Thoreau Transcendentalism

When, in the mid-1800s, Transcendentalism became prominent, so too did the subject of nature. It was believed that nature was a freeing force, a refuge for the human soul. It was in nature, that humans could discover their true selves. Henry David Thoreau in particular believed in the wonders of nature and would isolate himself at Walden Pond for two years of his life. More than a century later, Thomas Merton would pursue the idea of solitude and importance of nature from his hermitage in Kentucky. Both men valued solitude and the bond between humanity and nature; however, their stances on the topics would differ.
Thoreau, being from the mid-1800s, was more self-centered, believing that one should isolate themselves in nature in order to achieve a …show more content…
Thoreau, in particular chose Walden Pond to be his abode in order to “confront the facts of life… to live deep and suck all the marrow out of life” (Walden, 2001). This confrontation of facts was in order to “awaken” himself to Genius and intelligence that everyday society deprived him of due to its bustle and daily bombardments of trivialities. These trivialities serve as a distraction and to return to Nature is to return to simplicity. To Thoreau, and this point will be touched on later, society tells us that we need technological advancement in order to be fulfilled. Therefore, we are sent on an endless search for fulfillment, whether it is through education, working, accumulation of materialist objects, or “progressing” as a society through commerce.
However, he denounces this point, arguing that nature is a better teacher of self-fulfillment than society ever could be. Returning to nature is returning to reality. Thoreau believes that “be it life or death, we only crave reality” (2006). Society has forced us to create a false reality with its clutter, but this must be rejected and individuals find their own reality by returning to