Transcendentalists: Quote Explication Plus
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an eloquent American writer who was an eminent figure in the transcendentalist movement, believing that the truths of the universe are beyond our knowledgeable capabilities and can only be obtained through harmony with nature. He strongly believes in appreciative yet not engaging with nature, and talks of how the outward world brings one delight and exhilaration in his essay “Nature”. In this essay, he speaks of how, when alone and immersed in nature, “all mean egotism vanishes”. The woods and silence strip people of their haughty human tendencies and puts them in a sense of awe, and makes them feel small against the immensity of nature. The sublime power of the woods washes
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over him and he is calm. Emerson states that he has “become a transparent eyeball”, observing nature and its beauty. He also says “I am nothing, I see all”, which supports the belief of passively enjoying nature, not disturbing the peace. This quote supports his belief that nature brings out a better side of you, because your egotism, or self interest, melts away. Furthermore, this quote supports Emerson’s personal beliefs of transcendentalism, which consisted of people appreciating the universe without directly affecting it. He believed that people should be surrounded by nature and enjoying its presence without taking part in it. This quote could also liken him to God, as God is described as an all seeing being that sees all. Transcendentalists believe that through nature, one can achieve an elevated state of being, as all people and particles are intertwined. Henry David Thoreau was a transcendentalist and admired the works and beliefs of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
He believed in actively engaging with nature and individualism. He launched an experiment with Emerson’s help, living for two years in a cabin in the woods to immerse himself in nature. In his experiment, he recorded his experiences in his book “Walden”. As his time in the woods came to an end, he spent time reflecting, preparing himself for the next journey in his life. In the final chapter of “Walden”, he speaks of how one can achieve success by advancing in his or her endeavors in life. Thoreau states that “if you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be”. He urges people to develop their ideas, or castles, and to believe in themselves. Their thoughts are valuable and should be respected. Afterwards, he commands “put the foundations under them”. Once one has a dream or an endeavor, he or she should pursue it and build a foundation under it, developing whatever idea into wonderful reality. This quote supports his individualist values, how he supports people to pursue their goals and make them real. It is significant in relation to the passage in how it is one of Thoreau’s realizations and results from his two year experiment; he leaves the cabin with more caution about how malleable the world is, and with a newfound love for the truth and the unknown. Thoreau’s results contributes the important value of individualism to the …show more content…
transcendentalist movement. Emerson’s writing influenced that of Dickinson, shown in her poem 214 or “I taste a liquor never brewed”.
In Emerson’s essay, “Nature”, he speaks of how his experience in nature gives him vitality, and how he seeks and enjoys a higher state of being and happiness, or “perpetual youth”, through nature. He strongly believed in transcendentalism, or the belief that ultimate knowledge is beyond what can be attained by our senses. Dickinson’s poem carries themes of transcendentalism as well: she speaks with excitement of her liveliness in the outdoors, how she, “inebriate of air”, reels “through the endless summer days”. Inhaling the sweet summer air, she dances and soaks in the wonders of nature. She speaks of her tasting “a liquor never brewed”, which represents the awesomeness of the natural world. As she immerses herself in nature, she feels drunk off of it, feeling energy and enjoyment. Even as the seasons pass, she exclaims that she “shall drink the more!”, showing how even as time passes she continues to take in her surroundings. Dickinson’s poem reflects the transcendentalist, content ways of life that Emerson preaches.
2. “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because
he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears,
however measured or far away.”
(Thoreau) Thoreau’s writing showcased transcendentalism, and focused on individualism, wanting people to seek the truth and pursue their passions without fear of failure or of society. Thoreau did not want people to be discouraged by others: he wanted people to live life to the fullest and achieve their full potential, “[stepping] to the music which he hears”. Walt Whitman’s poem, “Song of Myself”, seems to reflect these values. Throughout the poem, he describes how he embraces himself and everything he is, and mentions how he, “thirty-seven years old... begin, hoping to not cease till death”. His life until this point of realization was mere prologue, and his true life begins as he paves his own unique path. Furthermore, he mentions how past schools and faiths have affected who he is, and indicates that he “harbor[s] for good and bad, permit[s] to speak at every hazard”. He is not afraid to speak his mind at any point and accepts the knowledge of both the good and bad. Finally, he ends the poem describing himself as “Nature without check with original energy”. With his new sense of self love and appreciation, he is able to grow and thrive for the rest of his life. His newfound celebration of himself has revitalized him and spurred him on to live his life to the fullest. Whitman’s work reflects that of Thoreau’s in how both encourage self reliance and the pursuing of one’s passions.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Nature.” The American Experience. Ed. Kate Kinsella. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Education, Inc., 2005. 388-390. Print.
