Ralph Waldo Emerson, born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1803, was extremely intelligent for his age. Seven of Emerson’s predecessors were ministers and preachers including his father William Emerson who was minister of the First Church of Boston. Ralph Waldo Emerson was almost forced into being a minister. He entered Harvard University at the young age of fourteen and graduated at eighteen. He then later completed his schooling and went to Harvard Divinity School. Soon after graduating he delivered few sermons and married Ellen Tucker who sadly died a year and a half later. In 1832, however, he resigned as a preacher due to personal doubts of religion. From thereafter the son of a preacher began to doubt religion and began to write some of his, now, most famous poems and essays such as Nature, Essays (both first and second), and Poems (Woodlief 1).

Emerson’s Nature was extremely controversial, receiving “extremes of praise and blame” (Myerson 5). In Nature he reminds the reader of the limitless power that the individual possesses. Nature emphasizes three of Emerson’s main ideas: the limitless power of the individual, the importance of nature to th

In Emerson’s books entitled Essays and Essays Second Series. In his collection, Emerson continues to stress the ideas he presented in Nature. The more famous of his essays were “Self Reliance,” “The American Scholar,” and “The Divinity School Address.” “Self Reliance” was said to be one of Emerson’s greatest statements. He expresses his views on life through several continuous metaphors, challenging the reader to comprehend each statement (Gerber). “The American Scholar” also a very popular essay among many, stressed the importance of “literary independence” throughout his work was said to be an “Intellectual declaration of Independence” (Myerson). On the other hand not all of Emerson’s essays were accepted such as his infamous “The Divinity School Address” which is said to be his most controversial essay of all, and was rejected by many. He recited this essay to the graduating class of Harvard’s Divinity School and in front of many famous Unitarian dignitaries, began to criticize organized religion, mainly Christianity. This essay was classified as, easily, his most shocking essay to date. His essays although very influential, began to divert people away from his literature. (Myerson)

“Introduction: The Rhodora.” Gale Research Online. Oct. 2001. 9 Feb 2003.

Perry, Bliss. “Criticism by Bliss Perry.” Gale Research Online. Oct. 2001. 5 F

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