Walden By Thoreau And Nature By Emerson

Essay, Research Paper

Transcendentalism is used frequently as main topics in the stories ?Nature?

and Walden. These two themes are heavily concentrated on though these two

stories are similar on the aspects of themes, though they differ on the thoughts

of civilization and governments. These two stories also differ in the realms of

creativity in the story. Walden was a story written by Thoreau, which is fairly

similar to the contrasting book ?Nature?. Emerson who uses his thoughts on

transcendentalism to play a key role in the story writes ?Nature?. Emerson

uses the themes of Nature and God to represent and reflect nature as

transcendentalism. Thoreau stresses the relationship with God and Nature at the

same time. The two themes are used at once to direct the story in the path that

the Thoreau wants it to lead. This is easily shown in the statement, ? In the

woods we return to reason and faith.? Both themes are quite similar though it

is said that Emerson is more creative and imaginative in his way of depicting

the short story as it progresses. The six characteristics of Transcendentalism

stand out in each one of these stories. Both of these stories concentrate on

writing about nature more than anything else. Emerson thought that God was a

personal matter and that the relationship between man and god can only be

embraced and made through man himself. The similarities are so stressed in these

articles it is difficult to see them as contrasting on the elements of themes.

Though the story written by Emerson seems to be more detailed, Thoreau talks

more of living closely with nature and becoming one with the elements around us

and, the utopia that can be created. Both authors use the six characteristics

wisely and their details help the reader identify with what is happening in the

story and to realize that both authors are Transcendentalists. Amazingly enough

the two authors depicted above are known as the two best Transcendentalists in

our history. They use all six of the characteristics with expertise and great

skill, their awesome skills paint a vivid picture for the reader of their

stories. The show us what we can learn from nature and all that it has to show

us about our future, and they do it in such a way that it inspires us to act.

Thus, Emerson and Thoreau are the two greatest transcendentalists authors in our

history.