McKenna 1

Ian McKenna

Emily Goldkind

English II Honors

14 February 2017

Transcendentalism

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen, a quote from

Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson can be summarized as the founder and leader of the American

social and religious movement of Transcendentalism. That is, the belief that truth exists beyond,

or [transcends], proof and in other words, a belief of intuition (Loveland, Hively, & Russell par.

2). A fascinating ideology passed on that good old gut feeling, an organic universe, and the

divinity of human beings, Transcendentalism and its followers would spread their influence

across the world.

To start with, Transcendentalisms story begins with a man named Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson ancestry consisted of several generations of ministers, and so, unsurprising, he became

the pastorate of the Church of Boston in 1829 (Robinson par. 5). He began to read extensively

into the works of greek philosophers and European romantics, and developed the idea of a god

within. His readings would ultimately also introduce him to the idea of intuition and the concept

of an organic universe. Along with his skepticism of Jesus being a supernatural being rather than

a teacher, Emerson decided to break away from his pulpit in 1832 (Robinson par. 6). As a result,

Emerson became a lecturer and essayist, and in 1836, would publish Nature, his first article

displaying the Transcendentalist philosophy. He then would attract a small group of ex-ministers

and intellectuals to form the Transcendental Club in Boston later that year. This group would

discuss new ideas and concepts including romantic literature (romanticism not romance)
 McKenna 2

German idealist metaphysics, and Asian religion [were] important [hallmarks] (Robinson par.

9). Emerson and the Transcendental Club would go on to spread the ideas of

Transcendentalism and would influence important events in history.

Eventually, the teachings of the early Transcendentalist would inspire people around the

world. Henry David Thoreau, a Transcendentalist writer, would go on to write passages about his

stance on passive resistance, which would be indoctrinated by social reformers Martin Luther

King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi (Lovell, Hively, & Russell par. 10). Another example was

Margaret Fuller. This woman would go on to help Giuseppe Mazzini in his unification revolution

in Italy. Italy would then become a player in both world wars. So as you can see,

Transcendentalists would have an affect on the world

At any rate, we will now discuss the role Transcendentalism has in Paulo Coelhos The

Alchemist. This novel contains many examples, but first we will talk about the Coelhos idea of a

Personal Legend. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is

(Coelho 23). This direct quote is a perfect example of the Transcendental belief of intuition. We

know early on what were meant to achieve with our lives, whether its clearly known may be

another story, but mostly, we have a fair idea. And what connects this to Transcendentalism is the

fact that a person knows their Personal Legend not because they were told that is what is, but the

very feeling of content and longing we have for it. Another example is when Santiago is

discussing the Emerald Tablet with the Alchemist. The Alchemist is the middle of saying that

Santiago does not even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is contemplate a simple

grain of sand, and [he] will see in it all the marvels of creation (Coelho 131). This goes with the

Transcendental idea of an organic universe. Everything in an organic universe is essentially

one, and so, this part of the book gives a specific example of this concept because something
 McKenna 3

as simple as a grain of sand can explain all of creation. This could only be a feat possible if there

were an organic universe, because how else could learn such information from just one thing?.

That is right, the grain of sand is essentially one with the rest of the universe. And one final

example is the concepts of the Language of the World and Soul of the World. These concepts

also go along with the idea of an organic universe because they connect all of creation. The

Language of the World is the unspoken language in which all of creation understands each other,

from the smallest grain of sand to the tallest mountain. It can also be tied into the belief of

intuition because it is something that all things know without learning, they just know. The Soul

of the World is quite literally the thing all was created from and connected to. And therefore, it is

what makes us all one because are all connected by it. The Alchemist not only mentions

Transcendentalistic in content, but is quite literally the definition of Transcendentalism.

Transcendentalism is an interesting philosophy that draws on its ideas from many other

philosophies and teachings. And that is what makes it so interesting, the fact that it is able to

draw on from so many ideas. But this philosophy is not just a mesh of ideas, no, it is lifestyle that

teaches you to trust in your instincts and to respect the world around you. And therefore, it is my

personal opinion that Transcendentalism is one of the most inspiring beliefs I have yet to learn.

Works Cited

Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2002. Print.

Loveland, Hively, & Russell. Transcendental Movement in New England. Salem Press
 McKenna 4

Encyclopedia, January, 2015. Web.

Robinson, David. Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History. Ed. Mary

Kupiec Cayton and Peter W. Williams. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 2001.

From Student Resources in Context.