About Thoreau and Emerson

Emerson and Thoreau: The little-known other side of ZZ

2008-03-21 00:15:24 From: 光风灁月(sitting,waiting,seeing )

Emerson and Thoreau: The Little-Known Side

Wang Binggen "Bookstore" 2006/12

1. Former Residence and Diary

When I walked out of Emerson's former residence in the drizzle, a question entangled my mind like the rain in front of me. In my opinion, this house should have a place for Thoreau in any case. This is not only because he lived in it twice for more than

two years. In this house, Emerson, who went to study in Europe, guarded the home and protected his family. The writing and revision of "Walden" was also done in this house. In a certain sense, this house was a spiritual home for Thoreau, but now Thoreau is exiled from his home.

This house, built in the early 19th century, is square and typical of the wooden architecture of the Georgian era. Double-story, symmetrical

eight large rooms, everything about the life of Emerson and his second wife Lydian is displayed in detail here, as well as the large room where he never married

The daughter's portrait and bedroom are also the same as yesterday, and Emerson's "Transcendentalism Club" was also reflected with the small round table as the center.

I wondered when I visited, why not give Thoreau a place? When Thoreau made love in this house

Which room did Merson live in when he was the housekeeper? It was conveyed to the ears of the elderly commentator through the interpreter. Unexpectedly, she looked at me intently. It seemed that the Oriental in front of me had touched on a sensitive issue. She did not smile, but she felt a little

p>

He told me playfully: "Maybe he lives in the attic." I walked to the courtyard and looked back at the roof of the house. There was no peak, no skylight, and the slope of the roof was It's not high, how can we live there?

Perhaps Thoreau went up to the attic and lay down? But Thoreau clearly loved walking in nature.

After I returned to China, I stayed in Shanghai for a few days. I visited the Shanghai Museum that day, walked around Nanjing Road alone, passed a

bookstore, and saw Thoreau's "Walden". "Lake", a new old book from Shanghai Translation Publishing House, translated by Xu Chi, so I bought another copy.

In fact, I already have this book on my bookshelf, the Jilin People's Publishing House version, and the translator is also Xu Chi, but I don't have it at hand at the moment.

For a book like "Walden", having two editions is naturally not too much, and I mainly wanted to read it early. Sure enough, it confirmed the impression I left when I read it for the first time. This book The book mentions many sages and philosophers, more than 180 people, but there is no mention of the word "Emerson" from beginning to end, not to mention Emerson's support and support for Thoreau. Help, not

The friendship between Emerson and Thoreau, just as far as this book is concerned: Emerson allowed him, Thoreau, to build a small house on his land

The house can be observed and practiced away from the world (because it is Emerson's land, Thoreau is exempt from paying land tax. In fact, before this, Thoreau had dreamed of going to Lincoln's Flint Lake life, but the owner of the land refused Thoreau to build a log house),

It also provided the conditions for him to write and revise "Walden", but Thoreau did not treat Emerson in his book It’s the water that has passed

No trace!

At the end of March 1845, I borrowed an ax and walked into the forest beside Walden Pond to the place where I planned to build a house.

Begin cutting down some of the arrow-shaped, towering, young white pines for my building materials.

(Thoreau: "Walden")

The borrowed axe, as mentioned, where is the land? It seems that it belongs to his own family. He built a house when he wanted to, and cut down trees when he wanted to. In fact, all these were given by Emerson, but Thoreau remained silent. Emerson was already famous at that time, right?

His 1837 lecture "American Scholars" at Harvard University shocked the ideological and cultural circles and was called American Thought and Literature

< p>'s "Declaration of Independence", even though Thoreau, who was studying at Harvard at the time, did not attend this speech live, he still fully understood Emerson's status and influence in the American intellectual and literary circles. According to common sense, it is his glory to mention Emerson here. Even according to Western habits, this book can be titled "Dedicated to Ralph Waldo Love." Mosheng".

But Thoreau was a man who did not live according to habits and common sense.

I want to find a few quotes about Emerson from Thoreau's other writings:

On October 22, "What are you doing now?" he asked, "You write Diary?" So I started writing today.

According to expert research, this is Thoreau's first diary entry, and the questioner is Emerson. In fact, Emerson is not just

asking, but warning. He wanted to write a diary, but Thoreau ignored the warning and ignored it. Even the person who asked the question was referred to as "he asked", which was so stingy and lack of respect from the beginning.