In Emerson’s “Nature” nature is referred to as “plantations of god” meaning that nature is sacred. Also mentioned, is that “In the woods is perpetual youth”(#) conveying that nature keeps people young. Therefore, these excerpts show that nature is greatly valued by these transcendentalists. Transcendentalists would likely care significantly about the environment. In contrast, nowadays nature is often and afterthought. Natures’ resources are being depleted for human use, and the beauty of nature is also not as appreciated by modern people as it was by transcendentalists. The threat to nature in modern times contrasts to the great appreciation of nature held by authors like Emerson and
His desire to escape from what he entered imbibed in him an acute sense of the dangers posed by the dispassionate being that nature is. Meanwhile, Thoreau voluntarily went to Walden Pond to determine whether he is capable of earning his “living by the labor of [his] hand only” (“Economy”, par. 1). He was trying to prove his ideas on self-reliance to be correct and applicable in the real world. Thus, he had an incentive to focus on the positive aspects of being alone with the surrounding
Reverence of nature is one of the main characteristics of Transcendentalism. When Emerson is talking about his Transcendentalist thoughts, he writes, “Philosophically considered, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul” (Nature 1). Emerson, along with other transcendentalism followers, believe that nature is equal to God, as in both always surround man. Nature is a part of the individual; likewise, the individual is a part of nature. When Emerson talks about his feelings in nature he declared, “I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate th...
Nature is the means for God and humanity to be reunited wholly. Emerson's enlightenment in the woods and his appreciation of natural beauty is quite profound. By becoming reconnected to the innocence, beauty and purity of nature Emerson had a revelation. He found himself closer to God. Perhaps Emerson is attempting to persuade us into fostering a greater respect for the natural world? He seems to be displeased with the "culturization" of wilderness.
In the opening paragraphs of his first chapter, Emerson finds that nature, like stars is always present and creates a reverence in the observer, but is also always inaccessible (14). Emerson also brings forth the idea that not everyone can really observe nature, but one must have the correct mental/spiritual state, as a child might. He discusses the improving aspects one can find in nature - youth, reason, and faith. Intrigued by visual perceptions, he claims that he looses contact with everything but nature becomes a 'transparent eye-ball' and feels that "I am part or parcel of God" (16). Emerson's emphatic words are perhaps the best description of the enthralling emotions of a 'sublime' experience as possible.
He builds his own cabin and documents his experiences amongst nature. He observations led to his personal beliefs of how one should truly live. He was alone when he recorded his understandings of nature and himself which some might call his journey a visions quest. “The book has inspired other young people to follow his example and retire to a lonely spot--even if only in imagination--to ponder the world and their place in it” says Elizabeth Witherell, author of Reflections of Walden (Witherell). The comparison of Emerson and Thoreau works are very similar when relating their books to transcendental characteristics which Woodlief elaborates on. Woodlief
In Emily Dickinson’s poem #336, the narrator feels a strong sense of despair and laments at having lost the physical ability to see in one eye. The narrator reflects upon the importance of sight in experiencing nature and finds a better appreciation for it now that she has lost her sight. By the end of the poem however, the narrator experiences transcendence, as she comes to the realization that through the act of imagination she is able to see far more than the limited view her eyes provided her with. Through the act of poetic writing, the narrator is able to capture the beauty of nature and engrave in into her soul. In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s excerpt from “Nature”, he alludes to the significance in sight when it comes to it being able to merge the human soul with nature to create perfect unity, and as such he lays the groundwork for Dickinson’s ideas that are presented within her poem. Though Dickinson’s poem may initially seem transcendental, it can also be interpreted as a mixture of Emerson’s transcendental ideas and those that support the notion of imagination. Dickinson’s poem serves as a response to Emerson’s ideas because she adds on to his thoughts and unites his idea that there is oneness present in the world with the notion that imagination and sight serve as a bridge that connects human consciousness with nature to create this oneness that Emerson believes in.
