Ralph Waldo Emerson was a 19th-century American Transcendentalist poet, philosopher, and essayist that has shaped America’s society as it is known today. To most he has been the primary figure in American thought since the Colonial time period. Emerson’s philosophies were based on the human reliance on intuition to understand reality. He had an optimistic view on life and has inspired millions of people to think deeper and reflect on themselves through his literature. Emerson was born on May 25, 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts to William Emerson and Ruth Haskins. He is the second born of eight siblings; only five survive into adulthood. William was a clergyman, following the footsteps of many men in the family. Three months after the birth of
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In 1812 he officially started school at Boston Latin School for grammar and high school. This primary education provided him with the rigorous courses he needed to progress his writing skills. In October of 1817 he is admitted into an undergraduate program at Harvard College. While he was in college he taught grammar part-time to earn money. In 1821 Emerson was officially a college graduate of Harvard. He took a job at a girls’ school that was run by his brother, William. At nineteen Emerson published his first piece of literature work. This work was titled “Thoughts on the Religion of the Middle Ages” and published in Christian Disciple and Theological Review magazine. From that point on he continued writing essays and poetry. In February of 1825 Emerson began studies at Harvard’s new School of Divinity. In October of 1826 he was licensed to preach. Suddenly, ill health plagued him putting a brake on his new founded career. He was experiencing vision problems as well as consumption. His sickness worsened so he sought a cure in a warmer climate. In November of 1826 he fled south visiting Charleston, South Carolina as well as St. Augustine, Florida. When he visited these places he saw slavery in action and was disgusted by it. This experience became a large influence in his beliefs and the foundation he lays for …show more content…
Within this anthology are works like Self Reliance and The Over-Soul. These works provide even more insight into Transcendentalist thought and philosophy. Henry David Thoreau, the man who was impressed by Emerson’s speech at Harvard, moves into Emerson’s house and earns his keep as a babysitter and a handyman. 1841 is also an important year for the Emerson family as their second daughter is born, Edith. Only ten months later, a devastating life event crushes them. Emerson’s eldest son, Waldo, dies of Scarlet Fever.
As Emerson’s life progressed, he used the hardships of his life to better and promote the transcendental movement. He truly believed that this way of life and thinking could benefit everyone. One of the benefits of this lifestyle is that if you disagreed with Emerson and thought he was a phony, you could completely ignore him and it would go right along with Transcendentalism - as a main key is following your intuition.
Emerson’s works have influenced many great minded individuals, but especially his proégé Henry David Thoreau and his contemporary Walt Whitman. These two men went on to becoming huge players in the continuation of transcendentalism in literature. A lot of Emerson’s writings are considered major documents of the 19th-century American literature, religion and
In 1812 he officially started school at Boston Latin School for grammar and high school. This primary education provided him with the rigorous courses he needed to progress his writing skills. In October of 1817 he is admitted into an undergraduate program at Harvard College. While he was in college he taught grammar part-time to earn money. In 1821 Emerson was officially a college graduate of Harvard. He took a job at a girls’ school that was run by his brother, William. At nineteen Emerson published his first piece of literature work. This work was titled “Thoughts on the Religion of the Middle Ages” and published in Christian Disciple and Theological Review magazine. From that point on he continued writing essays and poetry. In February of 1825 Emerson began studies at Harvard’s new School of Divinity. In October of 1826 he was licensed to preach. Suddenly, ill health plagued him putting a brake on his new founded career. He was experiencing vision problems as well as consumption. His sickness worsened so he sought a cure in a warmer climate. In November of 1826 he fled south visiting Charleston, South Carolina as well as St. Augustine, Florida. When he visited these places he saw slavery in action and was disgusted by it. This experience became a large influence in his beliefs and the foundation he lays for …show more content…
Within this anthology are works like Self Reliance and The Over-Soul. These works provide even more insight into Transcendentalist thought and philosophy. Henry David Thoreau, the man who was impressed by Emerson’s speech at Harvard, moves into Emerson’s house and earns his keep as a babysitter and a handyman. 1841 is also an important year for the Emerson family as their second daughter is born, Edith. Only ten months later, a devastating life event crushes them. Emerson’s eldest son, Waldo, dies of Scarlet Fever.
As Emerson’s life progressed, he used the hardships of his life to better and promote the transcendental movement. He truly believed that this way of life and thinking could benefit everyone. One of the benefits of this lifestyle is that if you disagreed with Emerson and thought he was a phony, you could completely ignore him and it would go right along with Transcendentalism - as a main key is following your intuition.
Emerson’s works have influenced many great minded individuals, but especially his proégé Henry David Thoreau and his contemporary Walt Whitman. These two men went on to becoming huge players in the continuation of transcendentalism in literature. A lot of Emerson’s writings are considered major documents of the 19th-century American literature, religion and