Emerson and Whitmans Views of Self Essay - 473 Words

Emerson and Whitmans Views of Self What is man anyhow? What am I? What are you? asks Whitman. Who we are, what our purpose is and what the meaning of life is are all mysteries that man has tried to solve from his earliest history. Whitman and Emerson explore these ideas in their works, Song of Myself and Self Reliance. Whitman, an American poet, and Emerson, an American philosopher, take different approaches in their search for self-discovery, yet within their solutions, many parallels can be found. Emersons message is one of non-conformity and individuality. He views every man as unique within, and feels society, exterior elements and tradition are mans downfall. He urges us to be a product of ourselves, to live in the†¦show more content†¦Emerson states that genius is to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men#8230; so agrees Whitman, These are really the thoughts of all men in all ages and lands, they are not original with me. Also complimenting each other are their ideas of great men throughout history. Emerson says, No greater men are than ever were, a singular equality may be observed between the great men of the first and last years while Whitman proclaims Births have brought us richness and variety#8230;I do not call one greater and one smaller, That which fills its period and place is equal to any. However, while Emerson feels that what great men have in common is the courage to listen to their own individuality and to be the first to express an idea, Whitman sees all men as contributing greatness to one another. These scholars, in their quest for excellence both revert back to simplicity. In both works children, and child-like thought are exalted. Emerson is awes at the freedom of a child, seeing it as god-like independence. He says a child conforms to no one, but rather all conform to the child. Whitman speaks of the wonder of a child contemplating what grass is. Both view the simplicity found in nature as also divine and perfect. In two very similar quotes, Emerson describes, The roses under my window make no reference to former roses#8230;they existShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Walt Whitman s Song Of Myself1178 Words   |  5 Pagesdemonstrates Whitman’s faith in the imperative indivisibility of self-reliance. He shares many of the same ideas as Emerson, such as the importance of the self and views on religion. There are some differences in certain ideas, images and the language; however, these differences do not take away from Whitman’s fulfillment of Emerson’s vision of the self. Whitman’s â€Å"Song of Myself† shows the ideals of self in Ralph Waldo Emerson s Self-Reliance at work and therefore fulfills Emerson’s vision of self as trueRead MoreComparing Emersons Writings with Whitmans Writings659 Words   |  3 PagesEmerson and Whitman A commonality when comparing Emerson’s writings with Whitman’s writings are the use of the ideas Emerson came up with integrated and used in Whitman’s writing. It is clear that Emerson’s writing were a set of instructions for the Transcendentalist movement in addition to a lifestyle to try and attain or rise up to for society. Emerson give guidelines and ideas on how people should function in society largely based off of nature and its natural occurrence and set order. When WhitmanRead MoreAnalysis Of Walt Whitmans Leaves Of Grass And Song For Myself1068 Words   |  5 Pagescriticisms hinder him from self-publishing his revolutionary piece. 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He was exposed to be beingRead MoreAnalysis Of Walt Whitman s What Came First The Chicken Or The Egg? 1739 Words   |  7 PagesCook English 231 10 July 2015 Emerson Vs. Whitman and Their Influence on Each Other When talking about Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman a similar question of â€Å"What came first the chicken or the egg?† comes to mind. Scholars may argue that without Emerson and his influential sermons and speeches that Walt Whitman would have never found his voice, but how can someone who so many consider one of the greatest poets of all time cease to exist? Ralph Waldo Emerson knew what he was doing when heRead MoreTranscendentalism : A Philosophical And Literary Movement1725 Words   |  7 Pagesmid 19th Century in the U.S.A as a reaction against the dogma and industrialization of the time, placing individualism and self-reliance above the views of social institutions and the government. It was also, in part, an attempt at creating a uniquely American literature style completely different to the established English/European styles used in the past. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a highly influential writer that led the transcendentalist movement, he was primarily concern ed with individualism andRead More walt whitman Essay1383 Words   |  6 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Walt Whitman was a follower of the two Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. He believed in Emerson and Thoreau’s Trascendentalist beliefs. Whitman believed that individualism stems from listening to one’s inner voice and that one’s life is guided by one’s intuition. The Transcendentalist centered on the divinity of each individual; but this divinity could be self-discovered only if the person had the independence of mind to do so. Whitman lent himselfRead MoreThe Role And Essence Of Nature In Walden By Henry David Thoreau1505 Words   |  7 Pages Transcendentalists believed in several topics including civil disobedience, simplicity, and self-reliance, but one of the most important ideas is that of the role and essence of nature. Transcendentalists like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Emerson, and Walt Whitman disconnected from society and secluded themselves in nature, and disregarded the superficial characteristics that are so often noted to find a significant meaning in their lives. Henry David Thoreau advocates escaping the instability ofRead MoreEssay Choosing Sides in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1095 Words   |  5 PagesWalt Whitman to become the â€Å"American poet† as described by Ralph Waldo Emerson; he attempts to be â€Å"[T]he sayer, the namer, and [representative] of beauty† (Emerson 1182). Whitman wants to speak to and for America. Whitman does not explicitly choose sides on the slavery debate that was raging at the time of his writing, but he does express the equality of all people, regardless of gend er and race in â€Å"Song of Myself†. While Whitman’s writing can be read as neutral but â€Å"Song of Myself† is, in reality,Read MoreTranscendentalist Writers : The Transcendentalist Movement Essay1092 Words   |  5 PagesInfluence When the transcendentalist movement began, between 1820 and 1830, it was a retaliation against the modern concepts of religion and society that was prominent in the eastern region of the United States at the time. Writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are the most well-known among transcendentalist writers, possibly because they served as an inspiration to many other writers. Together these transcendentalist writers, including Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and many others