Huckleberry Finn And Transcendentalism Essay

Come Away to the Water “When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.” These words by Ralph Waldo Emerson behold transcendentalist value in the perception of nature. He describes nature as a female being, and gives her the ability to “create geniuses.” The transcendental movement emerged in the Antebellum period of America with the philosophical reform movements of the 1830s. Transcendentalists placed value on the serenity and spirituality of nature, the vitality of nonconformity, the value of self-reliance, and numerous more tenets to attempt to assimilate the American people and the world into a more simplified society. Members created a contemporary style of literature, one that differed from traditional British styles …show more content…
Salinger. The protagonists of the novels, thirteen year old Huckleberry Finn and seventeen year old Holden Caulfield, depart on journeys to discover themselves. In Huck Finn, the former spends his time upon a raft floating on the Mississippi River. Jim, a runaway slave, joins him on his journey and adds an element of camaraderie to the novel. Whereas, Holden’s venture in Catcher occurs in the great and wondrous New York City. He faces obstacles along the way, especially concerning his wish to save kids from falling into the corruption of society. Consequently, because both protagonists seek freethinking ways of life and the value in nature, they can be compared with ease. Primarily, the narrator's experience movements toward nonconformity, Huck drifting away from traditional, racist society and Holden turning from the conformity within his school life. Additionally, nature plays a leading role in Huck’s life by posing as safety and escape. Likewise, Holden turns to Central Park as his source of serenity. Therefore, the transcendental ideas shared between Huck and Holden can inspire readers to pursue originality and tranquility of the outdoor