Comparing Nature To Transcendentalism

Author, Henry David Thoreau and Mary Oliver are both very passionate about nature and what it has to offer in life, as well as the symbolism behind nature and its creatures in their works of literature, in “Walden”, and “The House of Light”, Both authors discuss their views of nature and the beauty of the world that they want to make familiar to their audience. In this essay, I’ll provide my reasoning behind this statement.

“Nature” is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and published by James Munroe and Company in 1836. [1] “Nature” has a total of 41 pages. The essay consists of eight parts: Nature, Commodity, Beauty, Language, Discipline, Idealism, Spirit and Prospects. Each part takes a different perspective on the relationship between humans and nature. In this essay, Emerson emphasizes the foundation of transcendentalism, “a religious and philosophical movement that developed during the late 1820s and 30s in the Eastern region of the United States as protest against the general state of spirituality and, in particular, the state of intellectualism.” [2] “Transcendentalism suggests that the divine, or God, suffuses nature, and suggests that reality can be understood by studying nature.” [3] “Transcendentalism is closely related to Unitarianism, the dominant religious movement in Boston at the early nineteenth century. Transcendentalism evolved as an organic consequence of the Unitarian emphasis on free conscience and the value of intellectual reason.” [4] Emerson divides nature into four stages: commodity, beauty, language, and discipline. These define the ways by which humans use nature for their basic needs. The historical significance of “Nature” was that transcendentalism club led the celebration of the American experiment as one of the individualism and self-reliance. [5]

In the beginning of creation of humans, nature has always been there as a friend. Nature is the phenomena of the physical world that includes plants, animals, the landscape, and other features that are on earth. Nature has all of the wild and domestic living things. Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American poet that led the transcendentalist movement and influenced other through his ideas and thinking. Ralph wrote “Nature,” and he describes his true feelings toward nature and God and how they have taken part of what has been created and also the relationship to humans. Ralph Waldo Emerson writes the passage “Nature” and he uses comparison between humans and nature and also uses figurative language to convey his appreciation and gratitude for nature.

Nature is a major transcendental value which both Emerson and Thoreau thrive off of. Emerson

In his essay entitled “Nature,” Ralph Waldo Emerson encourages his readers to look around, appreciate, and take nothing for granted. Emerson emphasizes the importance of removing oneself from all distractions, and suggests solitude as a way to truly connect with nature. We need to look at the landscape, and become a part of it. For nature allows one to focus, and become enlightened.

Emerson encourages the eminence of nature saying, “But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate him between him and vulgar things.” This quote exemplifies how nature affects man as it clears his mind and makes him a wiser person. Nature could help society as it brings one closer to Earth and aids the population in having a further understanding of life. Thoreau elaborates this idea saying, “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…” Thoreau's idea of nature shows how it can teach us the ways of life.

Emerson wrote Nature in 1836 after leaving the clergy, and traveling to Europe. Nature expresses Emerson reconciliation of faith and the force of nature through transcendentalisms. The central tenets of the New England Transcendental Movement that he co-founded was the material world has an intangible soul comparable to the soul of every human.

The idea of Transcendentalism has greatly intrigued many scholars, poets, authors, and just ordinary people, for many years, as it provides an interesting outlook on the importance and beauty of nature. Two avid writers who focused heavily on Transcendentalism were Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. These two poets wrote many excellent works in their time, and they often helped each other, as they were good friends and mentors. They both had very similar, realistic takes on Transcendentalism, and how much better nature is for our society than materialism or new technology. Many of Thoreau and Emerson’s work was written in the mid-19th century, as they were both born in the early 1800s and began their work early in their lives.

As humans grow in mind and body, we become more dependent on nature. We learn how important the trees, grass, and even the sky really is. This relationship with nature comes from deep within, almost spiritual. Although, we may not reverence nature enough, this connection humans have with nature, can be made evident in writing. Authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson, explain nature and the meaning of it all.

Emerson says, “Nature never wears a mean appearance… Nature is a setting that fits equally well as a comic or mourning piece.” He explains that people can look to nature in any situation—good or bad. It comforts us and gives us answers if we allow it. Emerson believes nature is our connect to God. In his essay “Nature,” he says, “I am part or a particle of God.” Emerson and Thoreau both believe man can find spiritual meaning through nature. Nature allows us to dig deep into our minds and souls. Thoreau moved to Walden Pond alone and away from society to find meaning in his life. In his essay “Walden,” he says, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had lived.” He tells us that through nature we can learn to depend on ourselves and reach our full potential to better our

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts. Many of Emerson’s writings are connected with transcendentalism and nature. Emerson constantly made connections to nature and God. One of the biggest arguments that Emerson makes about nature is that once something is taken out of its natural environment then that item losses its beauty, and that argument is located in his poem “Each and All”. Emerson’s poem “

Many people may perspect the value of nature in many ways. Nature is valuable and important in life as it can be describe to comfort people. Nature’s value provides support and heal individuals during hard times. The literary works of American Romanticism and Transcendentalism can help supports this as it describes nature being able to provide comfort individuals. They can uplift and heal up their problems.

Herman Melville, another contemporary author of that time, has a very different view of nature. Through Moby Dick, he expresses his ideas that nature is essentially evil. He thinks that it is dangerous, and in order to protect yourself you need to go on the offense against it. Thoreau and Emerson urge people to live a peaceful, simplistic life and they think that spending time in nature, which is essentially good, is the key to doing so, while Melville thinks that nature is a destructive force that people should either avoid or fight. Emerson is one of the first people to introduce the idea of nature being the key to peace.

    Charlotte Bronte makes extensive use of nature imagery in her novel, Jane Eyre, commenting on both the human relationship with the outdoors and with human nature. The Oxford Reference Dictionary defines "nature" as "1. the phenomena of the physical world as a whole . . . 2. a thing's essential qualities; a person's or animal's innate character . . . 4. vital force, functions, or needs." Bronte speaks to each of these definitions throughout Jane Eyre.

Though there are many basic premises of transcendentalism, being close to nature seems to be the most practiced still today, yet people never notice the amount of influence of this particular principle. Everyone has a little transcendentalism in him or her, but even those people are wondering how that is even possible. Look at the movies children watch, songs people listen to, and stories that are read. Transcendentalists are so much more influential than they ever could have thought possible.