Emerson

3 Pages 720 Words

Born May, 25, Ralph Waldo Emerson came from a long line of merchants on his mother’s side and preachers on his father’s side. It is possibly this unique conglomeration of life experiences that lead Emerson to be possibly one of the greatest and most influential essayists and thinkers of all time. Emerson was taught at a very young age not to be dependent on others (a corner stone in his transcendental beliefs) but rather to believe in himself. His grandfather once said, “I pray every night that none of my descendants might ever be rich.” As a boy, Emerson was serious and some what withdrawn from the world of play. He did not interact with other children with the exception of his three brothers who were all very close. Emerson’s first experience with a teacher like figure was his aunt, Mary Moody. She said he was born to be educated. Mary always expressed her greatest joy that Ralph would be a scholar or orator of some kind. Emerson credits Mary with being able to stimulate his!
intelligence in that direction. Ralph Waldo Emerson was always placed in the best scholastic environment available to him, which is ironic because later Emerson says education comes from personal experience rather than what a text book says. After several independent private schools and college prepatory schools, Emerson entered Harvard. Emerson later says of Harvard, “ It has done little for me on the whole.” If this is true at least Harvard is where he says his, “...mind commenced its characteristic and beautiful activity.” Over the years Emerson became interested in the church and eventually enrolled in divinity school. In 1829 Emerson married seventeen year old Ellen Tucker, however seven months later, she died of “consumption.” With Ellen’s death, Emerson’s and most tender and loving relationship was lost. It is possible that this tragedy was a mitigating factor in Emerson’s satirical summation of humanity. A year later with the...