Today I’m going back into American literary history to give you the choice to marry, date or dump three transcendentalists. For those of you who need a little refresher (I know I did) on what transcendentalism means, here is the definition from wikipedia: “Transcendentalists believed that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—ultimately corrupted the purity of the individual. They had faith that people are at their best when truly “self-reliant” and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true community could be formed.”
There are loads of transcendentalists to choose from. I picked out three of the top guys from the movement: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and the lesser known Amon Bronson Alcott (father of Louisa May Alcott).
Alison Doherty 
Wellll, I guess since my goal in life is to be Marmee, I better marry Bronson Alcott, then date Emerson and dump Thoreau who is too self absorbed and if memory serves a mama’s boy.
Haha! You might want to be like Marmee … but all in all her marriage situation seemed pretty terrible.
Transcendentalists? Ewwww. Although I do believe, as Emerson, all things are connected to God and, therefore, all things are divine. So I might possibly date him.
I agree the Thoreau, that “Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.” Any man that can use a double negative that powerfully and loves botany, travel and is a voracious reader, I might be willing to marry.
And while there is much to praise in Amos Alcott, I could not endure his lifestyle. I mean Fruitlands? Really. Vegan diets in the 1820s. Sigh. And the constant financial struggle? No. I should have to dump him. Aalthough, he was just as a likely to be run out of town!
I love your response … I agree that Thoreau is the best choice of the three.
Also I learned a little more about Amos Alcott … who knew?
YIKES. You really made this week a hard choice! D: But it’s fun 😀
I remember hating Emerson despite a few choice quotes I could pluck from his work, so he’s an insta-dump. I don’t really want to live on a pond or wherever it is that Thoreau was out in nature, so I guess I’d date him for a couple walks in the woods or something. I am stuck marrying Bronson because at least he had a kid and maybe that means he was somewhat normal? And hopefully a looker when he was younger.
Nice post! 😀
Yeah they all look a little old and scruffy, don’t they? Thanks for commenting.
This is interesting and challenging. Emerson was a bit too self-righteous for my tastes, and said it was a shame Thoreau had wasted his life when he presided over his funeral. And his writing, good grief, what a tangle of words to navigate getting to his meaning. He’d lost a child and was a sad man. Hmm…pass. Alcott? Pass on too many counts to name. Guess it’s the peculiar Thoreau, if for no other reason than he could see as a child, live like a man, was self-reliant and I could tell him to fix his own dinner 🙂
Nice post, great choices.
Thanks for commenting. I love your reasons. I think I would want to end up with Thoreau as well … I didn’t think about using his own writing as a way to tell him to make his own dinner though. Brilliant!
I believe I would dump, dump and dump. Transcendentalist are not my literary type.
Fair enough! If I had to choose a time period and genre of literature I don’t think I would choose tanscendentalists either!
I wouldn’t marry any of them (I’m not the marrying type) but would date Emerson and possibly Thoreau (sans beard). Alcott no on all counts (although I wouldn’t have to dump him if I didn’t date or marry him). I would welcome a chat or two with him however.
Fair enough! I think (in general) is that Alcott is the worst prospect.