Misunderstood But Great: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Misunderstood But Great

Ralph Waldo Emerson is a philosopher, poet, essayist, and a leader of the transcendentalist movement in the mid nineteenth century. Transcendentalism is the art of a new style of writing, and a rise of the evangelical Church, and a surge of self reliance. Self reliance is the independency of one, who doesn’t rely on anyone else. Emerson says in Self Reliance, “To be great is to be misunderstood.” Greatness can be defined by being above the general normal. Isaac Newton was one of the most influential forces in the scientific revolution. Martin Luther led the reformation against the Catholic Church. These two great figures were milestones ahead of everyone in their generation, and helped form a new way of life.

Sir Isaac Newton is perhaps one of the greatest scientific and

mathematical minds to ever live. He was born on December 25, 1642, and died on March 20, 1726. Newton attended The King’s School in Lincolnshire. He was removed from his education, as his mother failed to attempt to make a farmer out of him. He went to Trinity College in Cambridge, but began to formulate his most well known theories at home. Newton was very hesitant to publish his calculus, for the fear of controversy and criticism. His calculus was finally published, but people accused Isaac’s partner for plagiarism. It was later found out that Newton took remarks from his partner, and thus began a bitter controversy over the subject. Although Leibniz was deemed Newton’s partner, they rarely worked together, as Newton liked to isolate himself in his studies, for the fear of being outcasted. This led to him finding the Three Laws of Gravity and Optics. These were seen as unholy in the eyes of the Church, but this was followed by the Scientific Revolution. Sir Isaac Newton might’ve kept his findings a secret, but his greatness was shone during the Scientific Revolution in the 1300’s.
Martin Luther was the father of the Lutheran Church, as well as a leader in the Protestant Reformation. Luther joined the Augustinian Order, which consisted of fasting, long hours of prayer, pilgrimage, and frequent confession. He received a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies. During the 1500’s, the Catholic Church was the central form of government in Europe. People feared
God, and the Church used that to their advantage.

They convinced the townsfolk that instead of confession, they must pay to have their sins forgiven. Luther did not agree with these newly formed laws, so he began to write up his ninety-five thesis.The ninety-five theses is a list of propositions of how the Church was misusing God’s word. Luther nailed that sucker onto the door of the Church, only to become excommunicated. Luther began to preach the books of Psalms, Hebrew, Romans, and Galatians. Thus began Lutheran Church. Martin Luther was excommunicated for seeing the flaws in the Catholic Church. Despite their actions, Luther began what is the second largest branch of the Christianity faith.

Martin Luther and Isaac Newton were great, without a doubt, but the people of their times misunderstood them greatly. They both sacrificed numerous consequences to show the world of their findings. We never would have understood how gravity works, or how Jesus can forgive our sins. They persevered, and ultimately created a better world. To be great is to be misunderstood, means to be so far advanced that people cannot believe such a

feat.