The Plainness of Puritanism vs. the Individuality of Transcendentalism The two most prominent groups in American history, Puritanism and transcendentalism

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Jonathan Schneider

Honors American Literature

Period 9

Mrs. Frazier

November 8, 2005

The Plainness of Puritanism vs. the Individuality of Transcendentalism

The two most prominent groups in American history, Puritanism and transcendentalism, differ in numerous ways such as their views on nature, fate, and conformity.  Puritanism was wide spread in the 1600’s whereas transcendentalism was more popular in the 1700’s. The Puritans were a religious reorganization faction who wanted to reshape society according to their beliefs.  Puritanism is based on three basic beliefs that include grace, plainness, and the divine mission.  On the other hand Transcendentalism was a literary and philosophical movement. Asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific knowledge that is knolegable through intuition.  Puritanism and transcendentalism differ in nature, fate, and conformity.

One reason Puritanism and Transcendentalism are different is their view on nature.  Puritans scolded nature and the forest.  It was the dwelling of the imp and none ought to enter it.  Those who did were accused of bonding with the devil.  In the Crucible Reverend Parris accuses Abigail of being in the woods, “Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time.  But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” (Miller 22)  In this passage the Puritans reacted when one is wondering about the forest.  However, the transcendentalist’s view of nature was quite the opposite; it was a symbol of the heavenly spirit.  God is distinctive in both humans and nature.  Therefore, humans could gain access to what the divine is by seeing intuition through nature.  Making references to unambiguous things in the environment, which can be seen in Ralph Emerson poem, “Each and All”:

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Over me soured the eternal sky,
Full of light and of deity;
Again I saw, again I heard,
The rolling river, the morning bird;--
Beauty through my senses stole;
I yielded myself to the perfect whole.
(Each 96)

In this poem Emerson sees God in the light of the sky and everything he looked else.  The beauty he sees is breathtaking and everlasting.   For these reasons, Puritanism and Transcendentalism philosophy on nature are completely diverse.

Furthermore, Puritanist and Transcendentalist outlook on fate diverge immensely.  Puritans believed in predestination, the idea that every human had a role in life.  Their conduit ...

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