Comparing Emerson And Henry David Thoreau

Writers throughout history have turned to a vast array of things for inspiration in their works. The Transcendentalist writers of the 1800s turned to nature in order to discover the higher truths of the world around them. By turning to nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau came to teach others how to improve their lives by refusing to conform, expressing integrity of mind, and pursuing one’s dreams. These ideas changed many people’s understanding of the world and continue to do so today. Even though they lived 150 years ago, Emerson and Thoreau’s teachings continue to thrive in the lives of many people such as Ray Charles, Alecia Moore (P!nk), and Stephen Hawking.
Ray Charles and Alecia Moore are exceptional examples of people
who exemplify Emerson’s belief that one must “insist on [himself], never imitate”. Ray Charles embodied many of Emerson’s ideas, he always stayed true to himself and followed his dreams even as others attempted to discourage him.
From the time he was small, he was faced with obstacles ranging from the traumatizing death of loved ones to learning to live with blindness due to his glaucoma. Perhaps one of the most challenging of these obstacles was discrimination. As a black man trying to break into the music industry at the height of the civil rights movement, he was often told he must learn his place in society and was often reminded of his race. He “insisted on [himself]” and followed his heart as he felt that “[he] was born with the music inside [him]” (Charles).By insisting on equality for himself and others, he exemplified Emerson’s beliefs by standing up against society. Alicia Moore also epitomizes Emerson’s beliefs by refusing to conform to society’s standards in order to become successful in her career as a singer and songwriter. At the beginning of her career, she was told that she could become very successful if she only
“changed everything [she was]” (Moore). She “never [imitated]” other musicians and continued to develop her edgier and unique sense of style. Moore would later sing that “[she was] so glad that [she’d] never fit in” and would come to encourage girls to be themselves, insisting that, “outcasts and girls with ambition, [were what she] wanted to see”(Moore). Moore “insisted on [herself]”, and by doing so, she had attracted a larger audience who had recognized her for what she was: a talented musician who wasn’t afraid to always be herself. By “[insisting] on [ being themselves]” and “never [imitating]”, Ray Charles and Alecia Moore demonstrate Emerson’s beliefs years after he is gone.
Stephen Hawking exemplifies Emerson and Thoreau’s beliefs about integrity of mind and pursuing one’s dreams.
Hawking exemplifies Emerson’s teaching that “nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of [one’s] own mind.” Due to a debilitating neurological disease, Hawking’s body has been rendered useless, yet his mind continues to thrive and improve our world. As a victim of ALS, Hawking’s mind is all he really has left and uses it to make boundless breakthroughs in science that improve our understanding of the world. Though Hawking may be limited by his body’s condition, he feels that ‘theoretical physics is one of the few fields in which being disabled is no handicap”(Hawking).Hawking refuses to be “disabled in spirit as well as physically” and considers the “integrity of [his mind]” and “keeping [it] active” has been “vital to his survival” (Hawking). Hawking also exemplifies Thoreau’s philosophy that one should “ advance confidently in the direction of [his] dreams”. Stephen Hawking made extensive achievements in theoretical physics through his mind by refusing to let his disability interfere with pursuing his dreams by “[overcoming] the limitations of his conditions” so that he could lead “as full a life as possible.” Though Hawking has little to say about his disease, he maintains that “it taught [him] not to pity himself” and that he is “happier now than before [he] developed the condition”(Hawking). By mentally conquering the disease that controls his life, he has
prevailed over his physical limitations and achieved his goals. Stephen Hawking personified Emerson and Thoreau’s philosophies by expressing “integrity of mind” and “advancing in the direction of [his] dreams”.
Ray Charles, Alecia Moore, and Stephen Hawking have exemplified many of Emerson and Thoreau’s beliefs. Ray Charles and Alecia Moore personified many of the transcendentalist teachings by persisting to be themselves even in difficult situations. Stephen Hawking has also exemplified the transcendental philosophies by personifying integrity of mind and chasing after his dreams. These ideas are still relevant and will continue to influence our lives today and in the future.