The Philosophy of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism was a movement in philosophy, literature, and religion that emerged and was popular in the nineteenth century New England because of a need to redefine man and his place in the world in response to a new and changing society. The quote that most provoked thought and emotion from within me comes from the essay "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. "To be great is to be misunderstood" was used by Emerson to explain the lagging growth of the conception of ideas and thoughts of his generation. "Self-Reliance" expressed the need for creative thinking. Society during Emerson's era resisted reform and scorned the reformer. Emerson saw individualism in direct conflict with society. "The effect of society," he thought," was not to strengthen the individual, but to breed conformity and fear."

Margaret Fuller was the most successful and active feminist reformer out of all the transcendentalists. Margaret Fuller published "Women in the Nineteenth Century," a feminist book of demand for political equality and a plea for emotional, spiritual and intellectual fulfillment of women. According to her, women were to define themselves not in relation to men, but in relation to themselves and to God. In "Women in the Nineteenth Century" she wrote, "I would have woman lay aside all thought, such as she habitually cherishes, of being taught and led by men. I would have her, like the Indian girl, dedicate herself to the Sun, the Sun of Truth, and go no where if his beams did not clear the path." Fuller tried to enrich and dignify women's place in society. She knew that we would impact the world more than just in the home, but as well as the world abroad.