The Transcendalists

I wasn't too familiar with transcendentalism before reading these three stories by Emerson and Thoreau, but I did take a Natural/Realism literature class a couple of years ago. One of my favorite books I have read in my literature class was "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman, because I could identify with what Whitman wrote about being a naturalist before anything else. I had to look transcendentalism up on the internet to figure out what transcendentalism truly meant and get more background on the subject. The basic definition, I gathered, was that transcendentalism is the belief spirituality of an individual is bigger than a society or culture. It also doesn't depend on one single religion, and can be shared or separate spirituality of an individual. I believe it is an interesting theory and approach to figuring out our own spirituality while relying on the nature that surrounds us instead of relying on others. I am a nature lover, so I believe in the power nature has on people and myself in particular. Especially when I am up camping in the mountains, it's really appealing to get fresh air, smell the pine trees, and live simply for a few days, getting out of the crazy everyday life, appreciating the stars and peacefulness of it all. I consider it a spiritual experience like Thoreau and Whitman, appreciating nature for its freedom and open space. I feel like both Emerson and Thoreau set up distinct laws of transcendentalism through their philosophies in their writing. They both defined what nature means to them and how nature has changed their lives for the better as writers and explorers. They also describe the elements of nature perfectly, appreciating its deeper meanings and beauty, outside of just the social nature of society. I have to say I agree with their theories completely.



Emerson writes in "Nature," that "the stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible." I have a huge appreciation for stars. I hate when the sky is overcast or cloudy at night and I can't see them from my window or my backyard. The stars make us believe that there is a purpose for this world if there are things bigger than us humans. Thoreau in his "Walking" essay, asks "what is it that makes it so hard sometimes to determine whither we will walk? I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if unconsciously yield to it, will direct us alright." We as busy humans worry about the future and try to plan out every step we take and what are the right decisions, instead of just going with the flow to find something unexpected. I believe Thoreau is saying, just walk and see where the path takes you. Thoreau defines a "man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society," which says to me, men are all the same, we're no better than anyone else. Thoreau seems to be a believer in God as well as Nature, calling it "the Holy Land, till one day the sun shall shine more brightly than ever he has done, shall perchance shine into our minds and hearts, and light up our whole lives with a great awakening light, as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn" I loved the description he uses in this passage, describing the beauty of the nature and all that surrounds it. He defines Nature as being "savage, awful, though beautiful." He implies that we have to look at nature as a powerful being, being prepared for harshness of winter to the brightness of sunshine, and love all the parts that make up what it truly is.



Emerson's "Nature" clearly is questioning God's involvement with creating nature and how man neglects nature. In the first sentence, Emerson declares man "needs to retire" from society, in order to truly appreciate nature. He believes people never see the sun or stars fully, not appreciating the awesomeness of space and an outside world beside our own. Emerson believes in the woods, we find our "perpetual youth" and we return to "reason and faith." He also believes we have our own personal nature, which brings us happiness, just like the nature surrounding us. Thoreau's "Walking" essay is about getting back in touch with nature by "retracing our steps," like Columbus, Moses, Homer, and Chaucer. Thoreau believes living in the past is better because we "can't afford to live in the present." He declares we cannot buy the happiness nature brings as it is "the grace of God." He believes being a "walker" is heaven's calling. He implies that humans are lazy sitting instead of walking, staying indoors, and if he, as a restless wanderer, had to sit all time he would commit "suicide." He doesn't believe walking is just for "exercise." Thoreau believes that the harder you work to develop a relationship with nature, will develop "self-respect and heroism." Thoreau also talks about heading West into the unspoiled "wild" land of the "future," where he can be free from the intellectualism and society of the East. He talks about the "good" wildness being freedom, and calls "tameness" dull. Thoreau talks about not having our names define us as individuals, but using our nicknames we "earn" over time as our "true names." He calls knowledge, "ugly ignorance," and "sympathy with intelligence" is better than having knowledge. Thoreau's "The Maine Woods" is his own account of climbing Ktaadn, an altitude of 5300 feet, and walking through forests, feeling the ground with his steps. He believes the gods would be offended if people try to climb mountains, to "pry into their secrets," because the mountains should be kept as sacred places for the worthy to climb. He defines Nature as being "savage, awful, though beautiful." He asks himself, "Who are we? Where are we?," in response to seeing nature's magnitude.



I enjoyed Emerson's introduction to "Nature" the most, because I thought he directly set up the situation and what he believes in that first paragraph, In "Nature," he talks about debunking man's "original relation" with Nature, saying anyone can experience nature fully with any new change, if they are willing to seek it out, outside of their busy social calendar. Emerson insists we should question Nature to the fullest and figure out what it means to us as individuals, instead of a society, as a whole. Nature has to a personal and sacred experience. He also believes Nature and art consists of both our bodies and our souls, while making up our philosophies. Nature is "unchanged" while art is "mixture of [man's] will." We make art from nature, as well as out of it. Nature should be viewed as an art and an emotional experience. The stories by Thoreau didn't have a grand an introduction as Emerson, but I don't think omitting them took anything away from those stories, since they were pretty much in sync with what Emerson believed. Thoreau's introduction to his "Walking" essay defines nature as "freedom and wildness" and man is "an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society." Nature allow us to be free, while society tries to own us. Thoreau's introduction to "The Maine Woods" starts in the middle of a scene, so it didn't feel like there was much of an introduction. He just wanted to throw us immediately into the nature that surrounds him, without preparing us first for what that might entail. I think Thoreau's approach to "The Maine Woods" is the most intriguing, because it is not just a guide but letting us come to our own conclusions about his adventure. It doesn't tell us what we should take away from it.