Literature has been divided into many periods or eras according to what they emphasize. In the Romantic Period, the Romantic writers stressed the ideas of exploring exotic settings, whether past or present, and contemplating the natural world. Romantics do not trust "civilization," they think the cities are a place of corruption and believe in the dominance of the physical world. Transcendentalism, popular from the mid 1830's to the mid 1840's, was based on the German philosopher Immanuel Kent's ideas. They declare that individuals need to gain knowledge of God through reason and not organized religion. They believe the physical world is only a reflection of the spiritual world. In contrast to the Romanticists' beliefs of the physical world being dominant, the Transcendentalists believe the spiritual world dominates. Transcendentalists strive towards being a perfect, complete person.
             Ralph Waldo Emerson, probably one of the most influential writers during the Romantic Period, expands greatly on the ideas of Transcendentalism and is a strong believer in the concept of self-reliance. The self-reliant man does not conform to the policies of society that he does not believe in, but takes his own initiative to support his beliefs. He will sacrifice anything he has to in order to sustain his values. Emerson was such a strong believer in nonconformity and self-reliance that he wrote an essay entitled "Self-Reliance" in which he elaborates on his ideas of how a man should act in a society. Many other writers during this time are influenced by Emerson. One of those writers is Richard Wright, who wrote an autobiography entitled "Black Boy". He tells how he grows up and how he could rely on himself to get through his struggles. Richard Wright is a primary example and is the embodiment of Emerson's self-reliant man.
             For the most part Wright has to grow up on his own, learning valuable lessons...