Transcendentalism: The Role of Emerson and Whitman

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Table of Contents

Thesis Statement
Introduction
Emerson’s Call for American Literature
How Whitman’s Poetry in Fulfilling Emerson’s Call
Conclusion
Works Cited

Thesis Statement

While transcendentalism might be a product of the European philosophers and theorists, Whitman pioneers the inception of this idea in America through poetry, which Emerson then proliferates by popularizing American literature.

Introduction

Transcendentalism is a philosophical and religious movement that stresses the spiritual authority of nature and the individual mind. It began in New England in the early 1800s as a protest against the rationalism and materialism of the Age of Enlightenment (Arndt 182). The transcendentalists believed that humans could direct communication with God or Nature, which they called “The Oversoul.” They sought to achieve this communion through intuition, self-reliance, and organic growth. Transcendentalism had a profound influence on American literature and culture.

Emerson’s Call for American Literature

Emerson’s Role in Transcendentalism

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the critical early transcendentalist figures, and his writings profoundly influenced future generations. He believed spiritual truth could be discerned through intuition instead of objective, rational thought. Other key figures in this movement include Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, and Margaret Fuller (Saunders 12). In terms of ideas, transcendentalists placed great emphasis on personal authenticity and self-reliance, as well as nature and the importance of living a “good” life.

Creating an Independent Literature from that of Europe

Emerson’s “The American Scholar” calls for American intellectuals to create their unique style of scholarship and literature independent from Europe. He argues that America has unique philosophical and religious traditions, which should be explored and celebrated (Emerson 94). To this end, he championed the philosophy of transcendentalism, which called for a new and distinctly American way of seeing and understanding the world. Emerson also stresses the importance of self-reliance and intuition in understanding the world (Emerson 99). For Emerson, American intellectuals should embrace the idea of “organic growth” and reject traditional Eurocentric ideas about knowledge. Thus, for Emerson, writing great literature involves tapping into the American spirit and forging a new literary tradition that reflects America’s unique identity. In contrast to Europe, America encourages individualism and creativity, which are essential to creating great American literature.

How Whitman’s Poetry in Fulfilling Emerson’s Call

Elaborating on Whitman’s Poetry

Walt Whitman promoted the transcendentalist movement, influenced by both Emerson and Thoreau. There are several ways in which Whitman’s poetry represents the fulfillment of Emerson’s call for American literature. First, both men sincerely appreciated America’s natural beauty and diversity. The beauty and diversity of America are evident in its literature, which features classical and contemporary works (Whitman 32). The classical works reflect the European influences on our country’s early development, while the contemporary works reflect the unique experiences and perspectives of Americans from all walks of life (Liu and Alley 41). Additionally, Emerson championed transcendentalism’s philosophy, which celebrates America’s unique qualities and people. Whitman echoed these sentiments in his poetry, celebrating America’s natural wonders and the multiculturalism and vitality of our people. Besides, his work helped invent a new American style and ideology rooted in the American people’s unique experiences and values.

Importance of Intuition and Self-Expression

Both men believed in the importance of intuition and self-expression in understanding the world. Emerson stressed the importance of intuition in understanding spiritual truths, while Whitman championed the idea of self-expression as a way to express the authentic self. Their writings reflect this belief in the power of individual expression to illuminate truths that are not accessible through traditional methods of thought (Finley 14). This is important because it encourages people to think for themselves and explore their ideas and experiences (Whitman 34). It also allows people to express themselves uniquely, which can be a powerful tool for understanding the world around them. Ultimately, Emerson and Whitman’s belief in intuition and self-expression provides a foundation for personal growth and understanding.

Creating New Traditions

Both men believed in creating new traditions that reflected America’s unique identity. Emerson argued that American intellectuals should create their unique style of scholarship and literature, while Whitman celebrated the beauty and diversity of America in his poetry. Their writings helped to forge a new American literary tradition reflective of America’s unique identity and values (Cate 107). This was an essential step in developing a sense of national identity, as it helped Americans see themselves as distinct people with unique traditions.

Individual Expression and Truth

Furthermore, Emerson and Whitman believed in the power of individual expression to illuminate truths that are not accessible through traditional methods of thought. This is important because it encourages people to think for themselves and explore their ideas and experiences. It also allows people to express themselves uniquely, which can be a powerful tool for understanding the world around them (Cate 106). In many ways, Whitman’s poetry represents the fulfillment of Emerson’s call for original American literature that reflects American identity. Thus, Whitman’s poetry is a prime example of the kind of literature Emerson hoped to emerge from America in the 19th century.

Differences between Emerson and Whitman’s Views

Emerson and Whitman were vital figures in the transcendentalist movement and shared many of the same ideals. They both believed in the spiritual authority of nature, the importance of intuition and self-reliance, and the need for Americans to forge their unique literary tradition. However, they also had some important differences in their views. Emerson was a more cerebral thinker, while Whitman was more emotive and visceral (Qi 280). Emerson tended to emphasize the idealistic side of transcendentalism, while Whitman celebrated the earthlier aspects of America. Emerson was also more interested in theory, while Whitman was more interested in creating poetry that spoke to the everyday lives of Americans (Qi 279). In many ways, Emerson and Whitman represent two different visions of transcendentalism, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, both were instrumental in shaping early American thought and culture, and their contributions helped to lay the foundations for American literature as we know it today.

Conclusion

Transcendentalism was a significant movement in American culture, as it encouraged people to think for themselves and forge their unique path in life. The ideas of self-reliance and intuition were essential to this movement, as they helped people to break away from traditional European values and create something new and genuinely American. Transcendentalists also celebrated nature and the diversity of America, which was an essential step in developing a uniquely American identity (Saunders 14). Emerson and Whitman played critical roles in shaping American culture and thought through their contributions to the transcendentalist movement. Their writings encouraged people to think for themselves and forge their unique path while celebrating nature, intuition, and the diversity of America. Thus, their ideas remain relevant today and have had a lasting impact on American culture and literature. Walt Whitman’s poetry is a prime example of the kind of literature that emerged from the transcendentalist movement, reflecting the ideals of individualism and creativity that define America. Generally, transcendentalism was essential in developing American thought and culture, and its impact can still be seen today.

Works Cited

Arndt, Martin. “Frederick C. Beiser: Hermann Cohen. an Intellectual Biography, Oxford: University Press 2018, 387 s.” Zeitschrift Für Religions- Und Geistesgeschichte, vol. 74, no. 2, 2022, pp. 182–183., Web.

Cate, Shannon. “Transcendentalists and Catholic Converts in Emerson’s America.” Reinventing Christianity. Routledge, 2019. 105-113.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “The American Scholar (1837).” Ralph Waldo Emerson, 2015, pp. 91–109., Web.

Finley, James S. “Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller, and Transcendentalism.” American Literary Scholarship, vol. 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 3-25.

Liu, Siyung, and Fatihiya Alley. “Learning from the Historical Culture of American People for the Current Society.” Linguistics and Culture Review, 2019, pp. 32–47., Web.

Qi, Wenjin. “Transcendentalism in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.” Journal of Language Teaching and Research, vol. 12, no. 2, 2021, pp. 275-280.

Saunders, Henry Scholey. An Introduction to Walt Whitman. Norwood Editions, 1978, pp. 12-14.

Whitman, Walt. The Works of Walt Whitman. Wordsworth Editions, 1995.

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