Emerson and Thoreau Represent American Identity - 1511 Words

Compare and contrast the way in which Emerson and Thoreau represent American Identity. â€Å"Identity means who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group which make them different from others,† (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Third Edition). Every individual, group and country has their own identity which makes them different from others and it shows uniqueness of oneself. Reaction against the existing philosophy takes place when there is conflict in interest amongst the philosophers. It was from the late eighteenth century until mid nineteenth century that the philosophical and literary movement (Transcendental Movement) took place in America as a result of extreme rationalism of the enlightenment. â€Å"Transcendentalism, an†¦show more content†¦Unlike European scholar, Emerson argues that American scholars must give importance to nature that highly influence human mind, and they must be given freedom to discover and explore new ideas. According to Emerson, true scholars should not be narrowing minded and get stuck with the books. He criticized that the prescribed books can be harmful for the society as books are the one preserving the age old degrading ideas and these ideas are not doing any good to the human and a man is too scared to speak or go against them. He feels book can kill a man’s creative thought process, but he has also mentioned that a book should be considered as a tool of information not a means to determine one’s thinking. Like Emerson, Henry David Thoreau also contributed to the creation of unique America with the belief in anti-consumerist. Thoreau was also the transcendentalist, who was a student and friend of Emerson and he was born on 12th July, 1817. Thoreau’s writing, â€Å"Walden† represented a clear identity and it was a challenge to American materialism and ideas of progress. The reformer and writer, Lydia Maria stated that, â€Å"The life exhibited in (Thoreau’s books) teaches us that this western activity of which we are so proud, these material improvements, this commercial enterprise, this rapid accumulation of wealth, even our external associated philanthropic action, are very easilyShow MoreRelated Compare and Contrast the Way in which Emerson and Thoreau Represents American Identity1290 Words   |  6 PagesTherefore, American writers namely Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau presented an idea about American Identity. Emerson in The American Scholar and Thoreau in Walden represents the idea of American identity by connecting this concept with nature and individuality but Emerson presents his idea about American identity in an intelligent manner whereas Thoreau uses mockery to present his idea. Emerson and Thoreau both have connected the idea of nature and individuality to represent an AmericanRead MoreHenry David Thoreau s The Wilderness Of Walden Pond Essay1626 Words   |  7 PagesHenry David Thoreau, perhaps the most famous transcendentalist, wrote Walden on his time spent in the wilderness of Walden pond. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote Nature on his walks into the woods. Much of Emerson’s works were on intuition and self-reliance. Jeremiah Johnson is a modern movie that seemingly adopts the ideas of these transcendentalist authors into a narrative about a man who leaves civilisation for the mountain. All three characters had different stated motivations. Thoreau left to â€Å"liveRead MoreA Romantic View Of Hester Prynne Essay1316 Words   |  6 PagesMason Fleischauer Rahner Collegio Ms. Slevin and Mr. Arthur Final Draft A Romantic View of Hester Prynne Individualism, emotion and the purity and simplicity of nature are at the foundation of American Romanticism. 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