Traits Of Transcendentalism
“Live in the sunshine, swim in the Sea, drink the wild air”. This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson embodied all the traits of transcendentalism. Escaping and seeking solace in nature gave way to a clear mind. In this ideology that emerged in New England around 1836, it focused greatly on the individual and concepts emphasizing the good of nature. Both Henry David Thoreau and Emerson were notable figures of this belief. These writers composed many works that advocated for individuals to escape the corruption of society and embrace the self. Through this major belief it helped many people around the world to remember what it's like to feel alive. With this major dogma in mind the transcendentalist also wanted a better society that would allow the
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This would be reflected in the physical layout of the school, its curriculum, both focusing on the beauty of nature that clears/opens the mind. As stated in Emerson’s words he says,“ standing on the bare ground, — my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, — all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all” (Emerson 221).The beauty of nature is also mirrored in Thoreau words when he states, “we need the tonic of wildness… At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of Nature”(Thoreau 240). In both of these works they portray nature as a place of healing and a source of inspiration that can make the human mind fully open and conscience. Nature is very important aspect of human life that can rejuvenate the soul that Thoreau says “we can never have enough of nature”. Similar with Emerson nature makes him become a “transparent eye-ball”, purified by nature’s goodness. In a transcendentalist school this would be visible with the physical layout of the school being rich in trees and plants. This would increase the connection between man and nature. This would allow students to be in a fresh atmosphere that cleanses their minds and opens their horizons. The importance of nature would also be seen in the curriculum of the school focusing on the study of nature. For instance, Emerson believes that nature is beauty and “in the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows...in the woods too, a man cast off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child”(Emerson 221). In this quote he expounds the goodness
This would be reflected in the physical layout of the school, its curriculum, both focusing on the beauty of nature that clears/opens the mind. As stated in Emerson’s words he says,“ standing on the bare ground, — my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, — all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all” (Emerson 221).The beauty of nature is also mirrored in Thoreau words when he states, “we need the tonic of wildness… At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of Nature”(Thoreau 240). In both of these works they portray nature as a place of healing and a source of inspiration that can make the human mind fully open and conscience. Nature is very important aspect of human life that can rejuvenate the soul that Thoreau says “we can never have enough of nature”. Similar with Emerson nature makes him become a “transparent eye-ball”, purified by nature’s goodness. In a transcendentalist school this would be visible with the physical layout of the school being rich in trees and plants. This would increase the connection between man and nature. This would allow students to be in a fresh atmosphere that cleanses their minds and opens their horizons. The importance of nature would also be seen in the curriculum of the school focusing on the study of nature. For instance, Emerson believes that nature is beauty and “in the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows...in the woods too, a man cast off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child”(Emerson 221). In this quote he expounds the goodness