Materialism, And Individualism: Henry David Thoreau And Transcendalist

Henry David Thoreau and Transcendalist

According to philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Instead of seeing the world as an independent power that may lay waste to our purposes and plans, we can view it as a display of images or pictures created by us, rendering it harmless and even benevolent.” (Brodrick) The Transcendalist movement took place from the late 1820’s- 30’s. Henry David Thoreau was one of the two founders of the movement. He was a caring, ambitious, and nature-loving man.

According to one biography, Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University because it was his grandfather’s Alma mater. He went to college to become a teacher and then proceeded to found a private school with his brother John,

Individualism was how Thoreau expressed his beliefs in power and, indeed, the obligation of the individual to determine right from wrong, independent of the dictates of society in his book Civil Disobedience. Materialism gave Thoreau the idea to build a little cabin out by Walden Pond and stay there for two years. “Thoreau considered the ownership of material possessions beyond the basic necessities of life to be an obstacle, rather than an advantage.” (Witherell & Dubrulle) In many works by Thoreau the reader can understand that he liked to be outside in nature. Naturalism helped him discipline himself to observe the natural phenomena around Concord systematically. “Thoreau 's observations of nature enrich all of his work, even his essays on political topics.” (Witherell &

Ralph Emerson and Henry Thoreau are considered to be the fathers of the transcendentalist movement. Thoreau had an important impact on it and his most renowned mentor was Ralph Waldo Emerson. After reading Emerson’s short book Nature, Thoreau became a major advocate and life-long student of the movement. Thoreau’s main influence was nature. He spent two years of his life living out in nature, embracing all life had to offer