In 1837, Thoreau was just a boy who had just graduated from college.

The following paragraph in this day's diary is even more important:

In order to be alone, I found it necessary to escape from everything that existed - I escaped from myself. How could I be alone in a room full of mirrors of a Roman emperor

? I'm looking for a loft. Be sure not to disturb the spiders there, and there is no need to sweep

the floor at all, and there is no need to put away the junk inside. (Page 2 of "Thoreau's Diary")

This is almost a self-portrait of Thoreau's short life of forty-four years old, and it is simply the final word (type), Emerson

Didn't find it?

Finally read Emerson’s name. It was 1847, when Thoreau had just tired of living in the cabin by Walden Pond and returned to Cod City. At this time, Emerson traveled to England again. The house in front of him and the people he lived in The people in the house were handed over to Thoreau's care. Thoreau wrote and lived in this house like a master, and also did some land surveying work

He made a clear picture of the Emerson family's land (I was in Concord The Duke Library has seen Thoreau's measuring instruments and his hand-drawn drawings for Emerson's estate), and continued to keep a diary. This year, in the few pages of his diary that have survived, Thoreau first teased the two British people who were deeply influenced by Emerson, saying: "Carlyle is a person."

As a scholar, with compassion for mankind, engaged in sincere, loyal and heroic work... Carlyle's talent may be completely equal to his talent." This can be regarded as recognition of his talent. , although given by God, was even more unkind to Wordsworth, saying that his "faculty is weak, not so great and admirable as undoubted and indomitable genius...< /p>

He wanted to live a brave and decent life, and finally died with hope in his heart. "Now it was Emerson's turn, and he finally had Emerson's name and title. :

Emerson is also a critic, poet, and philosopher. His talents are not so obvious and it seems that he is not qualified for his work; but his field is still expanding. The work to be done becomes more and more difficult, and he lives a life that is far more intense than others; he tries to realize a sacred life; his love and intelligence are equally developed. If he takes one step forward, a new heaven will open to him. Love, friendship, religion, poetry, and the gods were all close to him.

The life of an artist; more colorful, more observant, and sharper in perception; less strong and flexible, but down-to-earth in his own field; Strong in faith, a judge of all. There is no one who is as comprehensive a critic of people and things as he is, and no one who is as trustworthy and firm in his beliefs as he is. In him, more than anyone else, he realized the noble qualities of man. He is a poet-critic who praises God unconditionally. ("Thoreau Days

" pp. 43-44)

Readers will have their own understanding of this incoherent evaluation that is not easy to grasp. In my opinion, he put so many hats on

Emerson just because he wanted to say this: "It is difficult to live up to the reputation." And he also

< p>Expanding beyond one's capabilities makes life too tiring. Those praises of perfect men and saints only have a certain ironic meaning

2. Elders, Mentors, and Coaches

It was a lucky year for Emerson to get to know Thoreau. In 1837, his "On Nature" had just been published. His "American Scholar" speech triggered the independent movement of American thought and literature. His and Lydian's first son was also born. In this life, this good fortune may also include Thoreau. "Every word this boy said made him very happy." Emerson, who lived in seclusion in the small town of Concord, loved walking and was used to walking with a cane. Emerson walked with a cane and thought about his Transcendentalism. Shortly after they met, the two took a long walk. Emerson put aside his cane and walked to the highest cliff in the area to take in the magnificent scenery of the Sudbury Valley: "Weather It's warm, pleasant, and misty.

The whole mountain is like an open-air theater, intoxicated with joy. The crows seem to be on every dust in the air.

Echoes." Emerson wrote in his diary, his joy beyond words. Emerson read Thoreau, and Thoreau also read Emerson. Thoreau was fascinated by "On Nature", a work that embodied the entire prototype of transcendentalist philosophy, and it is said that he read it continuously< /p>

Twice. From here, he got close to Emerson, walked into Emerson's life circle, and entered the "Transcendentalism Club".

When I visited the Concord Public Library, I saw many excellent works of art, including sculptures and paintings by Emerson and Thoreau. Nie Rong, the visiting deputy director, told me that Thoreau was of medium height and Emerson was very tall, but their shoulders were both sloping to the sides and they were very similar. At the same time, both of them were tall. With his straight nose, Thoreau's eyes are the most eye-catching

They are big and deep, shining with the light of wisdom. Emerson liked to walk with a cane, but Thoreau stared at the ground, staring at the fallen leaves, flowers or Indian arrowheads. She said that many books have described their physical characteristics, so some people say that Thoreau is neither Emerson's son nor his brother, but he seems to be both. Of.

