Walden and Transcendentalism Essay

Followers of the Transcendentalist movement stressed the religious, philosophical and ideological importance of life. Henry David Thoreau was a staunch supporter of the movement. Thoreau felt that a person lived a good life by following his conscience and instincts. He also felt that materialism was a sure way to distract a person from leading a good and moral life. Thoreau proposed for the government to be involved in as little of a citizen's life as possible; he felt too much government control just complicated a person's life. Like most Transcendentalists, Thoreau believed there was a direct connection to God through nature. If a person appreciated nature he would gain a higher understanding of God. Finally, Thoreau encouraged

Transcendentalism, or the belief that there is a direct connection between a man’s individual soul and nature, was a very avant-garde movement throughout its peak; although now, American society continues to grow increasingly distant from it. These ideals are reflected in the works of Henry David Thoreau and Jon Krakauer, as well as the life of Chris McCandless. Throughout Thoreau’s novel Walden he distinctly preaches the belief that in society, men have become more focused on work and material possessions than life’s simple pleasures and freedoms. In the same manner, Krakauer and McCandless both draw inspiration from Thoreau, and ultimately share spiritual experiences throughout their adventures, both seeking to find life’s true purpose. Although many will argue that transcendental ideas and culture are outdated and have no place in today’s humanity, transcendentalism itself, and the ideals possessed by Henry David Thoreau and Chris McCandless have played a major role in American society, in that they appeal to the spiritual side of every man, which accredits to the belief that only life’s bare necessities are required in order to live a fulfilled life. However, it is unfeasible to live a transcendental lifestyle in today’s insatiable, consumerist society.

Chris McCandless, Jon Krakauer, and Henry David Thoreau all relate to the thought of Transcendentalism. In the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and excerpts from Walden by Thoreau there is a strong relationship between Chris McCandless’s and Thoreau’s beliefs on Transcendentalism. Both McCandless and Thoreau relate to self-wisdom, individualism, and nature. Chris McCandless’s decisions in his life in the story Into the Wild by Krakauer reflect on the transcendental beliefs of Thoreau in Walden.

“Walden”Thoreau by was published around 1854, during the reign of the transcendentalism.In order to prove his claims, he "went into the woods" and lived as simply and as inexpensively as he encouraged others to do.In “Walden”, Thoreaus argument is that people with complex and unhappy lives should live more simple lives and have what is necessary insted of living a lifestyle dependent on material possessions.In “Walden”,Thoreau for example says “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life . . . and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not livermore”.By making these assertions Thoreau explicitly shows through his actions that you should depend on yourself and not technology.Under these circumstances with the rapidly changing technology of his time,like the train, Thoreau saw these advancements as things that hindered society from seeing what the real problems where.

The philosophy of Transcendentalism, according to the article “Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy” is believed to have been created and led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which is why he is considered by many literary scholars and historians to be the father of Transcendentalism. Throughout the years, this philosophy attracted other artists and thinkers such as the American Romantic novelist Henry David Thoreau. These prominent and poetic individuals created an insight for this movement, believing in the true and significant values of individualism, minimalism, and spirituality in their lives. These specific aspects can be found in Thoreau’s most famous work, and Transcendentalist staple, Walden. This novel was a reminiscence of his life

A life choice that we see in both McCandless’s life and Thoreau’s life is that both of them wanted to discover the essential facts about life. One thing McCandless tells his family before leaving on his journey is that he is “going to disappear for a while” (Krakauer 21).Transcendentalism is about self-discovery, in which Chris desires and Thoreau lives. Thoreau says that he “went into the woods because I wished to front only the essential facts of life” (Walden). Thoreau strongly believes that people can discover the essential facts about life in nature. Both of them believe that the way to discover the “facts of life” is by going into nature. The two also believe that being a true

Chris McCandless, John Krakauer, and Henry David Thoreau all relate to the thoughts of Transcendentalism. In the book, Into the Wild, by John Krakauer and excerpts from Walden by Thoreau, there is a definite relationship between Chris McCandless and Thoreau’s beliefs on Transcendentalism. McCandless and Thoreau both understand living deliberately, having a simple life, and moving on. Chris McCandless’s decisions with his life in the book Into the Wild reflect on The Transcendental beliefs of Thoreau in Walden.

During the period of Transcendentalism, the point was to stand up and to think for yourselves. The Transcendentalist valued the importance of awareness, and had an interest in social reform and injustices. They often spoke out against authority and held an extreme disdain for past authorities. One of the most important parts of Transcendentalism is the concept of extreme individualism. To a Transcendentalist, an individual must be aware of the goodness they possess within and they must be able to use that to encourage others. People need to find their way in life and learn to trust their inner-self. They believed that a person does not need society to tell them how they act or what to believe in. Henry David Thoreau believed in the greatness of people. In “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau urges people to practice activism, by this he means that when the government is unfair, people must distance themselves from the corrupt government and fight for what they believe to be right.

