Walden
The impact the transcendental movement had on American literature cannot beunderestimated. "Reawakening an interest in the great problems of human nature and destiny,"authors such as Emerson, Alcott and Brownson, for example, forced the transcendentalmovement into the path of Henry David Thoreau. (Spiller, 346) As a self proclaimed "mystic, atranscendentalist, and a natural philosopher," Thoreau's works invite the reader to explore hisintuitive philosophy (Spiller, 121). Furthermore, Walden proves itself to be an adventure based Initially, the transcendentalist movement in New England was sparked by controversywith the Unitarian church. Critics began to view the Unitarian religion as based on a set of ruleswhich could not support their need for spiritual and emotional exploration. The church'sphilosophy was moving more toward rational and reason based doctrines, and away from"experiment and observation" (Spiller, 348). This included the ideals of intuition, feeling andmysticism. In "Emerson's Nature, the original- and probably the best systematic expression oftranscendentalist philosophy," a theoretical examination is made, attempting to link a simple
Using the great ancient philosophers as an example, Thoreauexplains that they "were a class than which none has been poorer in outward riches, none so richin inward" (1726). As he begins building in the spring, heexplains his work days as "pleasant spring days, in which the winter of man's discontent wasthawing as well as the earth. His purpose is made evident in Walden, as he states "I know of no moreencouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a consciousendeavor" (1765) Thoreau immersed himself into nature, allowed his mind to create aconsciousness of divinity, and thus "transcended" to spiritual fulfillment. "Most men, even in thiscomparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with thefactious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked bythem" (1721). " (1740) As the spring continues his progress grows relatively. " Bathing in the pure pond, breathing in the uncontaminated air inthe "airy hut," and welcoming morning's renewal, enhances his ability to accept a spiritualrelevance. "Read your fate, see what isbefore you, and walk on into futurity" (1776). Transcendentalism and WaldenWorks CitedSpiller, Robert E. "Now that the cars are gone by, and all the restless world withthem, and the fishes in the pond no longer feel their rumbling, I am more alone than ever. The train's interruption on Thoreau's reflection in Sounds was also a significant reminderof the industry which invades the natural environment. Nature is around him, rather than his intruding upon nature. Because Thoreau is secluded in thewoods from society, the reality the train brings interrupts his experiencing the lessons of nature. His process toward spiritual growth is progressing rapidly. He had abandoned the strict rules, muchlike the church had set up, and enveloped himself in exploration.
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Acceptance Essays
