How Did Ralph Waldo Emerson Impact Society

Words: 1220
Pages: 5
Open Document
Jenna Wollerman
Mr. Forman
English III Honors
11 December 2014
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Impact on American Literature
Through American literature, transcendentalism has impacted society’s views: however, one specific author initiated this development. Ralph Waldo Emerson was driven to alter his concept of society after the tragic passing of his wife. Although this event was traumatizing, Emerson continued to produce brilliant works that utilized nature, the importance of the individual, unanswered questions about life, and the connection between every animate and inanimate objects (known as the Over-Soul). Ralph Waldo Emerson contributed to Transcendentalism through Nature, Self-Reliance, and “The Over-Soul;” he was truly the leader of this …show more content…
Two years later, Ralph took up the occupation of pastor of the Unitarian Second Church. Shortly after their marriage in 1829, Ellen Tucker Emerson died on February 8, 1831 (Porte, Joel). Ralph was devastated by his misfortune; he could not fathom the spiritual reason as to why she perished. In order to search for answers, Emerson fled to Europe and studied beneath world renowned poets such as William Wordsworth, Thomas Carlyle, and many others (Porte, Joel). When Ralph Waldo Emerson returned to the United States in 1833, his ideals had changed entirely and merely one year later, he began writing …show more content…
“At the beginning of Chapter I, Emerson describes true solitude as going out into nature and leaving behind all preoccupying activities as well as society” (Porte, Joel). He explains that when someone is completely companionless within the confines of nature, he/she realizes the benefits of being separate from the material world. Furthermore, Emerson elaborates on the point that new aspects of nature continue to be discovered every day; humans can connect to and learn from elements such as the stars. In order to understand nature’s true abilities, one must engulf himself/herself and release thoughts pertaining to the materialistic society. Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that if one were to completely immerse himself/herself, he/she will become a part of the “transparent eyeball,” which connects every individual to nature. “There is a special relationship, a sympathy, between man and nature. But by itself, nature does not provide the pleasure that comes of perceiving this relationship. Such satisfaction is a product of a particular harmony between man's inner processes and the outer world. The way we react to nature depends upon our state of mind in approaching it” (Porte Joel). Essentially, humans utilize nature to allow themselves to grow and thrive; it is a partner in a development that cannot occur without the natural
Show More

Related Documents: How Did Ralph Waldo Emerson Impact Society

Conformity In Dead Poets Society

My project was created to answer the question, ‘how does conforming to societal expectations damage our sense of individuality?’ I was first inspired whilst watching Dead Poets Society. Throughout the duration of the film, Mr. Keating emphasizes the importance of being an individual and having independent thoughts of your own, and his students do try and achieve this. But while trying to do so, they are also shut down by school officials, who want them to all be identical, and follow standards. This…

Words 500 - Pages 2

Ralph Waldo Emerson: Learning About Transcendentalism

learning about it. Learning about the basic belief really change the way I look at society. Society already been following these rules leaving a big impact. The basic belief are doing a good job in our society. Gay marriage was illegal, but many people thought it was morally wrong, so they act upon it and got gay marriage legal. The unit itself is worth studying for. Learning about the basic belief can really have an impact on people's life. The basic belief is an important idea that you should carry…

Words 504 - Pages 3

Essay about Ralph Waldo Emerson and Dead Poets Society

father Ralph Waldo Emerson. He and his student Henry David Thoreau created multiple pieces of brilliant literature to showcase their ideology and philosophy. The philosophies cultivated the movement centralized around a belief of a higher reality than human reasoning. Transcendental ideals are highlighted through their tenants to live a life of individuality, simplicity, self-confidence, manual labor, and a life close to nature. In addition, the more modern motion picture, Dead Poets Society, further…

Words 1369 - Pages 6

The Rocking Horse Winner Materialism

" Money often costs too much" is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and is also exactly what the story "The Rocking Horse Winner" by D.H. Lawrence wanted to convey. In the story a boy name Paul gain ability to foreseen the winners at horse races by yearning for the kind of "luck" his mother mentioned to him so very often. But after he traded his young life to fulfill his mother's endless desire for money and "luck", he still failed to satisfy his mother regardless of his ultimate sacrifice. The fairly-tale…

Words 1508 - Pages 7

Hawthorn: Woman and Coverdale Essays

theory that feminist Margaret Fuller was a model for Zenobia impacts the entire story. Zenobia as a possible literary reincarnation of Fuller says much about the storyline and Hawthorne's views. Nathaniel Hawthorne struggled his entire life against the Puritan heritage left to him. Ashamed of his ancestor's actions during the Salem Witchtrials, he publicly criticized the severe Puritan ethic system. However, due to his moral sensibilities, he did not have the "enthusiasm nor the fatuousness of Transcendental…

Words 3474 - Pages 14

does true uncencored insperation come form the subconcious Essay

Does true uncensored inspiration come from the subconscious? 7,733 Words (fig1) Contents Page List of illustrations 4 INTRODUCTION 7 CHAPTER 1: Surrealism The beginning 11 Automatism, Oneirology and Surrealist objects 12 Shared characteristics of different categories of humanity 18 CHAPTER 2: Dyslexia Investigation into the similarities between dyslexia and Surrealism 22 Right brain drawing 27 CHAPTER 3: The Subconscious…

Words 8353 - Pages 34

United States and Essential Questions Essay

Taking Sides Unit 1, and A People’s History of the United States, Chapters 1-3. Lies My teacher Told Me Chapter 1-4 [CR1b] Themes: ID, WXT, PEO, POL, WOR, ENV Major Topics: Early contacts among groups in North America, and North American societies in the context of the Atlantic World; Spanish exploration and the development of colonies in the Americas; the rise of the English as an imperial power, including the conflict with the Spanish; initial English colonial settlements, including successes…

Words 7288 - Pages 30

Essay on Ansel Adams

"[9] His father bought a three-inch telescope and they enthusiastically shared the hobby of amateur astronomy, visiting the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton together. His father went on to serve as the paid secretary-treasurer of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific from 1925 to 1950.[10] After the death of Ansel's grandfather and the aftermath of the Panic of 1907, his father's business suffered great financial losses. Some of the induced near-poverty was because Ansel’s Uncle Ansel Easton and…

Words 8858 - Pages 36