Emerson And Transcendentalism
Emerson was a man who understood the beauty of thought and the strength of people freeing their minds. His transcendentalist life style allowed him to open his mind to new things. Much of “the Poet” is influenced by transcendentalism, such as needing to find a balance between nature and society to properly share ideas with mankind. “The most lasting poetry — speaking historically—is the poetry that has given some expression to the poet's soul, that part of him- or herself that connects most deeply and exactly with the souls of others” (Birkerts, 70).
The poet does not let the outside influences of the world impact him, and his efforts to be a looking glass into understanding the real values of man. The poet feels that the world, specifically
society, prevents man from finding attunement with nature. This rift threatens to prevent man from expression with nature serving as a synonym for humanity’s artistic side. In Emerson’s “The Poet” he greatly wished for a literal poet that had a way with words and the ability to speak of things that no one has thought of before. If Emerson was alive now, would he feel that the poet is needed more now than then? I believe that he would because humanity now has less connection with nature than it ever, thanks to the digital age.
Emerson describes the poet as male. He continuously refers to the poet with words like “his” or “man”. Yet does he truly view this poet as a male? I believe yes and no. Although the words he uses may have you believe that the poet is male. I think it is to be interpreted that this poet can be either male or female. Emerson’s personal life style does not suggest that he believed men were greater than women. Many transcendentalists were feminists. He believed in the empowerment of anyone’s mind and he did not discriminate against sexes.
Emerson assigns sexual identities to the main character and his environment. In “The Poet” Emerson refers to the poet as male but also describes this character’s interaction with a force referred to as “Nature”. He also refers to this force as a woman who is strong and independent. I think that even though Emerson views the poet as having a male persona he also shows power and respect for females by referring to nature as female. Emerson believed the world needed balance between nature and society. His transcendentalist movement continues to shape philosophical minds to this day.
The poet does not let the outside influences of the world impact him, and his efforts to be a looking glass into understanding the real values of man. The poet feels that the world, specifically
society, prevents man from finding attunement with nature. This rift threatens to prevent man from expression with nature serving as a synonym for humanity’s artistic side. In Emerson’s “The Poet” he greatly wished for a literal poet that had a way with words and the ability to speak of things that no one has thought of before. If Emerson was alive now, would he feel that the poet is needed more now than then? I believe that he would because humanity now has less connection with nature than it ever, thanks to the digital age.
Emerson describes the poet as male. He continuously refers to the poet with words like “his” or “man”. Yet does he truly view this poet as a male? I believe yes and no. Although the words he uses may have you believe that the poet is male. I think it is to be interpreted that this poet can be either male or female. Emerson’s personal life style does not suggest that he believed men were greater than women. Many transcendentalists were feminists. He believed in the empowerment of anyone’s mind and he did not discriminate against sexes.
Emerson assigns sexual identities to the main character and his environment. In “The Poet” Emerson refers to the poet as male but also describes this character’s interaction with a force referred to as “Nature”. He also refers to this force as a woman who is strong and independent. I think that even though Emerson views the poet as having a male persona he also shows power and respect for females by referring to nature as female. Emerson believed the world needed balance between nature and society. His transcendentalist movement continues to shape philosophical minds to this day.