Ralph Waldo Emerson

             Between his distinguished writing and high moral family values, Ralph Waldo Emerson emulated a high society, well rounded individual. No one could have imagined the masterpieces he would bring to American life. At the age of two, Ralph Waldo Emerson's father described him as a 'rather dull scholar'; However, Ralph grew up to become one of the most acclaimed scholars in American history.
             Ralph Waldo Emerson was born May 25th, 1803 in Boston Massachusetts to William and Ruth Haskins Emerson. Of eight children, Ralph along with four other brothers were the only ones to survive childhood [William (1801), Edward Bliss (1805), Robert Buckley (1807) and Charles Chauncey (1808) ]. At the young and still dependent age of eight, Emerson had to deal with the sorrow of his father William's death. May 12th, 1811 a stomach tumor caused William, at the age of 42, to leave behind his family with the help from his sister, Mary Moody Emerson. Mary Moody Emerson's peculiar religious orthodoxy and sharp, critical, intelligence were a life-long influence to Emerson.
             Ralph appeared perfectly average growing up. Although, he did start school before he was three years of age. In 1812 he began to write poetry. In the same year he devoted himself to his strict studies at Boston Public Latin School. Ralph continued with his studies and, following several generations of his ancestors, he entered Harvard College in 1817. Interested in history and public speaking, he continued to write and even became a class poet. On the side, Emerson began to wait tables and teach during vacations to pay costs. At this time of his life, he began to keep a journal to record his "ragamuffin ideas." His studies in classes such as, literature and philosophy were improved by some renowned Harvard faculty during private study sessions. He won prizes for oratory and for essays on Socrates and ethical philosophy. By junior year, he preferre...

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Ralph Waldo Emerson. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 03:41, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/74780.html