Ralph Waldo Emerson

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The Transcendental movement of the 1830s is considered among scholars as one of the many great reformations of the 19th century buried within the tombs of history. Great Poets and authors published modern-yet-ancient ideological works describing the roots of this reformation, which based itself around the idea of a universal connection between all objects. Out of many contributing to this movement, one man named of Ralph Waldo Emerson distinguished himself as singular above all. With such essays and works as Nature and Self-Reliance, Emerson set himself as the leader of a movement toward Nature and the entity known as “the Over-soul”. The works and philosophies of the late Ralph Waldo Emerson have aided in the reformation of the human character through his tantalizing lyric prose, evident underlying moral tendencies, and, most importantly, his notable connection to nature, as well as the greater power of the universe.

Mr. Emerson was born on May 25, 1803 in a small town called Boston, to his mother, Ruth, and his father, William. His father died of consumption soon afterwards. Between 1833 and 1875, Emerson led the great Transcendentalist Movement in America. Later writers said that, “Although never a champion of Andrew Jackson, who represented a coarseness and vulgarity by which he could not abide, Emerson nevertheless supported the democratization and expansion which here in the process… But Emerson was not a staunch supporter of Manifest Destiny” (7)

The epitome of Emerson’s achievements, no doubt, can be traced back to his impact on the Transcendentalist Reformation. The transcendentalist ideology, which can be diluted to the belief that all beings are connected in a network called the Over-Soul, announced a take on r...

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...f creation, from a drop of dew to a cricket to a charging elephant, as one collective being. This concept is the basis of Transcendentalist belief.

The Age of Reform truly was an era that brought about change within numerous aspects of American life. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a frontrunner of one of these reforms, distinguished himself among all others, eventually unlocking God Mode. To this day, the ideas of Transcendentalist thought continue to trickle into the minds of incoming generations. This is thanks to the benefit of Emerson’s lyric genius, political radicalism, and full understanding of transcendentalist ideology. Waldo paved a way for future generations to gain a firmer grip on our connection with nature, our minds, and our souls (Over-Soul that is!).Ralph Waldo Emerson, we salute you.

Works Cited

Emerson's Essays, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ralph Waldo Emerson

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