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Henry Thoreau and Ralph Emerson were two of the romantic American writers of the transcendentalist movement, which in essence stresses that less is more, that nature is to be studied, to be a true intellect you must read the classics and that living a life off the beaten path is more satisfying than one on the beaten path. Though Emerson began his writings first, Thoreau and Emerson are both credited with this movement. Emerson was clearly the founder of this initial movement, but Thoreau's writings were also critically acclaimed. The publishing of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience (1849) and Walden (1854) followed the 1837 commencement speech of Emerson entitled "The American Scholar" and the 1841 essay "Self-Reliance." The similar views of these two men and their principles for living are seen throughout their respective works though it can be said that Thoreau applied Emerson's beliefs to his own.
"The American Scholar" was a commencement speech that stressed three basic, but universal elements. These elements were literature, scholastic function, and nature....
He puts the most emphasis on being a scholar, and that nature is the teacher of these scholars by saying, "nature solicits with all her placid…him the past instructs; him the future invites." He continues with "Is not, indeed, every man a student, and do not all things exist for the student's behoof?" One of his main philosophies is that an intellect is a "true master." As for his opinion on learning through literature, he concedes that "Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst." The person who learns entirely from books cheats himself of nature's influence, which Emerson concludes as the most important influence in someone's life.
In his essay "Self-Reliance," he echoes his original sentiments, but takes it up to another level. "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men -- that is genius." Emerson takes this idea one step further by condemning any person who envies another, copies another or follows society's idea of what is success. He challenges…
While Emerson clearly began his works before Thoreau, Thoreau was heavily influenced by his writings and his lifestyle. Emerson stated principles about Nature being important, Literature being a guide and Self-Reliance being our judge and Thoreau carried these ideas out and wrote about them.
Thoreau, Henry. Walden; or Life in the Woods. New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1995
Ralph Waldo Emerson: Texts http://www.emersoncentral.com 17 February 2002
Henry David Thoreau left us two most important options when things go very bad in this world: a bloodless but effective way of saying "no" and a fitting advice to rely on ourselves. He did this through his famous works, "Civil Disobedience" and "Walden." Civil Disobedience" is about showing protest by resisting the orders of the authority being opposed. When authority conflicts with one's true values, the person has the right
Emerson and Thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American lecturer and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century and was a proponent of individualism and critic of societal pressures. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was also an American poet, but also an abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, historian and part of the Transcendentalist movement. To understand both of these men and their ideas, it is first necessary to place
" Furthermore, it is noteworthy that many of the views espoused by Thoreau within his works of literature were regarded with as much condescension, and perhaps outright disdain, as he seemingly regarded those pursuing the gold rush in the preceding quotation. For instance, it is known that of the 1,000 original copies that the author published of Walden, he was only able to sell approximately a third of it. To a
Henry David Thoreau did not live a long life, however, he is perhaps America's most famous and beloved philosopher, rebel, and environmentalist. In 1846, he protested against slavery and the Mexican War by not paying his taxes and spent a night in jail (Thoreau pg). Thoreau said, He said, "It costs me less in every sense to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it would to obey"
John Winthrop and Ralph W. Emerson Utopia refers to a visualized state or place of welfare, which is comprised of goodness and freedom from all threats of negative conditions and probable failures. Following this description of 'utopia', a Utopian World thus, may refer to a universe that is free from all physical, economic and social constraints that bring disunity, poverty, hunger and all sources of unhappiness in the society. Though different
Transcendentalism in Henry David Thoreau's works, especially "Walden." In particular, it will discuss how Thoreau's "Walden" fits and does not fit the definition of Transcendentalism, and how he viewed the Brook Farm Experiment. TRANSCENDENTALISM AND THOREAU The fact is I am a mystic, a transcendentalist, and a natural philosopher to boot," Henry David Thoreau. Henry David Thoreau seemed destined to spend time on Walden Pond and write his most famous book, "Walden."