Essay On Emerson And Dubois's Concept Of Grief

“I grieve that grief can teach me nothing” and “a hope not hopeless but unhopeful” are the two manifestations of the philosophers Ralph Emerson and Du Bois, respectively. These manifestations, though seemingly unattached, were created by these philosophers because of a common event in each of their lives: their sons’ death. Through this common tragedy, each man goes through his own form of grief which leads them toward a common goal of moving forward. Through their common goal, they each create their own philosophies that can combine to create a progression from grief to being born again.
After the death of his son, Emerson realises that he has not gained or lost anything. He states, “some thing which I fancied was a part of me, which could not be torn away without tearing me, nor enlarged without enriching me, falls off from me, and leaves no scar,” meaning that a …show more content…
Emerson’s idea of grief teaching nothing ultimately creates a sense of uselessness, for if grief teaches nothing, what is the purpose of grieving? This sense of uselessness then leads people to understand that the thing they are grieving for is not worth it, for there is nothing to do about it (this must have been what Emerson had done when he realised that his son “left no scar” on him). By understanding that there is nothing they can do for the object of which the person is grieving for, they can begin to let go, which could be the first step into moving forward. At this point, the griever has a greater intelligence by understanding their own uselessness. Because of this intelligence, it is possible for the griever to open the door within them that Emerson states to be “a door through which the creator passes,” and become closer to God. In the case that the griever “opens” this door, they can be “born again” and their present would no longer be based on the