Ralph Waldo Emerson's Legacy

The Legacy of Emerson “To be great is to be misunderstood” (Emerson, “Self-Reliance”). Throughout his lifetime, Ralph Waldo Emerson worked to progress American literature. Emerson was a pioneer of transcendentalism and stressed the importance of being oneself in a world full of conformity. He believed following one’s intuition was the way to find success and lasting happiness. Emerson, “. . . believed in people . . .” and “. . . raised everyone to his own level” (“Emerson’s Declining Years”). The popular works of Emerson and his lasting impact on American authors provide proof of his legacy. Ralph Waldo Emerson influenced American culture by encouraging originality and supporting the ideas of all people. Ralph Waldo Emerson believed
in the power of nonconformity. According to Emerson, “Envy is ignorance .
. .” and “. . . imitation is suicide . . .”. Truly accepting oneself is the first step to finding satisfaction, happiness, and potentially changing the world. Until one realizes their own worth and embraces their talents, they will forever remain in the shadows of others’ successes. Listening to one’s intuition and avoiding selfism leads to proper behavior and morally sound decisions. When a person fails to hear their intuition, they succumb to the knowledge and behavior of the people around them. Change and reform are impossible without people who challenge the status quo. According to Emerson, “You will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it” (“Self-Reliance”). No one can control the life of another person; only the other person knows the decisions they must make in order to follow their heart and better themselves. People will insult, ridicule, and scoff at those who think and act differently, but
according to Emerson, this behavior should flatter a person. If no one ever possessed enough courage to invent new methods of life and right the wrongs in our society, the world would remain idle and unchanging. Communities would rage with inequality, schools would enroll only boys, and candles would light every home. Through his encouragement of nonconformity, Emerson developed a new style of literature. Transcendentalism broke the traditional rules of writing and put the power in the hands of authors. The government and church no longer dictated what people could and could not say. Authors began expressing themselves through their creation of emotional, dramatic stories. Literature was forever changed by Emerson’s new ideas. Emerson encouraged originality and creativity. In the early 1800s, Americans simply copied European cultures rather than experimenting and formulating new ideas and practices. This brought Emerson distaste, and he frowned on this behavior. Emerson had a new plan for the future of America, and he wrote about it in The American Scholar. He declared, “We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds” (Emerson, “American Scholar”). America needed to become a leading contributor in the world. The United States needed talented artists, innovative thinkers, and visionary writers to come forward and bring originality and uniqueness to the country. Emerson believed once people began to think for themselves, “a nation of men will for the first time exist . . .” (Emerson, “American Scholar”). Emerson expelled the fear of change in America. Before Emerson, citizens viewed change as scary and unnecessary. In Self-Reliance, Emerson proclaimed, “With consistency, a great soul has simply nothing to do.” His persuasive words changed societies and gave people across America the courage to come out of the shadows and express themselves. Emerson impacted many writers of the 19th century, and he continues to influence many writers today.
One can see the influence of Emerson in the writings of Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, Margaret Fuller, and countless others (“Ralph Waldo Emerson”). These authors idolized Emerson and viewed him as the leading force in the advancement and transformation of American literature. In a letter to Emerson, Walt Whitman wrote, “I say that none has ever done, or ever can do, a greater deed for The States than your deed.” Emerson was highly respected and regarded as a pioneer in literature. Emerson paved the way for other authors to express themselves and create monumental literary works. Emerson’s predecessors continued to challenge the existing state of affairs in order to create a better world for generations to come. In the closing of Walt Whitman’s letter to Emerson, he promises, “Receive, dear Master . . . that we demand to take your name into our keeping, and that we understand what you have indicated, and find the same indicated in ourselves, and that we will stick to it and enlarge upon it through These States.” Ralph Waldo Emerson was a literary icon in the 1800s, and his revolutionary ways of thought would prove to stand the test of
time. Emerson “. . . unlocked the chambers of original thought” (“Ralph Waldo Emerson”). Throughout American history, people have read and reread the words of Emerson. His ability to empower, encourage, and embolden the American people changed the lifestyle of the country. People no longer feared change and advancement. Rather, they embraced it and worked to further many areas of society, including literature. Tradition and rules evolved and weakened, paving the way for a new America. Without courageous thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, the world would appear vastly different today. “Is it so bad then to be misunderstood?” questioned Emerson, “Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates . . . and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood” (“Self-Reliance”).