Transcendentalism: The Seekers

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Transcendentalism The Seekers

• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Henry David Thoreau

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Transcendentalists

• These writers flourished from the 1830s to 1840s.
• For them, no institution, whether political or
  religious, was as powerful as the individual.
• This influential literary movement in American
  history began with the struggles of one man.

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

• A young Boston pastor
• He was wrestling with his faith in the midst of
  his wife death.
• He did not agree with the religious downplay of
  the individual.
• He believed the human mind was the most important
  force in the universe.
• He resigned his position as pastor, studied
  philosophy and helped forge Transcendentalism in
  America.

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Emersons Influence

• According to Emerson, the human mind is so
  powerful it can unlock any mystery, from the
  details of nature to the wonder of God.
• To Emerson, The individual is the world.
• This was radical thinking for an age that gave
  all authority to organized institutions such as
  government, religion and education.
• Because of this thinking, Emerson had many people
  against him.
• As with any new way of thinking, he also had
  supporters.

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Emersons Supporters

• During the height of this movement, may
  supporters went to Concord Massachusetts to learn
  from Emerson. Concord became known as the
  Athens of American.
• Among his supporters
• Amos Bronson Alcott
• Margaret Fuller

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Emersons Greatest Protégé

• Henry David Thoreau
• He heard Emerson speak at Harvard and was
  thrilled by his ideas.
• In 1845, he wanted to put these ideas into
  action.
• He built a cottage in the woods at Walden Pond
  and went there to live alone.
• He lived there for two years and wrote about his
  experiences.
• The result was his classic collection of essays,
  Walden.

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Henry David Thoreau

• After his stay in the cabin, Thoreau protested
  against slavery and the Mexican war.
• He refused to pay taxes and was imprisoned.
• He spent one night in jail and gained insight on
  the individual vs. the government.
• His essay, Civil Disobedience served as the
  basis for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the
  civil rights movement.

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Transcendentalists and American Culture

• Whenever writers celebrate the individual or look
  to the natural world as a mirror of human lives
  they reflect the philosophy of Emerson.
• Whenever we, as a society, look to the power of
  intuition to grasp truth, we owe Emerson and his
  followers a great deal of thanks.

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Thoreaus Final Days

• Henry David Thoreau died of tuberculosis at the
  age of 44.
• At his funeral, Emerson spoke these words, the
  country knows not yet, or in the least part, how
  great a son is has lostbut he, at least, is
  content. His soul was made for the noblest
  society he had in a short life exhausted the
  capabilities of this world wherever there is
  knowledge, wherever there is virtue, wherever
  there is beauty, he will find a home.
• Emerson lived another 20 years after the death of
  his protégé.