Transcendentalism: The Universal Soul

Superior Essays
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

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The story of the fearless, compassionate soul taking on the wild to gain knowledge and experience is timeless. Especially in the name of Transcendentalism and nonconformity many have gone on a journey to find meaning within this life and within themselves. Transcendentalism was a movement which encouraged nonconformity, the idea that God is found with everything, man is pure and wholly, also the regression to solitude in nature. The most recent infamous and tragic story of this would be that of Christopher McCandless. This man has left an imprint on society in a very shocking way.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagine being able to think and experience far beyond the human mind, being able to reach the limits of the brain a normal human cannot. Transcendentalist writers have the mental capability of obtaining knowledge far from their physical reach. They believed the person is more or less good and pure as an individual, but society makes them evil. Transcendentalist writers valued themes about nature, simplicity, self-reliance, the conflict between conformity and individuality and/or the opposite. Margaret Fuller was a passionate advocate of Women’s rights showing independence and original thoughts.…

    • 1256 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Transcendentalism is an idealistic approach to identity, nature, humanity, and divinity. The themes derived from Emerson and Thoreau center on this transcendental view of self-reliance and nature. In Thoreau’s Walden, he uses key points Emerson shows in Self-Reliance. The two men carry a great influential impact on society showing ideas of non-conformity, infancy, identity, the meaning of self-reliance, and an overall connection to nature. Emerson and Thoreau teach what purpose nature has to several aspects widely known in society.…

    • 2499 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Transcendentalism is a movement that has themes of going against society and materialistic things, while embracing nature and spirituality. Chris McCandless is a Transcendentalist in every sense of the word. The young adventurer, who is the protagonist in Jon Krakauer's nonfiction text Into the Wild, travels across Northern America. Following three main ideals; the disconnection of society, a minimalist lifestyle, and a deep respect for both God and nature, he attempts to find himself and satisfy his need for adventure. Christopher McCandless, who uses the alias Alexander Supertramp, frequently alienates himself from society.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Transcendentalism is widely known throughout the world and some people believe themselves to be transcendentalists even to this day. Most know transcendentalism to be a movement started in the nineteenth century; it is a idealistic philosophical and social movement. Beliefs of a transcendentalist consist of but are not limited to: being a nonconformist, nature is spiritual, inspirational and symbolic, self-reliance is important and following personal beliefs is the key to a happiness and leads to a fulfilling life. To show, in Self-Reliance written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Civil Disobedience and Walden, both by Henry David Thoreau, focus on the topic of transcendentalism and share their own opinions towards the subject. However, Christopher…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Although the Transcendentalist movement was roughly 200 years ago, there are many stories older than those that convey characteristics of Transcendentalism; however, there is a story in Chinese folklore that stands out. In Chinese folklore, the famous story of “The Monkey King” is a prime example of transcendentalism, due to the representation of individualism, nonconformity, and spontaneity within the story. “The Monkey King’s” portrayal of individualism displays more prominent Transcendentalist thoughts and ideas. Individualism, the idea of the celebration of the individual without the rules set by society, is one of the fundamental ideas of Transcendentalism. It inspires free thought and actions based on a person’s values, not the values of others.…

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There isn't much else to discuss, I will now conclude my essay. The group of transcendentalists strongly believed in nature and self-reliance. The group of transcendentalism was made in the 1800s in the U.S.A. They were a group of people that believed in things that are very interesting. They believed in things like appreciating nature, being self-reliant,…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I most relate to the transcendental literature because of what it inspires within me. It is all too easy to get wrapped up in what society expects of you. The transcendentalists writers like Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman suggest we listen to our inner voice. In “Self Reliance” Emerson advocated for this throughout the essay with statements such as, “ Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” Your conformity explains nothing.”…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Freedom from invisible bounds, that is what they were searching for. In the 1830’s and 60’s, a new way of life started: Transcendentalism. They were against the Puritan ideals of wealth and wanted a closer and more emotional relationship with God. They strived to break away from the norms and to break away from the traditions and the lifestyle society had expected them to live by, and to seek their own way of living. In Jon Krakauer’s novel, Into the Wild, Chris McCandless displays the transcendentalist principal of nonconformity by not going along with what society wants, and by eventually living life away from society.…

    • 914 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Waldo Emerson is genuinely the focal point of the American transcendental movement, setting out a large portion of its thoughts and qualities in his essay,that spoke to the extreme study in theory, religion, and writing. Emerson is the scholarly father of American Transcendentalism. Despite the fact that numerous different scholars would contribute, it was Emerson's addresses and distributed papers that would offer structure to this occasionally indistinct scope of thoughts. Emerson was a visionary mastermind whose ideals were received by others very quickly. Emerson's thoughts additionally influenced instructive hypothesis, philosophical and religious practice, and political level headed discussion after some time.…

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Despite his sudden awe at her presence, Sophie's reluctant demeanor wasn't lost on Kevin. It was discouraging, but he gave a deep breath (one he realized, too late, was probably audible) and waited as she came closer, trying not to stare too blatantly at her shapely legs as they made her skirt swish like a curtain hiding restless performers backstage. He unbuttoned the top button of his plaid flannel shirt and another breath escaped. As she explained her timid goal for the sessions, it did nothing for Kevin's discouragement, and there was even a bit of resentment in there, too. She was clearly just trying to coast by, and had no intention of paying him the attention he was giving her.…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jacob Hvidt Pagtakhan English 19 February 2018 Naturalism and Transcendental Nature Progress can be something that stuns us all, whether it comes through wars or through changes in day-to-day life. Change like this can affect a lot of lifestyles and how circumstances are viewed throughout the world. These changes affected many viewpoints, including writers. This is the case in Jack London's “To Build a Fire” and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” and “Self-Reliance”. London's naturalist views and Emerson's transcendentalist views differ in beliefs about nature.…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They believed that nature is changing and people must know the reason why it is changing because nature changes accordingly to the society. According to Emerson's (1834) observation " human do not entirely understand natures beauty and all the things that nature has to offer us. He further state that people are uncertain by the humankind around them and human must take themselves away from societies flaw and diversion in order to experience the unity with nature for which they are naturally suited". Nature gives human a lot but human do not give in return and they believed that many people need to be separated from the rest of the world because they can see the real nature of the people and how society is changing. According to Conor (30 June 2009) states that "To go into isolation, a man needs to retire from his chamber and he further states that if a man would be alone let him look at the storts".…

    • 982 Words
    • 4 Pages
    • 3 Works Cited
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Transcendentalism was a religious, philosophical, and literary movement that began to express itself in the early 1800s. Transcendentalism is the belief that man, by observing nature and examining self, can better his humanity and become one with God (Goodman). Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were two strongly influential transcendentalists whose philosophies continue to provide significant message and meaning. Emerson, as a notorious writer, lecturer, and editor of the transcendental period, was dominant among the transcendentalists. Henry David Thoreau is remembered for his philosophical and naturalist writings, in which he studied under poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    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.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays