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Poetry Paper III
Introduction
Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the popular American poet and philosopher and essayist. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on 25 May 1803. He entered in ministry after studying and teaching for a short time. He was appointed at Old School Church in his native city. Soon he put his resign as he was not willing to preach after the death of his wife who died at the young age of nineteen years. Emerson was famous for writing poetic prose and essays based on the themes and recurring images. It believes that he was a transcendentalist writer who laid the foundation of this transcendentalism movement. According to this movement, institutes and societies are responsible for corrupting the purity of an individual, especially political parties and organized religion limits people for not showing their real side. People are at their best when they are independent.
Discussion
His writings were mainly based on themes of nature world, abolitionism, spiritualism and there is a list of people who are inspired and influenced by his writings. One of his followers was Walt Whitman. Whitman is an American poet who used to celebrate democracy, love, friendship, and love. He was an admirer of Emmerson and there could be seen impacts of Emmerson's "Self-Reliance". Self-reliance highlights that society cast great impacts on the personal development of an individual. Emmerson believes that if a person wants to discover his/her true self or identity self-sufficiency (Bromwich,et,al,2018). He divided self-reliance into three parts and sections. First deals with self-reliance, second deals with self-reliance.
This essay of Emmerson influences the writing style of many writers and specially Emmerson's writings cast its effects on the mindset and works of those who are supporters of transcendentalism movement. There have been witnessed effects of self-reliance as Walt Whitman's ideas closely related to the themes and ideology of Ralph Waldo Emmerson. Taking a look at Walt Whitman's writings it could be seen that his working style is greatly based on the themes that have been highly in Emmerson's work.
Taking a look at the research work of various experts and analysts is has been seen that there is a close relation between themes, ideas, mindset and conception of how a society influence growth and personality development of an individual. Experts claim that Whitman's Leaves of Grass is the total embodiment of Emmerson's essay on self-reliance. Taking a detailed analysis of Whitman's work, it could be said that it is a perfect example of what has been discussed in Emmerson's self-Reliance. Both the writers Whitman and Ralph were considered to be quintessential writers. Impact of Emmerson's self-reliance could be visible the writings of Whitman as they both shared common thoughts and statements. Though, it has been witnessed that both of these writers used different tactics for giving the common points and view through their work. Emmerson's given work was based on the idea that freedom and independence both let a person be what he/she is.
Reflection of unimaginative and oppressive expression of Emmerson has been could be found in the writing expression of Whitman. Emmerson in Self-reliance gives the message of individuality and non-conformity and the same things have been noticed in Whitman's writing as also believes that man has the ability to find himself. A critical analysis of Emmerson's self-reliance reveals that Whitman has used a different approach in his writings for self-discovery and both used various solutions that are parallel.
Walt Whitman's writings greatly shaped up by work of Emmerson i.e. "Self-reliance" depict that commonality of the idea that external environment, society, and traditions are responsible for the downfall of man. Impact of self-reliance could be witnessed in the work of Walt Whiteman. Particularly his poetry shows a glimpse of Emmerson's ideology. The similarity in Self-reliance and "Song of Myself" shows that one must try to find truth and wisdom and should not adjust him/her as per the laws of society (Roemer,et,al,2018). According to the work of both writers (Emmerson and Whitman) purity of people is being impure by the teaching and restrictions of society and religion. Whitman's poetry shows obvious evidence that he is inspired or convinced with the ideas and thoughts being presented in self-reliance. In self-reliance, man is encouraged to live an independent life.
Taking a look at the researches, it could be said that Ralph Waldo Emerson found Walt Whitman as his poet. His writings had great impacts on the poetry of Whitman as the same ideology could be found as the common element in the work of both the clients. Another famous essay "The Poet" was published by Emerson in 1844. In this essay, he has defined some of the characteristics and ideas that an ideal American should have. The Poet had a strong impact on modern poetry and particularly on the poetry of Whitman. "The Poet" is not about the men who got great poetic talent but it is about a true poet. For Emerson, a true poet is the one is half himself and another half of him consists of his expressions. it has been analyzed that this essay "The Poet" has played an instrumental role in the poetry of Whitman, especially influence of this essay could be witnessed in his first edition of a collection of poems, "Leaves of Grass". Being someone who just wanted to have independence so that the world sees his true colors, Emerson in his essays used to highlights the characteristics that makes one stand.
Whitman in most of his poetry talks about nature, purity and interdependence of both spiritual and material world. Impact of Emerson's this essay could be viewed by analyzing Whitman's poetry as the main themes of this essay could be found as his basic belief, that are mostly highlighted in most of his works. In "The Poet" Emerson emphasize on the idea that a true poet is much closer to nature than the ordinary man. Similarly, the same thing has been explored by Whitman in most of his literary work as he claims, nature has many secrets and those could be exposed by someone who is free from the restriction of the society. By following the footsteps of Emerson, he also claims that purity of nature could be understood and explained by a true poet as only purity of soul could take one to the depth and secrets of nature.
