Biography of Reverend William Emerson, Waldo

Goodness within nature and one’s self, Humans transcending the corruption by society. This was the age of transcendentalism, an age lead by Ralph Waldo Emerson(). The age of Transcendentalism was an American movement brought upon by philosophers and writers in the 19th century that focused on the inner spiritual and mental essence of the human than the physical (). Ralph Waldo Emerson served as a prominent figure in the age of Transcendentalism, and left his mark on American literature by leading the transcendental movement, and influencing other memorable writers of his time, as well as writers after his death. Emerson’s themes and style of writing is a product of his upbringing, and his time and interactions with the members of the Transcendentalist Club.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25, 1803, in Boston, Massachusetts. Emerson was born to Rev. William Emerson, a Unitarian minister, who died before Emerson’s eight birthday(). Due to the death, Emerson was raised mainly by Ruth Haskins, his mother, and was often also cared for by other women in his family(). One of these women, particularly his aunt, Mary Moody Emerson, had a strong impact on Emerson that would plant the seed of themes such as spiritualism and individualism(). Mary Moody Emerson served as Waldo’s teacher through much of his early education. Mary would educate Emerson intellectually and ‘spiritually’(). Mary was Christian who bordered Calvinism and Unitarianism yet stood apart from each. Mary was stubborn in her religious views, and would eventually cause her influence Emerson’s writing to diminish somewhat(). Nevertheless Mary Emerson had a grand influence on Waldo’s philosophy and his writing.

Like Reverend William Emerson, Waldo became a Unitarian minis...

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...merson” (). Hart Crane stated the he drew strong influence from the works of Emerson and Whitman (). Both poets, Crane and Frost, are known for their contribution to American literature.

The transcendental age might have not come if it was not for Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Upbringing and involvement in the Transcendentalist club, as well as the number of writers who were inspired by his work. Sometimes the most important changes come from within, and transcend into society, and eventually history.

Works Cited

Liebman, Sheldon W. “Emerson, Ralph Waldo.” The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature. Ed. Jay Parini. Oxford University Press, 2004. Web.

Richardson, Robert D. Jr. (1995). Emerson: The Mind on Fire. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-08808-5.

Allen, Gay Wilson (1981). Waldo Emerson. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-74866-8.