Section Two: American Romanticism

American Romanticism  (the American Renaissance)

The Romantic Movement, which originated in Germany but quickly spread to England, France, and beyond, reached America around the year 1820, some 20 years after William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge had revolutionized English poetry by publishing Lyrical Ballads. In America as in Europe, fresh new vision inspired artistic and intellectual circles. Yet there was an important difference: Romanticism in America coincided with the period of national expansion and the discovery of a distinctive American voice. The consolidation of a national identity and the surging idealism and passion of Romanticism nurtured the masterpieces of "the American Renaissance."

Romantic ideas centered on art as inspiration, the spiritual and aesthetic dimension of nature, and metaphors of organic growth. Art, rather than science, Romantics argued, could best express universal truth. The Romantics underscored the importance of expressive art for the individual and society. In his essay "The Poet" (1844), Ralph Waldo Emerson, perhaps the most influential writer of the Romantic era, asserts:

“For all men live by truth, and stand in need of expression. In love, in art, in avarice, in politics, in labor, in games, we study to utter our painful secret. The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression.”

The development of the self became a major theme; self- awareness a primary method. If, according to Romantic theory, self and nature were one, self-awareness was not a selfish dead end but a mode of knowledge opening up the universe. If one's self were one with all humanity, then the individual had a moral duty to reform social inequalities and relieve human suffering. The idea of "self", which suggested selfishness to earlier generations was redefined. New compound words with positive meanings emerged: "self-realization," "self-expression," "self- reliance."

As the unique, subjective self became important, so did the realm of psychology. Exceptional artistic effects and techniques were developed to evoke heightened psychological states. The "sublime" -- an effect of beauty in grandeur (for example, a view from a mountaintop) -- produced feelings of awe, reverence, vastness, and a power beyond human comprehension.

Romanticism was affirmative and appropriate for most American poets and creative essayists. America's vast mountains, deserts, and tropics embodied the sublime. The Romantic spirit seemed particularly suited to American democracy: It stressed individualism, affirmed the value of the common person, and looked to the inspired imagination for its aesthetic and ethical values. Certainly the New England Transcendentalists -- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and their associates -- were inspired to a new optimistic affirmation by the Romantic Movement. In New England, Romanticism fell upon fertile soil.

I. Historical Background

1. Politically, America established bourgeoisie democracy, which is the basis of American Romanticism.

After the Independence, there was one fierce struggle between Hamilton, who represented the interests of bankers and businessmen and Jefferson, who spoke for agricultures and commonplaces. Subsequently, Jefferson’s election to Presidency showed the first victory of American democracy. In 1928, Jackson, the 7th president, pushed American democracy to a new era.

2.Economically, it was a period of booming and prosperity, which made the Americans optimistic towards their futures.

2.1. Industry:

During the period from 1820s to 1860s, American economy came to take the 4th place in the world.

2.2.. Westward Movement:

Pioneers pushed the frontier further. In 1803, Jefferson bought Louis Anna from France. All of these contributed to the economic boom.

2.3.. Diplomatic Relations:

Monroe Message claimed, “America is American people’s America”. It established a peaceful environment, which was vital for America’s development.

3.Culturally, Webster, an American dictionary of the English language, was published.

It was epoch striking, marking that America was going to be independent in its culture.

II. Romanticism

1. Reasons for Romanticism’s Popularity

1.1.It owes to the development and experiences in the nick time of history.

1.2.It is indebted to foreign influences, especially the European’s and English Romanticism.

William Wordsworth, Byron, Robert Burns and many other masters make a stimulating impact, among which Walter Scott is particularly powerful and enduing.

2. Peculiarities of American Romanticism

2.1. It has its own new experiences, geography, races and its Westward Expansion.

2.2.It is largely influenced by Puritanism, therefore, it has strong sense of preaching.

American’s ideals of individualism and political equality, and their dream that America is to be a new Garden of Eden for man is distinctly American. To sum up, deriving from both foreign influences and newness of its own, American Romanticism seems to be both imitative and independent.

3. Common Themes in American Romanticism

3.1. Celebration of natural beauty and simple life.

3.2. Idealization of the common people.

3.3. It is interested in the past and remote places.

3.4. It eulogizes individualism.

3.5. It is interested in historical romance.

III. Transcendentalism (1829-1860s)---the Peak of American Romanticism

1. How did it come into being?

Some rich New Englanders are unhappy with their material-oriented life and form an informal club to discuss matters concerning spiritual things. In 1836 Nature by Emerson is published and pushes American Transcendentalism into its peak. Their journal is The Dial.

2. Major Features of Transcendentalism

“What is popularly called Transcendentalism among us,” Emerson declares, “is idealism.”

2.1. It stresses the Oversoul or Spirit as the most important thing in the universe.

“ Spirit is presented everywhere.” In fact, it is God, which exists in nature and man, and makes up the chief elements in the universe.

2.2. It emphasizes the importance of individualism.

To them, individual is the most important element of society. The ideal type of man is the self-reliant individual.

2.3.  It offers a fresh perception of nature as symbolic of the Spirit or God.

Nature is, to them, not purely matter. It is alive, filled with God’s overwhelming presence. It is the garment of the Oversoul and physical world is the symbol of spiritual world.

3.Its Significance

3.1. It inspires a whole generation of writers such as Thoreau and Whitman.

3.2. It stresses man’s subjective as opposed to materialism.

3.3. It liberates people from Calvin’s original sin.  .

4. Its Limitation

4.1.It is, in a sense, shallow.

It is cut off from the real life or reality. It is initiated by the rich, who are limited in a certain circle. They can’t understand the sufferings of the common people.

4.2.There is an inward contradiction.

It is idealistic because it emphasizes that knowledge is gained by intuition, and ignores the importance of experience.