Emerson 3

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different in general subject matter, both pieces contain very similar philosophies, applicable to many areas of life and society. The application of these philosophies from one work to the other, show not a taste of plagiarism, but rather act as a testament to the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the thoughts and ideas of Henry David Thoreau.
One recurring theme of this era of American literature was the idea of establishing independence for the United States from the historical ties to Europe. A cry went out for Americans to marvel in the wonders of their own backyard, rather than to look overseas to the previously dominant western European nations. Emerson was no exception to this movement and took time during his “The American Scholar” lecture to speak of the need for the present generation of Americans to establish their own history: “Each age, it is found, must write its own books; or rather, each generation for the next succeeding. The books of an older ...

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to choose our direction, because it does not yet exist distinctly in our idea.” As the American identity grows, so will American culture. Thoreau’s outlook is one of enthusiasm and anticipation though. He looks around him to see great things happening in all scopes of American life leading him to comment that: “these facts are symbolical of the height to which the philosophy and poetry and religion of her inhabitants may one day soar.” This isn’t to say that Thoreau does not pay homage to the traditions started overseas though, he simply sees the move from east to west as a progression: “From the East light, from the West fruit.” With ...

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