Transcendentalism by Ralph W. Emerson

Essay from the year 2006 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Münster, language: English, abstract: Ralph Waldo Emerson lived from 1803 until 1882. In 1821, he graduated from Harvard. The death of his wife after being married for one and a half years and his professional failure as a Unitarian minister lead to a personal crisis. At this time of his life, Emerson traveled to Europe. Here, his conviction that God can be found within the human soul develops. At the same time, his interest in nature increases, as he feels a strong connection to it. After his return to the United States and his remarriage, Emerson became a lecturer, leading the life of a distinguished intellectual. He is not particularly interested in the abolitionist movement although he is opposed to slavery in theory. After the death of his brother, who was an active opponent of slavery, Emerson finally takes part in this discussion and speaks out against slavery.