Often referred to as the principal writer of transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson united thousands of people in the 19th century to rediscover themselves through his literature. Among these, the young Henry David Thoreau, a native of New England, reflected Emerson's revolutionary ideas and at the same time brought new ideals. In their works “Nature” and “Where I Lived and What I Lived For,” the authors demonstrate similarities through the pursuit of individualism and independence through nature. However, the different roles of nature reveal the differences in the spiritual positions of the authors. Ultimately, the all-encompassing structure of Emerson's piece makes it the most effective treatment of self and nature. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayBoth Emerson and Thoreau use descriptive imagery and metaphors to capture the grandeur and significance of nature in the lives of their followers. For both authors, nature is synonymous with freedom, freedom being the escape from the frenetic pace of the industrializing world. Thoreau comments mockingly on the constant expansion of the railroads and the endless work and pain that comes with it. In fact, he believes that the innovations reveal that “[American society] is determined to starve before [they] are hungry” (Thoreau 3). Continuing this thought, Emerson believes that when he finds himself in “solitude” with the stars “no grace, no calamity” can ever befall him (7). Both authors live in the bustling industrial area of ​​the mid-19th century, but consciously remind their audiences of the true joys to be found in nature. Their language suggests that industrial America is moving too fast and that nature can bring inner peace as relief from an exhausting push. Nature accomplishes this as an escape and sanction from obligation, ultimately defining freedom. These ideas contrast sharply with traditional New England Puritan views, from which both authors hail, further establishing the progress of the Transcendentalist movement. Although Puritanism was “the central strand of American cultural life well into the twentieth century” (Delbanco), Romanticism inspired movements that define American culture today. Predestination dictated that humans were unconditionally “depraved sinners” (Heyrman) unless predestined by God. Emerson and Thoreau's messages directly juxtapose this in their embrace of nature, a former source of fear and evil, and in their need to see the whole picture and allow the individual to create their own destiny. Despite displaying similar themes, Emerson and Thoreau have spirituality and political differences, all underlying their back-to-nature message. Thoreau recognizes the artistic progress achieved in the Age of Enlightenment, however, he delights in the ability to “morally sculpt and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look” (Thoreau 2). Emerson's writings counter these ideas when he stands in nature with his head turned to the sky, noting that “the currents of Universal Being circulate through me” (Emerson 7). Thoreau sees nature as a tool that, when wielded, can allow one to take charge of one's existence. Emerson believes that with the help of nature individuals can see the world in a more omniscient vision. It may also be noted that Thoreau's vision is more radical than Emerson's, as Emerson still recognizes the vision of God as a higher guiding force, with nature merely assisting man in seeing this, 2016, 16.