Essay on Transcendentalism - 1016 Words

Emerson and Thoreau and their Perspectives of Transcendentalism Imagine a world where each individual thought for himself, not allowing other outside influences to mold his ideas. We currently live in a society in which a single clip on television, quote from a newspaper, or opinion from a peer can consequently determine how one thinks or the outlook they have on a topic. In Self-Reliance, Emerson states, A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than luster of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, just because it is his. In this quote Emerson is elaborating on the idea that we must all exude†¦show more content†¦Thoreau correctly emphasizes that only true happiness can be achieved through following ones heart. Mansions and cars can never make a person truly happy, even if he believes it himself. People are often preoccupied with the view of the society in which they live. One must listen to the faintest but constant suggestions of his genius to identify his true passions (Thoreau). If one is fortunate enough to experience this tremendous joy, he should pursue it, even if it means taking a risk. In the modern world, people may find it more difficult to follow Thoreaus claims. Society considers certain careers and lifestyles to be much worthier and successful paths. If one has the courage to venture outside of this realm of acceptance, he may achieve happiness on a personal level, but not within society. In todays world, many people value materialistic items to an unhealthy extent. They focus their lives on doing well in school, obtaining a decent job, earning money, and buying their way to happiness, rather than identifying and pursuing their passions. However, they do not realize that money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul (Thoreau). They could devote their lives to pursuits that bring them personal fulfillment, even if they are not always profitable paths, such as performing arts, environmental conservation, teaching, or writing. While Thoreau believes it isShow MoreRelatedTranscendentalism And Transcendentalism : Transcendentalism1589 Words   |  7 PagesBetween the 1840s and 1860s, the movement known as Transcendentalism surfaced and soared. The Transcendentalist movement began as a physiological movement, which then influenced the literature of those who studied it, including its American literary founder, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Transcendentalism took place at the end of the Romanticism era and the beginning of the Realism time period, but it had its own distinct characteristics. Transcendentalists were known for believing in a new way of comprehendingRead MoreTranscendentalism : Transcendentalism And Transcendentalism1801 Words   |  8 PagesAmerican Revolution, a moment known as Transcendentalism. Drunk with the joy of independence yet horrified by slavery, it was a movement that encouraged its followers to seek individual freedom, to fight for the rights of women and slaves, and to look towards nature for inspiration and the Divine. It was a movement that combined the best of past philosophical moments. It adopted the value of action from the Renaissance. Action was a virtue and in Transcendentalism it was viewed a as a means for humanRead MoreTranscendentalism1409 Words   |  6 PagesTranscendentalism was a huge cultural movement in the nineteenth century; however, the ideas of the movement still continue to influence our society in the twenty-first century. These ideas of Transcendentalism have continued to exist throughout many years because the ide as remain relevant to society. In fact, the problems that many Transcendentalist writers encountered still happen today in new forms. These similar problems include conformity, the role of government in society, and the importanceRead MoreEssay on Transcendentalism vs. Anti-Transcendentalism778 Words   |  4 PagesIn the mid-1830s, Ralph Waldo Emerson created a belief called Transcendentalism. He wrote the essay, â€Å"Self Reliance† and Henry David Thoreau, another Transcendentalist wrote an essay called, â€Å"Walden.† Both works of literature focus on the Transcendentalism belief. In â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil† by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hawthorne reveals both Transcendentalism and Anti-Transcendentalism through the attitudes of the characters. Therefore, â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil† can be compared and contrasted withRead MoreEssay on Transcendentalism1619 Words   |  7 Pages Transcendentalism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many people have theories and philosophies about life in general. There have been hundreds of thousands of books published by many different people on the ideas of people in the past and the present. Transcendentalism falls in amongst all of these ideas. There have been articles, essays, poems, and even books written about this subject. Transcendentalism has effected many people since the philosophy was first introduced. The idea was complex andRead More Transcendentalism Essay563 Words   |  3 Pages Transcendentalism Back in the 1800s, people trusted in their innersoul. it was called transcendentalism. People like Emerson and Thoreau were transcendentalism. They didnt think with their heads. They do things like in their first impression. If they sees that a tree is violet, they will paint it violet. During that era, Romanticism was party of it too. Ideas of Romanticism with transcendentalism. In our everyday life, we use transcendentalism. We use our head to think and our hart to feelRead MoreTranscendentalism Essay617 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Transcendentalism is a movement that started in New England in the early to mid nineteenth century. It was created as a protest against the general culture at the time, straying away from the mindless doctrines of the churches. I think that Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman, and Dickinson did a good job of explaining what Transcendentalism is really about, which is that death is coming for everyone. Our Town stands out to me because it doesn’t use any props, and its strong symbolism that makes a pointRead MoreTranscendentalism : The And The Movement1027 Words   |  5 Pages Transcendentalism Web Quest Directions: Research the answers to these questions online using reputable websites. As you work, copy and paste the website URLs that you use at the bottom of this document (you do not need to create a Works Cited page). Type your answers into this document. Make sure that all of your answers are in your own words. You will be submitting this document via www.turnitin.com and need to be sure that you are not plagiarizing. If you plagiarize from an online source orRead MoreTranscendentalism Essay807 Words   |  4 Pagesis struggling to find their inner self can trust several of the ideas of transcendentalism. In fact, Thoreau and Emerson include the ideas of optimism, intuition, and originality in many of their pieces of literature. It is clear that a teenager who is struggling developing their character should connect with the transcendent ideas from Thoreau and Emerson. Students struggling with themselves can benefit from Transcendentalism articles in order to help them become more optimistic. Thats because theRead MoreTranscendentalism Essay1384 Words   |  6 Pagesculture of religions in the world. The soul is the essence of humanity and spirituality is the condition of one’s soul. Spirituality is the condition of a consciousness. One answer to creating this essential growth in spirituality is Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is the rebellion of one’s soul against the societal laws that humanity upholds. It is the integrity of a being and the healing of a scarred mind through nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a major figure in transcendentalist literature