Transcendentalism: The Universal Soul

In the mid-19th century, during the Romantic Era, individuals began to challenge societal norms and religion. Some, known as transcendentalists, believed that there was an inherent good in both humans and nature. This inherent good was referred to as the universal soul. Every human being possessed the universal soul and it was their duty to express it. At its core, Transcendentalism was the art of begin self-reliant and surpassing the contemporary status quo by emitting one’s sublimity and expressing their universal soul. Transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, believed this profound concept was within all individuals, because everyone possessed the ability to assert control over themselves and their fate. Both …show more content…
In order for man to take superiority of their lives and transcend, they must first display their universal soul and put themselves in nature because their experience of life is shaped by the world. Each individual is a manifestation of creation, and must be as pure and self-reliant as nature. Because, nature, too, is an expression of the divine and by becoming one with nature, you can transcend within in the world. This central message is conveyed when Emerson stated, “self-existence…constitutes the measure of good…power is in nature…the vital resources of every animal and vegetable, are demonstration of the…self-relying soul” (Emerson 716). Nature grows and flourishes on its own. Nature is pure and unadulterated, and can function on its own. Man, like nature, should control themselves and prosper freely by reflecting their wisdom upon everything around them because “nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man” (Emerson 693). If someone truly wants to see the magnificence of nature, they will not merely look at it and witness its beauty, but they will be able to gain its wisdom and be one with nature. By expressing one’s wisdom and merit, they can …show more content…
They both reasserted this idea by arguing that one must put themselves in nature and gain a spiritual experience that surpasses that of ordinary religion, and challenge religious beliefs and trust themselves. By doing so, humans can surpass the contemporary status quo and rise above societal norms. This act of “breaking the mold” could allow individuals to become self-reliant and independent, rather than being dependent on humanity’s validation. This knowledge comes through intuition and self-trust, not through logic. People can trust themselves to be their own authority and deem what is correct. This quest for divine truth allows humans to find truth in nature and discover their inner being. Society is a destructive force towards personal freedom because it degrades true life. Humans cannot waste their precious time dwelling in a constant shadow of narrow-minded people, but instead create their own fate and be who they really are, rather than being what people tell them to