Essay Sample on Romanticism in Literature

Romanticism and transcendentalism were big aspects of American Gothic literature. They focus on themselves and exclusion. They also focus on ideas that might be looked down upon in modern society. Romantic writers support ideas outside of society like leaving civilization to go towards nature, which I agree with, not to look at the past, which I disagree with, and hate the idea of the industrial revolutions, which I also have mixed opinions about.

I disagree with the idea that people shouldn’t follow history, tradition, culture, and society because looking back at the past leads to a better future. Walt Whitman says, “The past and present wilt--I have fill’d them, emptied them, / And proceed to fill my next fold of the future” (Whitman 137-138). Whitman focuses so completely on the future that he doesn’t even care about the past or present. I agree with his point because it is important to look at the past and present in order to learn from our mistakes and correct them and look at our successes and repeat them. Like Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson states:

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do…. Else, if you would be a man, speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. (Emerson 595)

presents the idea that you shouldn’t hold back on the past and . I disagree with his idea because history helps man to a better future. We learn from our mistakes and correct them and look at our successes and make them even better. Another quote says,  “There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion” (Emerson 591). Emerson explains  that education becomes the same for everyone. I disagree with his point because everyone learns differently like I like to learn with visuals and audio.

I agree with the idea of leaving the city to enter nature in order to benefit your life. Henry Thoreau wrote in Walden, “I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary” (Thoreau 771). Thoreau is saying that his personal experience going out into the woods benefited him since he asked so many questions to himself about the true meaning of life. I agree with his point because asking questions is an essential part of life which can help people gain knowledge. On the other hand, Whitman wrote in “Song of Myself” more about his direct experience with nature: “I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain’d, / I stand and look at them long and long” (Whitman 102-103). Whitman is saying that he enjoys being with animals since they are a part of nature and are unique. I agree with his idea because animals are free out in nature, which is better than being inside. Whitman has the same idea about the connection to animals and how they make him feel. I’ll occasionally go outside and look at animals and dream of being one of those animals. Sometimes I want to crawl up the walls like a spider or fly like a bird. However, even though being out in nature can be great, there is a point where you must return back to society because that is where you belong. Nature is simply a tool to help teach valuable lessons.Thoreau explains, “I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one. It is remarkable how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves” (Thoreau 775). Thoreau claims that going out into nature can help you find yourself. I agree with his point because occasionally when I’m home, I’ll go outside and wonder what I should do and who am I? Nature really makes you think about life choices, and when you are outside, you feel a lot more free than inside.

Romantic writers are anti-industrialists, which I view as having mixed opinions. Emerson states, “The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet. He is supported on crutches, but loses so much support of muscle” (Emerson 598). Emerson believes society relies too much on technology, which causes a loss of self-reliance. The coach is society itself and the feet represent self-reliance of the people. I agree with Emerson in this quote because we as people have relied on new technology to help in our everyday lives. For example, when the iPhone was invented, society changed forever. We in 2021 rely on devices like iPhones to learn, play games, and watch shows and movies. This has made people lazy since we use iPhones and other devices as a crutch to help us out on tasks that take effort for people. However I don’t like his opinion when Emerson explains, “Galileo, with an opera-glass, discovered a more splendid series of facts than anyone since” (Emerson 599). Emerson is saying that once Galileo used his opera-glass, nothing else interesting has been invented to a higher potential. I disagree with Emerson’s idea because society has advanced over the years and new things are being discovered and invented. Modern day people look at people in the past and their discoveries and then make something new and better out of it. Emerson also explains, “A man is relieved and gay when he puts his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace” (Emerson 591). Emerson’s idea is important because it explains that a man can feel accomplished when he actually puts his heart and soul into something instead of using aid to help him. For example, when I was ten years old, I officially hit a point in my life where I liked money, so I thought to myself how I should earn more money. I asked my parents for money but said I had to make it myself. If you don’t rely on technology to do everything for you, but instead put in the hard work, then you will feel accomplished. While I don’t agree with all of Emerson’s ideas of his view on technology, he makes a good point about having to work hard in order to feel successful and achieved. 

Romantic Writers have unique ideas in literature. They think that you should avoid the past, which isn’t even close to true, hate the industrial revolution, which has its pros and cons, and believe in leaving society to go into nature which is beneficial to an individual.