The theme of Europe in one of Emerson’s essays Ralph Waldo Emerson was a leader of transcendentalism, a group of new ideas in literature, philosophy and religion emerged in America in the middle of 19th century. But what were those ideas and what united the writers, poets and philosophers together so that they called themselves with that name – Transcendentalists? The answer is that all those people tried to overcome the current situation in the literary society and believed that it was possible to create a particular American model of literature, completely different from anything that was written in European countries. In 1836 Emerson wrote a remarkable book Nature, in which he described his beliefs and explained the philosophy of transcendentalism. The book became famous and as a result in 1837 Emerson was invited to give a speech to the Phi Beta Kappa Society in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The speech was given to an honorary society of male college students with unusually high grade point averages. The speech was published under the title The American Scholar and included into the collection of Emersons Essays.
Emersons conviction was that, even after 60 years after declaring independence, the American culture was still very influenced by Europe. Almost all through the speech he uses Europe as an example of an old type of culture that interfers into American reality and prevents young americans from studying using their own intelligence and finding their creative inspirations in the unique source – America. From the very beginning of the speech readers can feel the differences between America and Europe that the author wants to underline: We do not meet for games of strength or skill, for the recitation of histories, tragedies, and odes, like the ancient Greeks; for parliaments of love and poesy, like the Troubadours; nor for the advancement of science, like our cotemporaries in the British and European capitals. He proclaims a theme that draws the entire essay together: the conception of a new American society that will no longer depend on its connection to Europe in the past. The writer considers the mind of the Past in the form of literature, art, institutions or any other, to be one of the great influences into the spirit of the scholar. According to him, books are the best type of the influence of the past.
The Essay on American Sniper Speech
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the controversy dealing with the movie American Sniper. Thesis Statement: The film American Sniper has sparked national debate over America’s role in Iraq and impact of a sniper whom some say is a killer and a liar. Introduction: A. Clint Eastwood’s box office breaking film American Sniper is about the life of the most legal sniper in US history, Chris ...
The solution that Emerson proposes for people looks like this: Each age, it is found, must write its own books; or rather, each generation for the next succeeding. The books of an older period will not fit this. Meek young men grow up in libraries, believing it their duty to accept the views, which Cicero, which Locke, which Bacon, have given, forgetful that Cicero, Locke, and Bacon were only young men in libraries, when they wrote these books. Here, the author turns to European philosophers in order to bring them into comparison with modern scholars. Emerson believes that the young Americans must write their own books which would be a result only of their own talent, the most precious thing for society. As the wise men of the Past wrote their thoughts without consulting with other books, the young scholars could be more productive if they didnt let themselves become influenced by respectful thinkers. But the genius, too, can suffer from the escessive influence of books. Emersons example of this kind of sufferer are the English dramatic poets, who, he says, have been Shakespearized for two hundred years.
Instead of producing new, original texts and thoughts, they imitate Shakespeares writings. At the same time, Emerson says that he never underestimated the written word. Reading is a unique pleasure with lots of benefits, if it is provided correctly. The author admits that the contribution of ancient European poets and philosophers to the worlds culture is enormous and has a great value, but young people should read their works critically and maintain their (young peoples) individuality and genuine thoughts. As a supporter of new trends in literature, Emerson accepts warmly the works that found inspiration and nobility in the lives and work of common people. The authour says: The literature of the poor, the feelings of the child, the philosophy of the street, the meaning of household life, are the topics of the time. This idea has inspired the genius of Goldsmith, Burns, Cowper, and, in a newer time, of Goethe, Wordsworth, and Carlyle. Emerson applauses to all those writers, in spite of the fact that they are English, Scottish or German, because in his opinion they created a new style in literature, they proved that common peoples life could be as interesting as any other subject.
The Essay on The Lost Ones 8211 Young Chinese Americans
The Lost Ones – Young Chinese Americans Due to harsh immigration laws, in American history, Chinese have often relied on illegal means of entering the United States. For example, in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act (Chinese Exclusion Act, Documents on Anti-Chinese Immigration Policy.) was passed, the first and only act that restricted immigration from one particular ethnicity. This act ...
Emerson distinguishes a European tradition that celebrates the lives of common people, and one that celebrates the monarchical rule of nations. In the end of his speech Emerson says: We have listened too long to the courtly muses of Europe. This is a one of the key phrases in his essay. The old Europe for Emerson is in the majority of cases a stumbling block for the progress of the American society. The American Scholars main concept is that young people have to see the world clearly, not severely influenced by traditional historical views, and to broaden the understanding of the world with fresh eyes. Emerson wished scholars to be independent, courageous, original but not purveyors of the pasts wisdom, the embodiment of which was Europe. However, his attitude towards Europe is dual. From one side it is a mine of wisdom and information, but from the other side Europe as Americas ancestor is a sheet covering the real American culture.
Emerson is calling for throwing this sheet away in order to liberate the free spirit of Americans, but at the same time he admires some European authors, his contemporaries or near predecessors. The attitude of Ralph Waldo Emerson towards Europe was rather logical for the epoch he belonged to. After the years that America had lived under the pressure of Europe there came the moment when the intellects of the age became more active in diffusing the ideas of liberation for the American culture. We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds, – these are the words of Emerson in the end of the speech, and it is clear that the sense he puts in it is in rebellion against the influence of Europe..
The Essay on The American Scholar
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American Scholar is one whose individual character is split. The Emersonian character is made up of many different parts, therefore influenced by several aspects of everyday life. As Emerson states, Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier. In the divided or social state, these functions are parceled out to individuals, each of whom ...
