American essayist, transcendentalist, and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideas in The American Scholar are an attempt to forge a newly developing American identity. It is one of the foundational texts of American literature and a seminal text of American transcendentalism. Emerson talks about the development of new and original ideas by the American scholar for a holistic development of himself; he has a responsibility to society to alter people’s minds. The key influences in his intellectual development include nature, books, and action, and in his essay, he discusses the same and the dangers of their misuse at length.
The American Scholar | Summary
Emerson starts his lecture by proclaiming that the start of this school year begins with “hope, and not labor”, where unlike in European countries, America has no scientific advancements to celebrate but perhaps celebrates the “survival of the love of letters”. The country’s age of dependence on the intellectual developments of other countries is nearly over, and poetry will thrive soon, thanks to the American Scholar. Through an old fable, Emerson insists on the common, uniting spirit in all men and women. Because man was divided in society, he now identifies with the parts he works with and cannot holistically develop because all necessary roles were “parceled out to individuals”.
The American scholar must become the ‘Man thinking’, according to Emerson. This person must not be a “mere thinker, or worse, a parrot of other men’s thinking”. Nature is the foremost influence on the scholar, which aids his development. Nature, including human nature, is vital to man’s development, and its circular continuity “resembles his spirit”. Classifying it makes one understand the interconnectedness of things. It indicates that the scholar understands that nature is not chaotic but follows a law. The scholar must realize he comes from the same root as all natural things, and thus, for him, ‘know thyself’ and ‘study nature’ will become synonymous.
Next, he talks about books as an influence. Books, though they reflect past minds’ conceptions of the world around them which influence future generations, must be read cautiously because not all books will be relevant in all ages or places. An individual must write books for his own generation and for the “next succeeding generation.” Books are also capable of being more influential than their authors. Instead of creating new works, if people fixate on past minds, they will not be able to create new and greater ideas. He advises against being a satellite by simply following an idea instead of creating one. For this, one must read in solitude and should read when they are idle. People should also not get too caught up in authorial biases and read books carefully. He talks about the college’s primary duty being to teach subjects that one can learn only through books.
The last major influence on a scholar is action. He is disappointed by the fact that scholars, especially clergy, who are “speculative men”, are looked down upon by “practical men”. Action is of utmost importance; by taking part in society, the scholar will be confronted by emotions and experiences that will help them develop their intellect. The process of experience turning into wisdom is continuously taking place in a scholar. Emerson also says that action will be difficult to think about in the present because he will be too immersed in it to think about it calmly. He will look back on it over time. Scholars must undertake a variety of actions so they can create new ideas with them.
Intermingling with people of all disciplines will allow the scholar to develop the language that they can use to form new ideas with, from their new experiences. Books and colleges both use the previously existing language and copy it. The final value of action is that it inspires thought.
He argues that formal education does not create new ideas, rather, savage nature does. He moves on to the duties of scholars, which make them Man Thinking. A scholar’s prime duty is to “cheer, raise, and guide” people around them. He might not gain immense fame or respect, but he must put up with the “poverty and solitude”. Their job is altruistic, and that must be their comfort. He also asks a scholar to introspect and argues that knowing oneself is important to understanding mankind, even though the scholar might feel insecure about their private, personal thoughts.
The scholar understands that learning never stops, and great men are the ones who can influence and later influence other minds. Individual men, Emerson argues, have become happy to be a part of a crowd and allow only a handful to gain greatness. Earning money and other material aspects are natural things to focus on, but he calls them “false good”; human nature is of utmost value in society. The scholar holds the responsibility of keeping the fire of critical thought and intellectual independence alive from one generation to the next.
Emerson talks about the signs of revolution in society. He holds the opinion that literature brings to light the daily lives of different classes in society. It is the ideas of everyday life that inspired Goldsmith, Burns, and Cowper in the past and Goethe, Wordsworth, and Carlyle in the present. He says that Emanuel Swedenborg has remained largely underappreciated as his contemporary, who has also drawn a connection between nature and “the affections of the soul”.
Emerson also writes about revolution, in which importance is increasingly given to individuality in a society rather than one divided by class. Emerson believes that the American scholar will bring about this revolution, which will unite society. The rest of the world sees America as timid and imitative, but it will soon rise to its own feet. He mourns the young Americans who have great ideas but are discouraged. He reminds the audience that if one person sticks to their principles, the others follow suit. He insists that Americans will soon walk on their own two feet and that the “study of letters” will no longer be looked down upon.
The American Scholar | Analysis
Emerson starts off his speech by calling attention to the lack of any scientific or mechanical advancements in America, stirring the American citizen’s conscience. His further probing of them by calling them “sluggard intellect” grabs their attention, but he is hopeful of their “love of letters”.
His central points lie in his emphasis on how society has become so divided; he attacks the notion that in chasing individual professions, man has become identifiable with the things he works with, which hinders his holistic development. He insists on the development of mankind as a whole by tapping into new ideas and bringing about a “revolution”.
The idea that Emerson seeks in society is “Man Thinking”, the scholar who seeks truth and develops his own ideas, altering in the process the minds of others in society. The prime influences on the development of this scholar are nature, books, and action. The scholar has a responsibility towards society; by engaging with everyday ideas and taking part in society, a scholar must alter the minds of people by coming up with new ideas instead of parroting the ones already said by intellectuals in the past.
The American Scholar was written and presented in the 1830s, a time when America was undergoing a transition from a newly independent nation to one that had an identity of its own. Emerson insists on forging an individual literary and artistic identity that is not identified with the advancements of Europe. “…our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands is drawing to a close”, he writes, insisting that America is on the cusp of change. He continually asks the American scholar to achieve greatness by forming new and original ideas instead of looking to the past. This work may not give him instant fame or money, but he must find comfort in the fact that it is altruistic and slowly sowing the seeds of revolution.
Emerson’s central argument in “The American Scholar” is that America needs a new kind of intellectual figure, distinct from European traditions, who can embody the spirit and ideals of the young nation. He calls for a uniquely American scholar who is independent, self-reliant, and attuned to nature. Emerson encourages individuals to embrace their own intuition and experience, rather than relying solely on the ideas and opinions of others.
About the Author
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who was a propounder of New England Transcendentalism. He was greatly influenced by Plato, Henry David Thoreau, Immanuel Kant and others, and was a champion of individualism. He went by his middle name Waldo. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he attended Harvard and then Harvard Divinity School, where he started developing his ideas and beliefs. His most famous work is the essay collection titled ‘Self-Reliance’, in which he insists on individuality and talks about the dangers of conformism. His works remain widely read and studied.
“The American Scholar” is a famous essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson, originally delivered as a lecture to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard University in 1837. It is considered one of the foundational texts of American literature and a key work in the transcendentalist movement. He argues for an original, true American scholar—the Man Thinking—who embodies the American “love of letters” and develops new and original ideas that alter society’s thinking. This is the responsibility he has towards society.