Writer, poet and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson in the essay “Nature" acknowledges the foundation of Transcendentalism and the admiration for during the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. Emerson’s purpose is to describe a real transcendental experience and to spread the idea of becoming one with one’s surroundings. Emerson’s tone is calm, lyrical, throughout “Nature” allows him to expose the relationship between humans and nature at its fullest.
The first ideas of Transcendentalism were formally introduced in the Nineteenth-Century by becoming an intellectual movement that brought forth new ideas, theories, and ways of thinking to society. These transcendentalist ideas were created by people known as "transcendentalists". Some of the more well known transcendentalists are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau who created new styles of literature, essays, novels, philosophy, poetry, and other forms of writing that were much different from the current ideas that society was accustomed to. These ideas and thoughts ultimately became bad for humankind for a vast majority of reasons. One reason transcendentalist ideas became bad for mankind is because the ideas created friction between
The Transcendentalists are known to believe that nature is a very important part of life that is also influenced spiritually. They view nature as a symbol of God. Walt Whitman, as a Transcendentalist, began his relationship with nature at a young age while his father was a farmer. As he became older and started writing poetry, we see that his poems reflect this relationship that has grown within him between nature and God. As seen in Walt Whitman’s poem Song of Myself in our textbook, he views himself as part of nature when stating “I am mad for it to be in contact with me” (1025). Here he is making himself one with nature and one with God.
With the continuous evolvement of the English language, literary movements played a key role in the development of modern day literature. During the early 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson, a successful essayist and poet, founded one of these in movements known as Transcendentalism. With the creation of one of the most influential progression of literature in American history, Emerson, and fellow Transcendentalists helped develop American tenets. One of the most prominent concepts was the Oversoul. The Oversoul, an encompassing spirit that collected all the souls of the living and dead, allowed Transcendentalists to explain everyone’s ability to acquire greatness and to comprehend their teachings. In reference to this tenet, Transcendentalists swayed from traditional Puritan values to develop numerous principles about nature, intuition, the divinity of man, self-reliance, and the duty of the poet.
If you were to ask me what I think about transcendentalism, I would be forced to say it is truly something I can find myself following. Emerson said we should make our own lives and not allow anyone else to tell us how to live: not our parents, not religion, not society. Thoreau said we should not support governments who are doing dirty deals and not doing right by their people. I happen to agree with both on both of these issues. The fashion industry is famous for begging everyone to buy this blouse and be like that model. All the young teenage girls are encouraged to be the same shape and size. With the music industry, there is not even much difference between the music being cranked out in Los Angeles versus Nashville. Most recording
In Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson creates his vision of the universe while trying to provide man’s purpose for existence within it. Emerson, throughout his eight chapters, attempts to go beyond the logic of what people think is their function, to a truer understanding of their soul and how it works in co-ordinance with nature to create a veritable life experience. He offers a vision that is not absolute, but rather ever-changing in its offering to each individual which, therefore, creates a unique experience for each person and one unlike any other before or after. At the forefront of his writing, seems to be the theme of reason and understanding, particularly how they work together to instruct man on God’s true plan.
Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882), the leader of the Transcendentalism in New England, is the first American who wrote prose and poem on nature and the relationship between nature and man Emerson's philosophy of Transcendentalism concerning nature is that nature is only another side of God "the gigantic shadow of God cast our senses." Every law in nature has a counterpart in the intellect. There is a perfect parallel between the laws of nature and the laws of thought. Material elements simply represent an inferior plane: wherever you enumerate a physical law, I hear in it a moral rule. His poem The Rhodora is a typical instance to illustrate his above-mentioned ideas on nature. At the very beginning of the poem, the poet found the fresh rhodora in the woods, spreading its leafless blooms in a deep rock, to please the desert and the sluggish brook, while sea-winds pieced their solitudes in May. It is right because of the rhodora that the desert and the sluggish brook are no longer solitudes. Then the poem goes to develop by comparison between the plumes of the redbird and the rhodora . Although the bird is elegant and brilliant, the flower is much more beautiful than the bird. So the sages can not helping asking why this charm is wasted on the earth and sky. The poet answers beauty is its own cause for being just as eyes are made for seeing. There is no other reason but beauty itsel...