysterical or unreliable, women writers seem to be faulted no matter the topics of their literature. However, Anne Bradstreet and Margaret Fuller faced their critics head-on. Whether it was Bradstreet questioning her religion or Fuller discussing gender fluidity, these two women did not water down their opinions to please others. Through their writings, Bradstreet and Fuller made great strides for not just women writers, but all women.
Mr. Keating, the new English teacher at Welton Academy, is the epitome of transcendentalist values. He devoutly embraces the idea of nonconformity, a key aspect of transcendentalism. At the start of the first English class, he instructs his students to tear out the introductory portion of their textbook because he disagrees with the content. This captures the attention of his student immediately differentiating him from the other professors at Welton and their orthodox teaching styles. Emerson, a famous poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, said, “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.... Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Further emphasizing the importance of individuality, Mr. Keating takes his student out to the courtyard and asks them to walk in their own exclusive speed and style, independent of how everyone else is walking. When inquired by Mr. Nolan, the Headmaster at Welton, as to what exactly he was doing, Mr. Keating replies that he w...