Taking in account, historical facts, it has been witnessed that Whitman wrote a letter to Emerson after reading his essay "The Poet" in which Whitman claimed that he is the poet that Emerson in his essay has talked about. Whitman believed that he is the poet that Emerson imagines. Whitman is one of the most influential poets and is considered to be the poet who has the capability to embody the essence of the country in his poetry. He believes, he is the poet that could give poetic identity to America and this shows the influence of Emerson's "The Poet" on Whitman as it defined as one of the quality of an ideal poet. According to the analysis of many researchers, it could be said that Whitman's claim of being Emerson's poet is justified as he fulfills the criteria being given by Emerson of an ideal poet. According to the critical analysis being done Emerson's essay "The Poet" reveals the fact that an ideal poet keeps in consideration that a common man is the poet who represents the whole humanity and the ability of Whitman of encompassing all the humanity in his poetry supports the evidence of the impact of this essay.
Another aspect of Whitman's poetry that shows the impact of Emerson's "The Poet" on his works is that Whitman believes in the accurate picturing of the country and countrymen. He portrays the reality of people whether they are good or bad, Whitman like Emerson's "The Poet" claims that one could portray reality only when he/she is not forced by society to act as per a certain framework. Impact of "The Poet" could be examined on the poetry of Whitman by taking into account efforts of Whitman, how he relates the human curiosity that enables him to interpret or successfully articulate human desires to know what is hidden. One of the common aspects that could be analyzed in "The Poet" and Whitman's poetry is that both these literary pieces emphasize that only a free person can enjoy his life at its fullest.
Walt Whitman was one of the few poets who were able to take the spark of Emerson's ideas. It won't be wrong to say that Whitman nurtured and supported Emerson's ideas until they grew and spark into a huge flame, something original and surprising. Emerson's ideas and works i.e. "Nature" shape and support ideas of Whitman. From the historic analysis, shreds of evidence show that Whitman did not learn from Emerson but his poetry shows that he took and expanded Emerson's ideas into something more encompassing.
"Nature" is an influential essay in which Emerson claims that a man can only experience the beauty of nature when he is in isolation. A person needs to be in solitude for realizing the worth of nature. There could be witnessed a great impact of this essay on the poetry of Whitman as being a transcendentalist he was convinced of the ideas that restrictions being imposed on humans by the organized religion and the society limits their thoughts and actions. In-depth analysis of Emerson's "Nature" claims that by nature man is free and he could go in-depth of nature when society allows someone to look around without bounding him/her in the cage that limits his/her freedom of looking at things more broadly. Walt Whitman considers himself, an ideal American poet being described by Emerson, in his poetry he takes the position of a man who is living within this society and the natural world.
Taking a look at the poetry of Whitman, it won't be wrong to say that he wrote under the influence of idea being presented by Emerson's "Nature". Whitman in his writings present and highlight both the impression and separation of the person in nature as his central ideas. "Nature" emphasized that being a part of this society, a man never appreciates nature rather he/she takes it for grant and this attitude is being developed in him/her by the society in which he/she lives.
The commonality of the themes and the similarity between the ideas being given by both Emerson and Whitman are proof of the impact of Emerson's Nature" on Whitman's poetry. One of the strongest pieces of evidence of the impact of Emerson's Nature" on the poetry of Whitman could be seen by analyzing the theme and idea upon which both the writers agreed upon (Shaddock,et,al,2019). The individual self is the only thing that could be used for experiencing the purity of nature. "Nature" talks about being yourself so that without taking into consideration other's viewpoint one could do or think what he/she wants.
A man who wants to have the glimpse of true nature needs to understand and recognize himself for revealing the secrets of nature. Details of every day, could be analyzed by those only who are still in the pure state and are not being spoiled by the social and political institutions that just want people to walk on the ways being paved by them. Likewise, religion and traditions also restrict one to not look out of the box, so it could be said that the idea and importance that has been highlighted in the "Nature" by Emerson is second and supported by Whitman in most of the literary work.
Conclusion
So, taking in account all the above-mentioned details and analysis of essays and poetry both Emerson and Whitman, it could be claimed that the impact of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays particularly "Self-Reliance”, “Nature" and "The Poet" is a clear representation of impacts of Emerson's work on the poetry of Walt Whitman. Another important thing that should be taken in consideration for understanding the impact of Emerson's essay on Whitman's poetry is that they both are the supporters of the transcendentalist movement that claims, organized religion and the society both are responsible for keeping the thoughts of people in restriction, so that they could not see reality and just follow what society and institutions wants them to see.
Work Cited
Bromwich, David. "Whitman's Assumptions:" Song of Myself," in Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman." Social Research: An International Quarterly 85.3 (2018): 503-519.
Roemer, Kenneth Morrison. "Whitman's Song Sung the Navajo Way." Transmotion 4.1 (2018): 25-39.
Shaddock, David. "A UNIVERSE BETWEEN MY HAT AND BOOTS: WHITMAN'S SELF AS A MODEL FOR EMPATHIC CONNECTION." Psychoanalysis, Self and Context 14.3 (2019): 323-333.
Works Cited
