Transcendental Themes In Thoreau, Krakauer, And Donavan

Emerson, Thoreau, Krakauer, and Donavan all share common themes having to do with transcendental beliefs and also nature. All of the articles explain how the character sets a goal for himself to stand up for what he believes in or to make the best out of what you have and their goals become too overwhelming. First, in Donovan’s “It's All-On-Me,” the poet explains how it is up to him to make the best out of every situation. For example, the first line states “It's all on me…” Next, Donovan states “Therefore falls onto me.” I believe that he is trying to get across that it is up to him to “Carpe diem,” but it is too overwhelming so it “falls onto him.” Next, in Thoreau’s “Walden,” the author has a dream to monopolize all of the farms and properties within a dozen miles of where he lives. He states “In imagination I have bought all the farms in succession, for all were to be bought, and I knew their price. This author sets very high goals for himself. In the next paragraph, he states “The nearest that I came to possession was when I bought the Hollowell Place… but before the owner gave me a deed of it, his wife changed her mind and decided to keep it.” This has a very similar theme as the first article, because Thoreau sets very high goals for himself having to do with nature and in the end they all come crashing down. …show more content…
He says “In good health, the air is a cordial of incredible virtue.” He then also states “In the woods is perpetual youth.” Although he starts the passage off with these beliefs, I believe he changes his mindset by the end of the passage. Emerson later states “Yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight does not reside in nature, but in man, or in a harmony of both.” Therefore, nature doesn't just provide “perpetual youth,” but you have to stand up for it and get perpetual youth by yourself, although nature is