Transcendentalists were a group of Romantics in the 1800’s led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and was considered to be an idealism that many writers of the time believed in, and many stories were based on the core beliefs of this idealism. We know that one of the core beliefs is that understanding all that exists in the universe, known and unknown, such as God, ones self, and the world, one must single handedly transcend normal, everyday human experiences in the physical world and go through spiritual enlightenment that many may never experience.
Knowing this gives us a better understanding of these two literary pieces, the message behind them, and how they express such message. In both stories, Living Like Weasels, by Annie Dillard, and Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the core beliefs of Transcendentalism are expressed in different ways. “Living Like Weasels” is a modern take on Transcendentalism, showing that this ideology is still in place nowadays. Annie Dillard writes about her experience whilst in her cabin house in Virginia. Her experience that transcended the norm was shared with a weasel, oddly enough.
Her story is not full of adventure and suspense, or full of exuberant colors and literary images, but instead, would be considered rather strange by most reading this, oblivious to transcendentalism and what it stands for. Dillard starts by writing about her respect for weasels and their power and determination for life, giving examples and stories of great feats accomplished by these animals. She only then starts to write about her specific encounter with a weasel after expanding on her description of her surroundings.
She claims to have turned around while sitting on a downed log because of a flying bird only to see a weasel staring directly at her, with piercing black eyes. Dillard begins to then write about her unearthly experience with this animal and how they could see into each others souls, and how the whole world dissolved only leaving her and the weasel staring at each other. However, something broke the gaze and the weasel quickly ran away. This sixty seconds f staring at this weasel gave Dillard an epiphany, that one should live with some instinct, and not always think so hard about everything that happens and that “it would be well, and proper, and obedient, and pure, to grasp your one necessity and not let go…” (p. 213). This experience gave Dillard spiritual enlightenment about her and the world surrounding her allowing her to understand what life means and how to live it. To Dillard, life is now being lived by over thinking and analyzing where she believes that, just like animals, we should live according to instinct.
However she notes that instinct should not be our main method of living but it should be followed in moderation, as a means of a simpler and more tranquil life. “Living Like Weasels” shows a more realistic approach to nature, giving us a clear understanding of Dillard’s views and opinions. Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, however, is an old literary essay, and because so, it is not so blunt in its way of expressing the core beliefs of transcendentalism. Emerson writes in a much more personal description of nature and depicts nature as a whole, instead of as one animal.
He personifies nature, saying that the stars “light the universe with their admonishing smile” (p. 241) and that man cannot “extort all her secrets” (p. 241). This is to show that his relationship with nature is very personal, and to show his emotional bond with nature and his respect for it. You can tell that he relates to nature in a very personal way. Emerson goes on to mainly explain about what would be done if one were to leave everything and spend time alone in nature, and what would be needed to truly see nature for what it is.
He writes about his experience with nature where sitting in the middle of nowhere, he felt that nothing could bother him, because he knew that nature could fix it. Sitting in the midst of nature expels egotism, and Emerson transforms into a “transparent eyeball” (p. 242), which can see all and becomes a Universal Being. What Emerson means by this is that once in nature, he feels as though his physical body ceases to exist and he becomes part of nature. He becomes an omnipresent being, seeing and feeling all that happens around him.
This is a powerful part of the essay, which creates a very strong literary image. Emerson learns that when he is in nature, life becomes simple and easy to live. He suffers to troubles, and if he does, nature can fix them. He realizes that being around nature is essential to a happy and free life, independent from worry and horror Both stories use their own different way of expressing themselves. For one, Dillard’s way of explaining her realization of her epiphany was through a weasel, whereas in Nature, Emerson uses nature in general to explain how got to his realization.
Dillard transcended the norm with a single experience that changed her way of thinking and her perception of life whereas Emerson’s general involvement with nature and surrounding himself with it. Although both writings have the basic themes of transcendentalism, non-conformity and nature, they are actually very different from each other, yet somehow similar. Considering also that the fact that Emerson was the leading transcendentalist of his time, which was before Dillard’s time, we know that Dillard’s source of inspiration was Emerson, meaning that his writings and beliefs are closely related to Dillard’s.
As you can see, although time may change the writing style of Romanticism, the core beliefs of transcendentalism remains untouched. Both Dillard and Emerson found that living in nature is more calming than in the city; “I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages…” (p. 242), therefore making their minds clear and able to think lucidly. Both of these writers experienced something unworldly and although they did not share the exact same experience or have similar experiences, they both understood what the message they received meant. They received the most precious of all gifts; knowledge and self-actualization.
