The Influence of Nature in Early Literature: Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Philosophically concerned, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul" (McQuade 487).

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist and poet best known for leading the Transcendentalist movement in the mid-19^th century. The transcendentalist movement was based on the theory that man's relationship with God should be defined through spiritual discoveries and is more than the physical. It reasoned that people should trust their own intuition and logic over societal norms. “Emerson developed on certain ideas such as individuality, freedom, and the relationship between one’s soul and the world that surrounds us.”  (McQuade 480)

 Emerson is best known for his essay, Nature. This essay is considered the piece of work at which transcendentalism became a major cultural movement. Nature was a significant piece of work that established a new way of looking at the Americans and our raw, natural environment. Emerson believed that nature is essential to a person’s intellectual, and moral, health and growth. He describes nature as being a “paradise” and believed that all things were connected to God. As shown in Nature, Emerson believed that we are an intricate part of a bigger design, and only in nature can we realize this. Emerson goes beyond the obvious beauty of nature to recognize the spiritual element in the landscape, "Emerson's Nature shows the melding of these two streams of thought, as he sets out the idea that the external universe and the mind are exact equivalents" (Robinson 21).

 Emerson believed that all things were connected to God, and therefore, all things were divine. These beliefs were considered to be quite radical at the time. His views suggested that the truth could be intuitively revealed directly from nature. Emerson’s work continues to inspire and influence thinkers and writers around the world. Emerson is seen as being one of the first writers to develop a literary style that is uniquely American. "In Emerson's view, nature-the land itself- should be the source for articulating and developing a unique American cultural identity" (McQuade 482).

Emerson valued nature for the artistic and spiritual opportunities it offered. He believed that nature needed to be cherished for its beautiful qualities, not exploited for financial gain.

The Influence of Nature in Early Literature: Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was an American writer and naturalist. He is best known for his book, Walden, which is the story of Thoreau’s experiences in a cabin he built near Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts. In 1845, Thoreau embarked on a two-year experiment; he moved to a small house in the woods surrounding a place called Walden Pond. Walden is considered part social experiment and part personal spiritual discovery; it is the story of how Thoreau went to “live in the woods”. Thoreau searched for deeper meanings in nature, more than pure beauty, he was looking for spiritual discovery, "My profession is to be always on the alert to find God in nature" (Homan 25).

"The woods were an escape from social corruption, or, more to the point, people" (Weiner 65). 

Walden was written during the middle 19^th century, during the Industrial Revolution. "At roughly the time that Thoreau went to Walden, some 60 percent of the New England landscape had been converted from forest into open woods" (Weiner 53). Through this work, Thoreau was attempting to get society to re-connect with nature and break away from our busy way of living Thoreau went to Walden Pond for a few reasons: he wanted to isolate himself from society so he could gain a more objective understanding of it, and he wanted to be self-sufficient and live in a simpler way; this was inspired by the Transcendentalism philosophy. His intention was to experiment: to live in drastically reduced conditions. Walden emphasized the importance of solitude, contemplation, and closeness to nature; Thoreau aimed to teach a moral lesson through his work.

Thoreau did not fully embrace nature; he did not completely disregard civilization. He was not fully secluded from society during his time at Walden, he frequently received visitors. Also, he cabin was not in the middle of the woods, it was only about two miles from his house.

"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hinderances to the elevation of mankind" (McQuade 608)

Like Emerson, Thoreau believed that humans and nature must co-exist. "The issue was balance, when we save nature, he thought, we save ourselves" (Weiner 11).  Walden was a place to dwell and to find oneself. Thoreau was a naturalist, and he understood that the way to understand our lives and their meanings, we must understand the world we live in. "Thoreau believed that each individual must forge a life in harmony with nature- his or her own individual "Walden"- that would lead to self-growth and personal fulfillment" (Weiner 30).

The Influence of Nature in Early Literature: John Burroughs

John Burroughs was an American naturalist and essayist who was important in the evolution of the U.S. conservation movement.

Burroughs read Emerson and he became a lifelong influence of Burroughs’ focus of nature and its effect on the spirit. Like Emerson, Burroughs believed that nature was a gateway for a higher meaning. He wrote about nature simply because it was beautiful and it caused him pleasure, and saw nature as something to be observed and reported on. Burroughs wanted to record his own unique perceptions of the natural world.

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order”.

He is best know for his observations on birds, flowers, and rural scenes, but he does have a wide variety of topics such as religion and philosophy. Burroughs left a profound legacy, there are eleven schools named after him!

The Influence of Nature in Early Literature: Works Cited

Books:

Fender, Stephen. Henry David Thoreau: Walden. New York: Oxford University Press,     

        1997.

Homan, Tim. A Yearning toward Wildness: Environmental Quotations from       

         The writings of Henry David Thoreau. Georgia: Peachtree Publishers,

         1991.

McQuade, Donald. American Literature: Third Edition. New York: Harper
           Collins Publishers Inc., 1991

Robinson, David M. The Spiritual Emerson: Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo       

           Emerson. Massachusetts: Beacon Press, 2003.

Weiner, Gary. Social Issues in Literature: The Environment in Henry David

        Thoreau’s Walden. Michigan: Greenhaven Press, 2010.