Ralph Waldo Emerson vs. Walt Whitman Essay

In their respective fields, some(prenominal) Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson were considered to be quintessential American writers. Their thoughts and statements regarding nonconformity and individuality were revolutionizing for the era that they haved. convey to them,similar thoughts and statements, are immediately much much mainstream and unexceptional.Although they used polar tactics to get their points across, their overlap opinions become evident.Both Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson believed strongly in originality and individualisedised expressionalthough the different tactics that they used to get their message across were nothing unforesightful of contrasting.In Emersons case, he was vehemently opposed to a society that he saw to be oppressive and unimaginative. Emerson was convinced that all of modern humanity culture was in collaboration to crush his uniqueness and subjugate him to a emotional state of a faceless cog. Society is in conspiracy against the human beings of every iodine of its members. (P. 153)Conversely, Whitman regarded the common man with much esteem and favoritism. In his epic poem, shout of Myself Whitman spoke of the working class with an unusual favoring and support of their ways and lifestyle. The fair weather falls on the crisply hair and mustache, falls on the drab of his polishd and perfect limbs, and I behold the picturesque behemoth and love him. (P.173) Whitman encouraged the reader to lead an original and unconfirmed life. He celebrated the common man and tells the reader to be happy with their life and social stature.These ideals might seem as if completely different, but the points that they punctuate to get across, are exactly the same. They are both stating that one should acquire its back on the complex structure that is society and rather live a simple (although by no means primitive or unoriginal) life, unconstrained by conforming and strict social customs or procedures.The tones of Emer sons poems and Whitmans turn out, were quite contrasting. Emersons essay seemed almost cold and apocalyptic contrasted to Whitmans comparatively beautiful and lift up poem. In Self Reliance, Emerson speaks of society with disgust and suspicion. He sees it all as a cruel masquerade that binds hapless souls to its iron will. Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on another. (P.152) In Song ofMyself, Whitman speaks in flourishes and silky verses. You sea I resign myself to you also I stake what you mean, I behold from the bound your crooked fingers. (P.180)Emersons essay was very philosophical and open to personal interpretation (A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds P. 144), tour Whitmans poem was more detailed and vividly sensual (The beards of the vernal men glistend with wet, it ran from their long hair, P. 173). Also notable, is the position that Whitman spoke to the reader about what he perceives and his personal opinions. (I guess it must be the flag of my disposition. P. 170),while Emerson spoke more about facts that he knew to be true, leaving it up the reader to agree or not. another(prenominal) sort of false prayers are our regrets. (P. 150)From this, it is obvious to see that their writing styles and personal tactics differed greatly when it came to persuading someone of a particular cause.Emerson and Whitman both strived for more originality in society. Whitman was dedicated to creating an authentic American conciseness through his writing, one that was not made up of cast off European procedures. Emerson was connected to freeing the minds and let loose the originality, which he saw society safekeeping back. Society is a joint stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his cabbage to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. (P.140)It is evident to see that both Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emersonstrongly felt the need to free, warn, or oth erwise inform society of their findings and opinions. Thanks to this sense of obligation and perspective liberty, we all now get to enjoy many other informative do-gooders like them, eager to advise and sack us in all aspects of life. Ironically, in their attempts to free us of the torture that is society, they have unleashed a quintessential component that makes their fear and opposition to this civilization too accurate indeed.That would be telemarketing.