“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 hears, however measured or far away” (Thoreau 385). Thinking for ourselves is very important. Transcendentalism values individuality, and not doing what others tell you. In the movie Dead Poets Society, the new English teacher, named Mr. Keating, teaches a group of boysthe boys the true value of their identity, and believing what they want to believe. Dead Poets Society represents Thoreau’s ideas of nonconformity or going against society, discussed in Walden, through Mr. Keating and Neil Perry.

Transcendentalist has a handful of principals from self-reliance to the thought of technology is harmful.The main tenet throughout the paper will focus on the importance of nature. Transcendentalist views nature as a gateway to the spiritual world, a way to the Omnipower. Henry David Thoreau immersed himself into nature fully “The morning wind forever blows, the poem of creation is uninterrupted; but few are the ears that hear it”(Thoreau II). Thoreau reveals how he has taken the time to observe nature to its fullest extent. He saw nature as a neighbor who was to be respected just as a man would treat another. Ralph Waldo Emerson a great transcendentalist, a mentor to Thoreau. Emerson’s point of view of nature showed how men and nature can become one to uplift themselves from the worldly shackles. Thoreau and Emerson both had a concept that nature was essentials to mankind, one sought out to respect it and the other viewed as a form of release.Nature is important to transcendentalism because it leads to spiritual connection and harmonization.

The chapter entitled “Conclusion” is a fitting and compelling final chapter to Thoreau’s Walden. Throughout Walden, Thoreau delves into his surroundings, the very specifics of nature, and what he was thinking about, without employing any metaphors and including none of his poignant aphorisms. However, placed among these at-times tedious sections, come spectacular and wholly enjoyable interludes of great and profound thought from a writer that has become extremely popular in modern America. His growth of popularity over such contemporary favorites as Emerson in our modern era stems from the fact that Thoreau calls for an “ideological revolution to simplification” in our lives. This

Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that occurred in America after the Enlightenment and before the Civil War. Transcendental authors espoused closeness with nature while at the same time nonconformity with mainstream society. It is interesting to compare and contrast the bonds that the writers Emerson and Thoreau promoted by using details from several works of literature.

Transcendentalism is a movement that changed the 19th century literary world. Individuals, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller embraced ideas of individualism, rebelling against authority they disagreed with, and connecting with one’s surroundings (). Particularly unique in transcendentalism was Thoreau because he put his ideas into practice and carried it into his daily life by acting only on what he believed was acceptable. In the play The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee tell Henry David Thoreau’s story, elaborate on Thoreau’s view on transcendentalism and his demonstration of it.

Therefore, Thoreau was ahead of his time as historians place the golden age of free thought from 1875 to 1914. This idea of personal freedom was not popular at the time “Walden” was only a marginal success. Afterward, in the Civil Rights moment the “Walden” became very popular with young Americans. The “Walden” inspired theses’ Americans to obtain real freedom with many examples. “I see young men, my townsmen, whose misfortune it is to have inherited farms, houses, barns, cattle, and farming tools; for these are more easily acquired than got rid of.” At the time most, parents expected their sons to take over the farm after the father became feeble. Therefore, most men were forced to work the farm instead of pursuing what they wanted. Instead a man becomes a machine that has no freedom. Therefore, have a feeling that his only function was to replace the old machine before him. “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” Technologies today give us the illusion of heightened freedom. In the United States, we can obtain every material item we desire. Even though we still have the highest rate of anxiety disorders and depression in the world. Thoreau explains “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” To have true freedom and happiness you must face your demons. As material earnings can’t cover up your inner truth. Many Americans can’t handle the truth and this why we live a life of desperation. Thoreau

Transcendentalism is a literary and philosophical movement based on the ideas that a spiritual reality transcends that empirical and scientific. This movement also known as the American renaissance lasted from 1840-1860, and focused on the ideals of nature such as non-conformity and individualism. Some of the basic philosophies of transcendentalism are the following: nonconformity, self-reliance, confidence, nature, connectedness, living authentically, and many others. Moreover, in the Walden Excerpt by Henry David Thoreau he declaims and discloses his time in nature’s domain when he took up his “abode in the woods,” but his “house was not finished for winter, but was merely a defense against the rain, without plastering or chimney, the walls being rough, weather-stained boards, with wide chinks, which made it cool at night. The upright white hewn studs and freshly planed door and window casings gave it a clean and airy look… fit to entertain a traveling god, and where a goddess might trail her garments. Olympus is but the outside of the earth everywhere” (Thoreau). Indubitably, even though his house lacks a chimney, plastering, and insulation, Thoreau looks at the situation from an optimistic point of view and declares that the poorly insulated walls give his interior the benefit of fresh air on summer nights and that