Transcendental Identity

“There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil” -Ralph Waldo Emerson in Self Reliance. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a transcendentalist. Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that originated in the 19th century and was primarily influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalists’ main beliefs are: self-reliance is essential to one’s life, nature is divine, every person should have an optimistic outlook, and humanity needs to adhere to their personal morals and beliefs. In today’s world we still see a multitude of the beliefs of transcendentalism.

The author hopes, through this text, to make the reader realize that using intuition and going beyond one’s own senses can help to reach basic truths. This idea is also evident in the text, “the power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows until he tries” (550). Like Romanticism, Transcendentalism also values the ideas of individualism. Emerson writes that “nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind” (551), and while it expresses individualistic beliefs, it, also, is another example of instinct and

Thoreau also addresses the idea of citizen integrity when he asks the question, “What is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity?” (Thoreau). This concludes that a failure to rebel against an unjust principle consequently impairs one’s integrity. Additionally, he contends that tradition is an influential motivator that removes the idea of rebellion from the mind of many citizens. Tradition in a community creates a cycle that manages to persuade people to not rebel against an unjust cause due to conformity that becomes

A key difference between the philosophies of Emerson and Thoreau as articulated in “Self-Reliance” and “Civil Disobedience” is their vision of how individuals should shape society and government. Emerson believes that one should only follow his own conscience and intellect not the opinions of the crowd. Emerson argues that it is not only possible to successfully defy the common practices and beliefs of society, but that “to be great is to be misunderstood”

In addition, transcendentalism influences us in 2017 because people can be true to themselves and to nonconform. In Self-Reliance, Emerson says, “This is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion” (279). Emerson explains how important it is to be independent, to follow what makes you happy and don't care what the society have to say. In today's world, if everyone conforms we would all do the same exact thing and life wouldn’t be as excited as every day to try different things and adventure as many places. Emerson shows us to be confident with ourselves and to be against the crowd by being

The first and most indispensable thought around transcendentalism is self-reliance. This word is rather self-explanatory as it is the ability to depend on one’s self. But, the transcendentalist idea of self-reliance isn’t just being able to act without the authority of another but to think without one as well. Emerson said, “ The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion.” (pg1). To clarify

The first key value of transcendentalism is individualism. Which is the idea of free-thought and self-reliance. It inspires followers to have free thought and live their life based on their own values and not society’s. McCandless exhibits the trait of individualism by creating a whole new

nonconformist” (Self-Reliance, 15), he took off the idea and went on to express the bold statement, “Imitation is suicide” (Self-Reliance, 3). David Henry Thoreau has beliefs similar to Emerson on the topic of conformity: “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he

People make choices on a daily basis on different things. Whether these choices are on a larger or smaller scale is completely up to that said individual. Two authors being examined today made choices that profess upon their beliefs and that reflected their moral code. These two authors in question are Henry David Thoreau and Thomas Paine. Paine professed his belief of self-reliance and being in tuned with nature itself by living on his own for an extended amount of time in a cabin on the edge of town. Meanwhile Thoreau professes his belief of being spiritually open minded and anti-Christian belief. Both follow these professions with well suited arguments that seem more alike than it seems. Both authors connect the theme of closely examining choice and being diligent with said choices.

An issue that has been circulating is whether or not to conform. Rob Siltanen says, “... The ones who see things differently. They 're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can 't do is ignore them. Because they change thing.[...]” ( cited) What he says is agreeable because the one that does not conform, will be the one that changes themselves,their society and even their future. This matter is an open topic of debate because one may agree that an individual does not need to conform to society 's ideals in order to find their happiness or be successful in life.

The time period of transcendentalism changed the views of many people through setting different principles otherwise known as tenets. These tenets I am going to focus on is: confidence, self-reliance, free thought, nonconformity, and the importance of nature. Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement in the 1800’s where people responded to the strict rules back then. They declared that they didn’t have to follow all of the rules and decided to go off of independent tenets. Many pieces of literature contain some or all of these tenets, the ones I’m going to discuss and analyze today are Still I Rise by Maya Angelou that focuses on self-reliance and stanza 1 and 52 from Song of Myself by Walt Whitman which focuses on all tenets of transcendentalism. All of the 5 tenets are very important, but the one that overcomes all the others in my life is confidence. Many pieces of literature contain at least all tenets, but reference them in different ways.

One of the most famous texts ever written for the sheer purpose of Transcendentalism was Emerson’s Self Reliance. In his essay, he writes about the importance of nonconformity and individualism. In Self Reliance, Emerson tells us to “trust thyself.” From only two words, one can gather the whole purpose of his essay. With nonconformity, man can defend himself against the tendency to become satisfied with life, and lose his own individuality. With “good- humored inflexibility” the self-reliant person can become someone who obeys himself. When it comes to a battle of law or a battle of morals, the self-reliant man will follow his morals and discard the law. One is not to use their logic, but use intuition. Emerson simply was striving for not the superiority of one man, but for originality and individuality of all humankind. He wanted to

If a man gets self-reliant and lives after the principle of Transcendentalism, he will be succeeding in his life.

There are three fundamental beliefs at the Transcendentalism core: Individualism/Nonconformity, Free thought/ Idealism, and the Divinity of nature. Individualism/Nonconformity: is emphasized to promote the peace and harmony of being one's self. Emerson

In “Self-Reliance,” Emerson explicitly states that “whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist” (827). Emerson urges his readers to think for themselves, rejecting the presumptions and traditions of the previous generations, if they should see fit to do so. Acknowledging the dangers of dissent, Emerson admits that “for nonconformity the world whips you with displeasure” (829). Nevertheless, a man cannot be enlightened if he relies solely upon the thoughts and presumed knowledge of those around him; as Emerson put so eloquently, “insist on yourself; never imitate” (840). The endorsement of individuality can be found everywhere in today’s society, and it is one message that seems to have been embraced as a part of American culture itself. As Emerson realized, people tend to be happier when they feel comfortable expressing their own opinions without