Emerson's Metaphors

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In the early 19th century, the world and its inhabitants were revolutionizing in ideas and culture. These ideas developed into a group of Transcendentalists with Ralph Waldo Emerson manning the helm. Emerson is a man of many talents when it comes to expressing his ideas in his literary work. Primarily, aphorisms and metaphors produced by this transcendentalist are the driving forces behind his point of view as well as his main ideas. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s use of these aphorisms and metaphors express the idea of transcending above superficial thinking, structuring humanity where it would influence new generations for centuries to come. Spirituality, peace, and isolation all incorporated within Emerson’s character, set a firm foundation for…show more content…
These literary devices also persuade and invite the reader to cross the threshold to Emerson’s realm. In Emerson’s works, aphorisms and metaphors are the key components behind his hidden message. One of Emerson’s literary works known as “from Nature” contained many aphorisms and metaphors with the support of other literary devices to describe how people should look towards nature. Emerson’s famous statement of becoming “a transparent eyeball” (242), is a prominent metaphor that shows the power of nature’s influence on him and how he can read people as if they were transparent. He uses this metaphor as an indirect statement to show what kind of power people can possess if they turn to nature and accept it. Emerson’s use of these metaphors mainly describe the transcendentalist himself, but takes in-depth thinking for readers to comprehend his point of view. Emerson’s use of aphorisms tend to be scattered especially in his nature piece. However, all of them come together to express one thorough idea. One aphorism used in that same piece of work states that “the sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child” (241). Emerson uses this line in different forms throughout this piece of literature to exclaim that adults are unable to see what nature provides for them. It also states how a child’s jubilant spirit is able to catch what
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