Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s the 1800's and America, still in the making, is in the pursuit of its manifest destiny, stretching from sea to shining sea. Immigrants with religious background are becoming dispersed within the already socially diverse community. America is in the midst of a religious awakening, just in time to counteract the immorality in a time of uncertainty and confusion, as illustrated in Emerson’s 1827 journal entry Peculiarities of the present age. In this entry …

…a founder of the transcendentalist movement, he emphasized optimistic ways, and individuality. Breaking new ground as a writer and as a transcendentalist, while America was still under construction, Emerson offered guidance and reasoning in a time when many were confused by their rapidly rearranging surroundings. Ralph Waldo Emerson influenced the history of humanity and America, but his impact and contribution to American literature surpass his bestowal of guidance in a time of uncertainty and despair.