On Nature

Emerson is really hard for me. I remember reading some of the transcendalists when I was in high school ten years ago (thanks Mrs. Fortkamp—she’s here on Goodreads!) and having trouble with them then. By “having trouble,” I mean that I found it really difficult to the point where I didn’t understand a word. I understand Emerson a bit better now, but there’s still so much that I feel like I don’t get. Some of his other essays are much more digestible—I’m a big fan of “Self-Reliance” and “Friendship.” I’ve also recently read a few others, like “Circles,” “Fate,” and “Napoleon: Man of the World,” although didn’t find as much pleasure in them.

Nature tends to be a bit more difficult than some of Emerson’s other essays, and I’m not sure that I fully “get it.” His writing on language and beauty are both interesting here, and even if I don’t get it, I recognize that Emerson has quite the way with words. I’m excited to continue reading other Transcendalists (again) and see how my views of them have changed between then and now.