anti- transcendentalism herman melville nathaniel hawthorne

Anti-Anti-TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Herman MelvilleHerman Melville

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

Reasons / CausesReasons / Causes

• Opposed the optimism and naïve idealism of the transcendentalists

• Dwelt on guilt and remorse over past sins

• Discontented with current circumstances in America

Key ideas / PhilosophiesKey ideas / Philosophies

• Belief in the potential destructiveness of the human spirit

• Belief in individual truths, but no universal truths, and the truths of existence are deceitful and disturbing

• Human nature is inherently sinful (original sin) and evil is an active force in the universe

• Focus on the man’s uncertainty and limitations in the universe

View of NatureView of Nature

• Nature is vast and incomprehensible, a reflection of the struggle between good and evil

• Nature is the creation and possession of God and it cannot be understood by human beings

Writing StyleWriting Style

• Man vs. Nature conflicts bring out the evil in humanity

• Raw and morbid diction

• Focus on the protagonist’s inner struggles

• Typical protagonists are haunted outsiders who are alienated from society

• Prevalent use of symbolism

Shiloh: a RequiemShiloh: a RequiemHerman MelvilleHerman Melville

• Title Connotation/Denotation• Initial Response• Vocabulary• Paraphrase• Speaker• Tone• Techniques (3)/Meaning/Significance• Theme/Thesis Sentence• How does Melville’s poem reflect anti-

transcendental ideas?

Melville, cont.Melville, cont.

• Using profits from first three novels, buys a farm called “Arrowhead” near Pittsfield, MA.

• Nathaniel Hawthorne lived near by and the two became close friends

• With encouragement from Hawthorne and a renewed study of Shakespeare, Melville begins work on his life’s work—Moby Dick

• When first published, it was a flop and caused Melville to drop into a deep depression

• d. 1891, both unappreciated and unnoticed

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

• b. 1804 in Salem, MA, a descendent of a prominent Puritan family

• One of his ancestors was a prominent judge in the Salem Witch Trials

• His personal character and writing were shaped by a sense of inherited guilt

• He was haunted by the intolerance and cruelty of his ancestors

Shiloh: a RequiemShiloh: a RequiemHerman MelvilleHerman Melville

• Title Connotation/Denotation• Initial Response• Vocabulary• Paraphrase• Techniques• Theme• How does Melville’ poem reflect anti-

transcendental ideas?

Hawthorne, cont.Hawthorne, cont.

• Moved onto Brook Farm and became a part of the Transcendentalist Society

• Became friends with Emerson and Thoreau, but their vastly different spiritual philosophies kept disallowed deeper friendship

• Published his most famous work, The Scarlet Letter, in 1850 and it was an instant classic

• His college friend, Franklin Pierce, was elected President and appointed him as American consul at Liverpool, England.

• d. 1864 in his sleep

Herman MelvilleHerman Melville

• b.1819 in NYC; father was a wealthy merchant• Father died when he was 2 years old• Ultimately forced to quit school and worked as

a clerk, farmhand, and teacher to support family

• At 19 became a sailor and worked on whaling ships exploring the South Pacific for many years

• Began writing soon after this

Melville, cont.Melville, cont.

• Using profits from first three novels, buys a farm called “Arrowhead” near Pittsfield, MA.

• Nathaniel Hawthorne lived near by and the two became close friends

• With encouragement from Hawthorne and a renewed study of Shakespeare, Melville begins work on his life’s work—Moby Dick

• When first published, it was a flop and caused Melville to drop into a deep depression

• d. 1891, both unappreciated and unnoticed

Melville, cont.Melville, cont.

• Melville harshly criticized capitalism, slavery, war and imperialism, but he showed passionate empathy for “classes of men who bear the same relation to society at large that the

wheels do to a coach.”