Examples Of Transcendentalism In The Modern World

Transcendentalism in the Modern World
“Very early, I knew that the only object in life was to grow.” (Margaret Fuller) perfectly summarizes the general idea of Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is a movement concentrating on the spiritual understanding of the world in order to further ourselves. It’s used in our world and influences us every day. Transcendentalism has three major points; nonconformity, self- reliance, and free thought, all which affect society. One major idea of Transcendentalism is non-conformity. Nonconformity is the refusal to follow a preexisting and prevailing rule. An example of a nonconforming action would be Thoreau refusing to pay a tax and going to jail for it, because he didn't believe in the Mexican War. This shows that if one believes in a cause, one must stand up to it, but also accept the punishment that comes along with it. A modern example would be the Black Lives Matter movement. These people are standing up to oppressive society and police, and are willing to go to jail for the cause. This sentence is an example of nonconformity. Non conformity is an important …show more content…
This is the reliance on oneself instead of other’s powers and resources. Self reliance allows people to support themselves, make decisions, and not rely on others too much. Thoreau uses self reliance when he moves to Walden Pond and builds his own cottage, makes his own food, and supports himself in every possible way. This experience was necessary because it enabled him to see the full extent of his own abilities. People in the modern world must use self reliance to survive, as they cannot rely on others their whole lives. After high school, students generally move out, and cannot rely on their parents to support them. Then, one must use self reliance to find a job and be successful. Self reliance is important in all aspects of life, in all ages, thus being one of the main points of