Ralph Waldo Emerson became one of the greatest American scholars, poets, and philosophers of the period and is best known for his essay on nature, science, and religion. Besides his naturalist work, he also published literary works on nature and religion and founded the Emerson brothers’ Institute, at Harvard. As a writer, he is best known for his essays “Self Reliance” (1841), “Nature” (1849), and” The Conduct of Life” (1870).
One of the greatest scholars in American history
Ralph is one of the greatest scholars in American history. He is known as the “American Scholar.” And yet, one must ask; what is the meaning of being called the “American Scholar?”
Some consider that the title is justified since this man achieved great success in areas of his thinking, from philosophy to poetry to religion and from politics to natural studies. Others say it was his influence that brought about the popularity of his views, as he was widely read and widely regarded as one of the greatest American transcendentalists of all time. But some others, after reading “Self Reliance,” feel that it is his prose that stands out the most in his books.
So, who is Ralph Waldo Emerson anyway?
Ralph Waldo Emerson co-authored over forty articles with another famous American essayist, Henry David Thoreau. He had a very large collection of essays and poems that are still being published today.
But perhaps what stands out in Emerson’s collection of great works of art is his mastery of the English language. For nearly two centuries, he has been able to use simple and yet deep English to communicate his thoughts and ideas to his readers. When one reads his words, you immediately understand what he is trying to say by how he has put it down on paper. It is not an easy task to translate the way that our minds work into words.
Influence the development of the world
To sum it up, the man known as Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the greatest writers in the history of America. To this day, he is best known for his essays, which have stood the test of time for their ability to capture the essence and soul of the people and places they are taken from. With these words, he has achieved more for the American than any other single person has ever done. If only there were a list of all the great writers that have influenced the development of the world, maybe a plaque for Ralph Waldo Emerson would be deserved.
You may be asking yourself, “Why should I read what Ralph Waldo Emerson has to say?” The simple answer to that question is simply, “Because you can.” Whether you are in school or your home just sitting and staring at the TV, you can benefit from having some quality literature to read during your free time. If you have never heard of him, take a minute to do so. You will soon find out, you too can understand what his words mean.