Journal #22: Emerson Analysis

Ralph Waldo Emerson had a large influence on the Transcendental movement which in several ways was similar to Romanticism, but in his latter years Emerson rejected the idea of Romanticism. Romanticism was heavy on the idea of going out into nature and finding oneself, while Transcendentalism was heavy handed on the idea of finding oneself through personal revelations that did not require outside influence, only heavy self-introspection and revelations. All in all the aspects of the two movements were similar on the surface but upon deeper introspection and analysis one can find the differences and discern between the two movements. Transcendentalism was a very influential period in literature for America and the lasting impression of the literature written at the time is still felt today and is echoed in several authors today and in the Modernism movement. The entire idea behind Transcendentalism is vaguely similar to Romanticism, but the two movements have their differences along with a few similarities that usually end up with people overlooking the differences and simply classifying the two movements together incorrectly. The two are similar in some issues on the surface but upon further more in-depth analysis one can see the overall depth and complexities in both issues and properly distinguish from Romanticism and Transcendentalism.

One of the things that sets Emerson apart from Romanticism and firmly plants him as a Transcendentalist writer and proofs some of his withdrawals about Romanticism is this quote. "Most readers of American literature know the story of Emerson's refusal to mourn. His first wife Ellen died in 1831, when she was nineteen. Five years later he lost Charles, the brother to whom he was closest (Digital.)" This quote demonstrates the inability of Emerson to mourn properly or his unique method in which he dealt with loss and hard and heavy emotions. Romantics were much more emotion heavy into emotion and expressing it, and would have dealt with the loss of a loved one or a close friend in a very dramatic fashion that showcased their grieving. Because of his disassociation with emotion and rejection of traditional grieving methods it disconnected him from Romantics and while he still believed in human potential and self-actualization through achievement it demonstrated his distance from the emotion of humanity and his thought that it was trivial and unimportant to the working spirit and behavior of man while still rejecting the idea of technological and scientific progression as the sole focus of mankind which kept him in some similar space as Romantics, but due to his reservations of emotion showed him as a true Transcendental writer.

These reasons, mainly Emerson's emotional detachment from other people and thought process of work and self first and before all other matter, while still distancing himself from the scientific and technological marvels of the time solidified himself as a Transcendentalist, but concreted him straight out of the Romantic and Realist literary groups. Despite several similarities with Romantic writers he rejected the emotional aspect of Romanticism and his emotional coldness and stone faceted attitude served as crucial aspects to this.

"Emerson and the Work of Melancholia." Raritan (Spring 1987). Quoted as "Emerson and the Work of Melancholia" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Updated Edition, Bloom's Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed November 10, 2010).