Transcendentalism was a movement in mid-nineteenth century America that focused on an individual obtaining personal freedom from the constrictions of their surrounding society. Thus, it can be said that they pushed for social and political change to be achieved so that individualism would be prized over collectivism. Two writers, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, are at the frontline of these Transcendentalist views. These authors introduce a similar twist to the concept of personal freedom, claiming that a person can achieve it by encompassing oneself into nature. Though, Thoreau and Emerson share common ground when it comes to the importance of individuality and personal freedom - and, therefore, a common ground regarding nature as well - Thoreau seems to depart from Emerson when it comes to the amount of pressure that is put on society, as well as government, to reform.
As stated above, Thoreau and Emerson both discuss the impact that nature is meant to have on a person’s spiritual being. From this, then, they both use nature to stress the importance of …show more content…
While Emerson only suggests social and political change that he believes could better society, Thoreau almost firmly demands it. In Emerson’s eyes, government and society are things that still have a chance to be reformed - to be molded around the importance of the individual rather than the whole. Thoreau, though, rejects the idea that they can be fixed. He believes that, “Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes inexpedient” (Thoreau 964). Thus, he believes that government suppresses the vastness of personal freedom by imposing the laws created by the vast majority - such laws and social norms established by the majority are harmful to the individual because they are not personalized, but rather
As stated above, Thoreau and Emerson both discuss the impact that nature is meant to have on a person’s spiritual being. From this, then, they both use nature to stress the importance of …show more content…
While Emerson only suggests social and political change that he believes could better society, Thoreau almost firmly demands it. In Emerson’s eyes, government and society are things that still have a chance to be reformed - to be molded around the importance of the individual rather than the whole. Thoreau, though, rejects the idea that they can be fixed. He believes that, “Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes inexpedient” (Thoreau 964). Thus, he believes that government suppresses the vastness of personal freedom by imposing the laws created by the vast majority - such laws and social norms established by the majority are harmful to the individual because they are not personalized, but rather