Transcendental Figures

Since its foundation in the 1800s, the Transcendental way of life has produced many important players. However, the two most prominent Transcendentals have proven to be Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Ralph Waldo Emerson brought the Transcendental movement to life in 1836 with his first essay, Nature, followed shortly by The American Scholar in 1837.Emerson published 500 copies of this collection of essays which sold out in a month. Emerson encouraged Americans to create a writing style that was independent from Europe. This declaration supported the Transcendental tenet of non-conformity. Emerson published his own journals and other Transcendental pieces like Self Reliance that encouraged the movement to blossom. In his literary works, Emerson takes a philosphical standpoint on Transcendentalism. He lays down the main tenets of the movement and offersw a guide to those who seek wisdom and happiness.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Born in Concord, Massachusetts, Thoreau grew up surrounded by nature and its beauty. He took his love for the earth and translated it into his Transcendentalist works. His book Walden documented a simple life separate from society. Thoreau posessed a stricter viewpoint when it came to Transcendentalism which he presented in his essay Civil Disobedience. Thoreau did not believe in violence; however, he believed that people should not simply accept the corruption and injustice of society in America. He encouraged people not only to refuse to pay their taxes and take part in other federal mandates, but do it all peacefully. Other leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohondas Gandhi followed Thoreau's example of peaceful protest. Thoreau, an admirer of Emerson's work, worked with him to spread the values of Transcendentalism.