Ralph Waldo Emerson And Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson, a respected philosopher emerged in the late 1830's as the most influential spokesman for American literary nationalism. (Prentice Hall, 273) As the leading light of the Transcendentalism movement, an American offshoot of Romanticism, "Self-Reliance" by Emerson seemed tame and innocent, however it constitutes "uncivilized free and wild thinking" by focusing all one's attention towards human spirit and discovering that human spirit is reflected in nature. Throughout "Self-Reliance", Emerson …showed first 75 words of 834 total…

…showed last 75 words of 834 total…Emerson looks towards nature for answers. There is an assumption that God, church, and religion are not important when following one's heart. "Self-Reliance" advocates individuality and informing the reader that society keeps us from suppressing our desires, so one should live life as they wish. The central theme of "Self-Reliance", is to be successful, one has to be unique and misunderstood by others to shape life as their dream. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** Prentice Hall English Book