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Comparison and Contrast Transcendentalism was a literary movement in the first half of the 19th century. The philosophical theory contained such aspects as self-examination, the celebration of individualism, and the belief that the fundamental truths existed outside of human experience. Fulfillment of this search for a higher state of being came when one gained an acute awareness of the world and the truths it holds. To do this you must achieve an understanding of nature to reach an elevated state of spiritual existence. The two most prominent authorities on the philosophy are Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Father of Transcendentalism”, and Henry David Thoreau. “Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.”( Anis Nin). Just as Anis Nin another Transcendentalist describes the ability for dreams to pass into reality. Emerson’s ideas embody the dreams of this quotation having enormous potential to change the world. But it is Thoreau who puts these ideas of Emerson’s into reality with his own perception of how the world should be perceived. By comparing Emerson’s “Nature” and “Self Reliance” and Thoreau’s “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience”, we can see the ideals of this philosophical movement in history and how one could not exist without the other. Emerson and Thoreau both embody the Transcendentalist belief that by attaining an acute awareness of the world through the observation of a nature you can achieve a higher spiritual state of being. “The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are always inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence” (Nature 206). Emerson expresses in is essay Nature that an individual can discern the beauty of everyday life if the individual opens their mind. Emerson shows the Transcendentalist characteristic that by simply observing nature you are able to “transcend” the mundane world and achieve a higher state of being. Emerson gives a metaphor to reinforce this principle “We mean the integrity of impression made by manifold four natural objects. It is this which distinguishes the stick of timber of the woodcutter, from the tree of the poet” (Nature 206). Emerson shows this ability of viewing nature by contrasting the unenlightened with the enlightened where the unenlightened woodcutter sees just a stick the enlightened poet who can discern the beauty of nature sees a tree. Ralph Waldo Emerson was said to be the “The Father of Transcendentalism” and because of this we can see that Emerson significantly influences Thoreau’s writing. Thoreau also believes that you must observe nature to achieve a higher state of being. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (Walden 220). Emerson states his reasoning for going to the woods was to discern the facts of life. Both Emerson and Thoreau believe that by examining nature you achieve a higher state of being. Where the two differ is in there believe is in how nature should be discerned Emerson contemplates nature whereas Thoreau believes that to understand nature you must be with it. “I knew not. I came to love my rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted. They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus” ( Walden 223). As we can see Thoreau just like Emerson can appreciate the beauty of nature but also sees the gift that being with nature gives you the strength that he derived from his beans he achieved a higher state of being. Overall Emerson and Thoreau both can discern the beauty of nature but differ in how nature should be interpreted whether through observation or physical contact with nature but one way of thinking cannot exist without another. “ In the transcendental tradition, Thoreau does not look at nature as a subject from which he is separated, but looks through nature to understand greater meanings. Nature serves as a viewfinder for transcendence. Thoreau wants to detail scientific facts about the natural world so that they can become moral truths about how one is supposed to live. Wolf writes: "In Walden, Thoreau wrote a mythology of human experience communicated in part, at least, by the symbolism of nature as a universalizing agent." (Wolf 1974: 153) By categorizing nature as a "universalizing agent" Wolf is developing Thoreau's use of nature in the text to show that humans and the wild are a part of the same universal reality. In Walden Thoreau shifts between two understandings about the relationship between nature and humans: the necessity of humans in nature and the need to keep the presence of people from overwhelming nature.( Henry David Thoreau's Walden: A Radical Philosophical Charge for Individuality).”( In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self Reliance” and Henry David Thoreau’s essay “Resistance to Civil Government (“Civil Disobedience”), both transcendentalist thinkers speak about being individual and what reforms and changes need to be made in our society. Largely the two share the same ideas that individuals should express their individual ideas and not to conform to society where the two differ is their motivation for the expression of individualism. Emerson believes that the expression of one’s self is divine truth whereas Thoreau believes you should express yourself and not conform to society due to it being ethically right. “Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you” (Self Reliance 210). Emerson expresses the Transcendentalism quality of individuality stating that and individual should not conform and stick with their beliefs. Emerson expresses throughout the essay that this individuality is due to divine protection. ““That government is best which governs not at all”; and when men are prepared for it, that will be kind of government which they will have” ( Civil Disobedience 236). Thoreau expresses his belief in individualism addressing the government of his time period asking for a better representation of the people and conformity within political parties. Thoreau beliefs that is ethically correct for an individual to have the ability to express oneself differing with Emerson’s view that individuality is given to you by divine intervention. Emerson and Thoreau’s ideas are derived from the same origins but have different motivation for their beliefs. That by contrasting these two essays we gain a glimpse of the mind set of this philosophical time era and the progression these ideals take and how Emerson and Thoreau support each other.
“Acceptance of self is an important theme explored in the essay. The will of an individual can lead him away from the “oneness” that is essential to the Transcendentalist ideology. Reliance on, and acceptance of the self are the keys to achieving that “oneness,” by way of trusting one’s own thoughts (Barna 67). “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you” (Emerson 685). Emerson goes on to describe the childlike mind, which trusts wholly, without the self-doubt typically encountered in an adult mind. Robinson describes this state of mind as a self-possession and self-acceptance on a sub-conscious level, allowing for true, natural intuitive action (Robinson “Grace and Works” 226). For progress as a true individual under the Transcendentalist way of thought to be possible, self-acceptance was paramount. This could occur only through complete trust in a person’s own intuition without influence from outside forces of tradition, religion or government (Warren 208).”(Steven Carbone) “Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.”( Anis Nin). Emerson’s ideas embody the dreams of this quotation having enormous potential to change the world. But it is Thoreau who puts these ideas of Emerson’s into reality with his own perception of how the world should be perceived. As we contrasted these two authors’ essays we saw the mind set of this philosophical movement and how Emerson’s ideas were used by Thoreau and implemented.