, a
Transcendentalist, felt that the self is an autonomous spirit which acts according to universal
moral laws. Located in all objects, this spiritual self develops from communion with nature. In
his essay , Emerson employs analytical reasoning as he points to
the heavenly state of nature whose existence is in conjunction with the spirit: As he explains
the reactions of people to nature, Emerson is forced to conclude that its power to delight does
not exist independently. Instead, he argues, "Nature always wears the colors of the
spirit." For the man who is happy, there is a delight in nature, but for the man who has
just lost a friend, the "sky is less grand."
Thus, with Emerson's
arguments, there is in Nature a recurring tension between emotion and
intellect. When he is more rational, Emerson denies that nature has a soul, but when
his emotion overwhelms him, he endows nature with a transcendence.
In his
essay , Emerson makes use of many figures of speech that compare abstract
ideas with ordinary things or events. For instance, he usesas he writes that
Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the
better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the
eater.
Emerson also makes other points through the use
of ; for example, he writes
This sculpture in the memory
is not without preestablished harmony. The eye was placed where one ray should fall that it
might testify of that particular ray.
He also
uses illustration. For example, when Emerson writes that "to be great is to be
misunderstood," he alludes to such greats as Pythagoras, Socrates, Luther, Copernicus,
Galileo, and Newton, who were all misunderstood.
Because most of Emerson's
essays contain all of his major ideas, they may sometimes seem to be without logical connection;
however, Emerson's central ideas are powerful and are always expressed succintly and with much
insight. In fact, critics remark upon Emerson's masterful command of common language.
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