Analysis Of Anti-Transcendentalism In A Poison Tree

G.R. Thompson described the Anti-Transcendentalism movement as, “Fallen man 's inability fully to comprehend haunting reminders of another, supernatural realm that yet seemed not to exist, the constant perplexity of inexplicable and vastly metaphysical phenomena, a propensity for seemingly perverse or evil moral choices that had no firm or fixed measure or rule, and a sense of nameless guilt combined with a suspicion the external world was a delusive projection of the mind—these were major elements in the vision of man the Dark Romantics opposed to the mainstream of Romantic thought (“Dark Romanticism.” New World Encyclopedia N.p.).” This quote describes Anti-Transcendentalism which was a movement which was supported by many famous authors

First, off is the negativity towards other people. Anti-transcendentalists fail to see to see the good in most people (“Dark Romanticism.” New World Encyclopedia N.p.). This is similar to speaker who is anger towards his friend and foe and eventually grows so angry he kills his foe. Next, many Anti-Transcendentalists see nature as dark and evil (“Dark Romanticism.” New World Encyclopedia N.p.). In the poem nature is evil because he kills his foe with an apple a part of nature. Another characteristic of Anti-Transcendentalism in the poem people naturally cause destruction and there is no such thing as the afterlife. Those two characteristics of Anti-Transcendentalism is why the speaker killed his foe and had no regret about it because he believes destruction is natural and what he does in this life does not matter because this is your only life (“Transcendentalism vs. Anti-Transcendentalism” Parklandsd N.p.). A Poison Tree demonstrates the Anti-Transcendentalism themes of negativity towards people, nature as being dark and evil, and no after life and people despite their best intentions naturally cause