Transcendentalism Wrap-Up

Ralph Waldo Emerson – from Self RelianceHenry David Thoreau – from Civil

DisobedienceHenry David Thoreau – from Walden

Main Themes• Leading Transcendentalists:

Ralph Waldo Emerson & Henry David Thoreau

• Began as informal discussion club in Boston, but spread in influence – many of its ideas still part of American culture today

Main ThemesInfluences:• Puritanism nature as symbolic;

belief in higher power• Platonism insistence on spiritual

and intellectual ideals in spite of growing cultural focus on materialism, consumerism

• Romanticism ideas of individualism, imagination, counter-cultural spirit

Main Themes• Particularly interested in the

natural world and its relationship to humanity

• Believed that if they explored nature thoroughly, they would come to know themselves and the universal truths better

• Thought that the human spirit is reflected in nature

Self Reliance - Emerson• Envy is ignorance – we are

envious of people who have what we don’t – knowledge, talent, etc.

• Imitation is suicide – can’t copy somebody else forever

• Will not be successful if people do not know who you truly are

Self Reliance - Emerson• We must accept ourselves as we

are; limitations and talents / strengths and weaknesses

• Need to know yourself well if you are going to excel / achieve in any area; use the talents you are given because success will only come from your hard work

Self Reliance - Emerson• We are not comfortable in our own skin – it is much easier to copy somebody else than stand alone and be different.

Self Reliance - Emerson• Your natural instincts /

intuition will take you in the right direction

• We cannot hide and be protected our entire lives – at some point, we need to decide what our morals and values are and work to stand by them

Self Reliance - Emerson• No one can tell you who you really

are; therefore, you need to figure out your identity and stay true to that.

• Do not compromise your values for anyone.

• Never make a decision unless you are sure you can live with the consequences.

Civil Disobedience - Thoreau• Government is best which

governs least/not at all• Bureaucracy and red tape take

too long• There are too many people in

the system that can abuse it

Civil Disobedience - Thoreau• If you do not believe that your

taxes are funding purposes you believe in, do not pay them.

• Everyone has morals and a conscience for a reason; you must follow them.

Civil Disobedience - Thoreau• The standing army is an arm of

the standing government. All criticisms put towards the army can be directed towards the government.

• The decision makers who follow their heads and not their hearts are truly to blame.

Civil Disobedience - Thoreau• The night he spent in jail he

began to pity the government.• Locking him in a cell cannot

brainwash him or take away his thoughts, only contain his body.

• No man can have his thoughts taken from him.

Civil Disobedience - Thoreau• He doesn’t want no

government right away, but immedialty a better government.

• If men stop following the laws, the laws will no longer matter.

• The majority make laws because they have power.

from Walden - Thoreau

• Thoreau went to live at Walden Pond on Emerson’s land for two years to get closer to nature.

• Being one with nature and seeing the beauty in the natural world is one of the major themes/beliefs of Transcendentalism.

from Walden - Thoreau

• Living alone, like a recluse, Thoreau wanted to do nothing but be one with the world and experience all it had, or didn’t have, to offer.

• His goal was to live where he could explore the natural world, see what the world had to teach, and make sure he lived his life to the fullest.

from Walden - Thoreau

• Keep your life and all your affairs and business simple! People spend too much of their time dealing with time wasting tasks rather than actually living their lives like they should.

• People are too concerned with the trials and tribulations of life that do not concern them.

• Live your own life, and live it to the best of your ability!

‘Solitude’ - Thoreau

• Thoreau is in a good mood. He is experiencing a great evening when everything is going right, and happiness and joy are seeping into his skin.

‘Solitude’ - Thoreau

In Nature, every creature lives its life and does not rest. Unlike man, these creatures are constantly in their essence, in action. They are the example Nature puts forth for showing the days when life was natural and all action.

‘The Pond in Winter’ - Thoreau• Thoreau describes a pond that is

frozen over — so much so that it looks like a field.

• He cuts through the snow and ice to look at the world below.

• He sees a tranquil and serene sight that is as beautiful and wondrous as the heavens.

• Nature is beautiful and amazing everywhere, not just where the eyes can see.

‘Spring’ - Thoreau

• Thoreau is waiting for spring to come.

• Suddenly it does; the days get longer and the storms stay away.

• The pond thaws, and reflects a beautiful summer sky.

• Nature is one, everything is connected.

Conclusion - Thoreau• Thoreau decides to leave because

he has other lives to live.

• It is easy to get into a groove in the natural world, and in the mind.

• The doctrines of society are deeply imbedded in Man’s mind.

Conclusion - Thoreau• The poor are more free than the

rich.

• They do not have distractions or money problems to keep their attention away from the pure enjoyment of nature.

• If you have dreams, work for them! You’ll see success normal men don’t get to see.