Concord

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the father of transcendentalism, created a major shift in American Literature. “Emerson was a central figure in the New England Transcendentalist Movement of the 1830s and 1840s and the founder of its magazine, The Dial” (Nature). This statement shows that Emerson was the leader of the transcendental movement, and this was one of the reason that he was considered as the father of transcendentalism. Being the central figure of transcendentalist, Emerson provided many of his…

Walden by Thoreau and Ancient Futures by Norberg-Hodge are both categorized as books that describe pre-WWII simple life where industrialization has not taken place. The authors of both books appreciate human beings who live harmoniously with nature and balance their leisure and working time. On the other hand, Americans described in Schor’s books The Overworked American and The Overspent American live an entirely different so-called “good life”, which destroy nature and environment drastically.…

In the world today, people live solely based upon the rules of society. Instead of an individual having their own ideas and making their own opportunities, they become a conformist. The movie Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, is the story of an English teacher named John Keating, who teaches his students to question authority and to be their own man. The play The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, written by Jerome Lawrence, describes how Henry Thoreau stood up to the government by refusing…

Come Away to the Water “When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.” These words by Ralph Waldo Emerson behold transcendentalist value in the perception of nature. He describes nature as a female being, and gives her the ability to “create geniuses.” The transcendental movement emerged in the Antebellum period of America with the philosophical reform movements of the 1830s. Transcendentalists placed value on the serenity and spirituality of nature, the vitality of…

Transcendentalism and Marxism Philosophies Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Essay on Nature,” and Terry Eagleton’s Essay on “What is Literature” both show different styles of writing and different philosophies. Emerson being a transcendentalist sought it through intuition and creativity which showed in his writing. Eagleton being a Marxist showed through his works class struggle, materialism, and empiricism. Both Marxists and transcendentalists seek an exemplary world, free of the chains of established…

Late in the 1830’s a movement began to express itself in New England. This literary movement had a strong belief in religion and philosophical beliefs. The transcendentalists believe that one should be happy in their own well doing without taking into consideration money or the popular belief of others. I see myself as transcendental in my current choice for a part time job. Yes I could be working fast food, hotel cleaning or at a grocery store but this is not for me, I choose working at a…

Henry David Thoreau and Waldo Emerson were firm believers in transcendentalism, and this was reflected in their writing. These authors believed that transcendentalism exemplifies nature because of its self reliance and individuality. Walden, and Nature, written by Thoreau and Emerson, shows how these authors were believers in transcendentalism, and the idea that living a simple life and celebrating the truth found in nature can spark emotion and imagination. Emotion and imagination are felt…

One of the utmost ideological thinkers in American History could be Emerson. Ralph Waldo Emerson has influenced the thoughts and practices of all of the readers of his work. His literature is credited with changing the way people viewed their religion and their place on earth. His writings hold deep roots in religious thoughts that at the time were considered extremely radical. The irony of Emerson’s work is that the skepticism that removed him from the church is what one of the most pronounced…

In the 1820s a philosophical movement known as transcendentalism forever changed America. Transcendentalists emphasized the importance of self-discovery and individuality, encouraging followers to avoid conforming to the whims of society. The most notable leaders among this revolution were the brilliant writers, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In the movie Dead Poets’ Society, we can see many of the film’s morals and themes directly link back to the ideals of transcendentalism, seen…

"We may not arrive at our port within a calculable period, but we would preserve the true course". Emerson graduated from Harvard and was the father of Transcendentalism. He believed that relationships with people interfered with nature. He thought humans could never truly understand nature and the grandness of it. Emerson is explaining through this quote that we might not end life how we thought, but if we stay true to ourselves, our life will stay true and have meaning. Emerson's main…