This paper explores Ralph Waldo Emerson's profound influence on two major American poets of the 19th century: Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. The essay traces how Emerson's transcendentalist beliefs—particularly his emphasis on immaterial reality, individual worth, and humanity over materialism—manifested in the works of both poets. Through analysis of specific poems including "The Amulet," "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," and "A Word is Dead," the paper demonstrates how Whitman and Dickinson adopted and adapted Emerson's philosophical approach to poetry, each contributing to the development of a distinctly American literary tradition.
During the 19th century, American literature was deeply shaped by orthodox religious teachings and values. This reflects the powerful influence religion held over American society at the time. During this period, a new form of religion emerged as one of the dominant religious organizations in the West, particularly Protestantism. Ralph Waldo Emerson exemplifies a 19th-century literary poet who influenced his contemporaries through highly influential works that illustrated his religious background and beliefs.
This paper examines Emerson's distinctive approach to expressing personal religious beliefs in his poetry. Specifically, it analyzes how two poets—Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson—adopted and adapted Emerson's style and philosophical themes. Both poets show clear evidence of Emerson's influence in their own distinctive poetic voices.
Walt Whitman was an American poet known for his characteristic style of depicting issues focused on the worth of the individual and humanity. Emerson's influence on Whitman's poetry is evident in his collection Leaves of Grass, which represents a direct response to Emerson's 1842 call for a distinct and true American culture. Similarly, Emily Dickinson was greatly influenced by Emerson's works and writings. Like Emerson, Dickinson subscribed to transcendentalism, a philosophy wherein people believe that there is a higher reality found beyond the faculties of human knowledge, experience, and reason.
The theme of transcendentalism is evident in one of Emerson's most notable poems, "The Amulet." In this work, Emerson expresses his belief in immaterial concepts and ideas, contrasting them with the physical properties that an amulet might suggest to its owner. The poem first establishes the apparent "powers" that amulets can confer upon people before contradicting and illustrating the futility humans derive from these objects. Emerson writes that the amulet "keeps intelligence with you / Red when you love... And when you love not, pale and blue." However, the seemingly powerful properties of the amulet are contradicted in the final stanza. The poet fully develops his thought in the poem's conclusion, where he states: "...love / Died in its last expression." Through this statement, Emerson demonstrates how, despite the metaphysical powers amulets supposedly possess in forcing someone to love another, they sacrifice something essential—love itself. In this way, Emerson prioritizes spiritual and emotional truth over material or magical belief.
Whitman demonstrates his adoption of Emerson's transcendentalist priorities in his poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." Here, the poet expresses dismay at the seemingly scientific and technical approach to understanding Nature, one of the world's extraordinary wonders. Rather than celebrating scientific knowledge, Whitman suggests that pure observation and emotional connection to Nature surpass detached, rational analysis. This reflects Emerson's belief in placing human experience and spiritual perception above materialistic or purely intellectual understanding.
"Dickinson's transcendentalist beliefs and poetic philosophy"
The poetry of Whitman and Dickinson demonstrates the profound and lasting influence of Emerson's transcendentalist vision on American literature. All three poets share a consistent priority: valuing humanity, spirituality, and abstract thought over scientific materialism and physical reality. Whether through Emerson's critique of amulets, Whitman's rejection of scientific reductionism, or Dickinson's spiritual understanding of language, each poet affirms the supremacy of immaterial truth. This shared philosophical foundation shaped a distinctly American poetic tradition rooted in Romantic and transcendentalist ideals.
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