Emerson and Whitman: Ignited by Nature, Driven by Individual Expression

Emerson and Whitman: Ignited by Nature, Driven by Individual Expression

By examining a collection of such works as Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself' and Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature," we are given a better appreciation for the Transcendentalist view of creativity. For these two iconic American theorists, inspiration is found in the natural realm—where life is at its purest— and is expressed most truly by each individual being who experiences Nature's wonder. In a symbiotic communion with Nature, one may better absorb the brilliance of the Divine in all beings and thereby discover Truth. This paper will explore the ways in which Emerson and Whitman view creativity and creation by examining their philosophies on the inter-relatedness of all things, the beauty of simplicity, and the irrefutable link between Man, Nature, and Divinity.