I think this probably does not entirely refer to their appearance, but perhaps more to the spiritual and life histories of Emerson and Thoreau

?

In my reading memory, Emerson loved Thoreau as much as his son, and he often couldn't bear it without waiting for the young man who had just turned twenty to speak.

The resident put his supporting hand over. Thoreau graduated from college with mediocre grades, but Emerson believed that this young man was talented, so he wrote a letter to Quincy, the president (president) of Harvard, making a grand recommendation. Quincy naturally believed in Mr. Emer

, and Thoreau received a scholarship of twenty-five dollars (at that time, an annual salary of fifty dollars was the normal income, Thoreau was in Walden

The total cost of building a house at Walden Pond was US$28.125, and his total income from growing corn, potatoes and radishes in Walden Pond for one year was US$23.44). After graduating from college, Thoreau failed to find a job, so he ran a small private elementary school by himself. Emerson rushed to have a look and said it would not work, so he persuaded Thoreau's alma mater, Concord College, to take over the school. Thoreau and his brother John entered the newly established elementary school to teach at the same time. "The Sundial" was a Transcendentalist publication. For a period of time, it was edited by Emerson's girlfriend Margaret Fuller. Thoreau repeatedly contributed articles. Although Fuller also knew Thoreau, she Thinking that

Thoreau's poems were not well written, he refused to publish them. Emerson took them over and looked at them. After his hands revised and deleted them, he successfully passed them

Passed. Not only that, Emerson himself wrote a note: "My Henry Thoreau will be the great poet of this party, and one day will be the great poet of all social gatherings." Poet." Under Emerson's care, Thoreau published thirty-one poems, essays and translations in the 16th issue of "Sundial". In 1843, Thoreau fell out of love and then lost his brother. Emerson, in order to help him get rid of his depression, introduced him to his brother William, who lived in Manhattan. ·The Emerson family served as a tutor and introduced him to the literary circle in New York. However, Thoreau did not have a good impression of New York. "This place is a thousand times worse than I imagined", so he only stayed there. After a little more than half a year, he quietly returned home. When Emerson saw this, he didn't blame him in the slightest. Instead, he excused him, saying, "This rebellious spirit is more like his brother." As for Emerson, he entrusted his home and family to him for more than two years from 1841 to 1843 and from 1847 to 1848

while traveling to Europe to study; As for the transcendentalist leader's indoctrination and influence on Thoreau in terms of thoughts and concepts, including allowing the use of the land of Walden Pond, etc., it goes without saying.

A man named Albee at the same time described the situation when the two of them got along like this:

He was very comfortable with Emerson. He was there all afternoon and evening. He was still by the fire when I left. I feel as though he is part of the family in a way. Emerson constantly listened to Thoreau's advice, seemed to

anticipate Thoreau's views, and was always ready to smile slightly at his negative and biting criticisms, especially regarding

Education and the education system. Emerson always defended Harvard, saying that he had studied there since he was fourteen years old. This aroused

Thoreau's anger. He believed that Harvard's tutorials were of no benefit. Emerson seemed to deliberately say this to provoke Thoreau's anger, and took pleasure in doing so. When referring to the courses at Cambridge, Emerson casually said that almost all subjects and branches are taught there. Thoreau seized the opportunity to retort: ??"Yes! It is true. All branches have nothing to do with the subject." Emerson laughed heartily at this. Thoreau spent all his evenings with the children, roasting corn over the campfire.

Such a relationship is not just that of father, son and brother, but also a spiritual mentor and life coach.

The problem arises precisely here. Emerson only cares, supports, trusts, and expects Thoreau from the perspective of an elder, a mentor, and a coach

, but he ignored the most basic point, that is, does Thoreau need all of this? In particular, Emerson forgot the rebellious spirit that he admired most about Thoreau, and he was a lonely rebel. He rebelled against society, the authorities, the secular world, and the world. Wouldn't he be rebelling against you Emerson? born?

When American scholar Stephen Hahn analyzed the relationship between Emerson and Thoreau, he said: "Whether it is personally or

acting rationally, Thoreau has a deep understanding of love. Merson's attitude is similar to the feeling of not biting the hand that feeds - even if the bite is at least not that obvious. "So, for a long time, Thoreau and Thoreau. Emerson did not have a "head-on confrontation". As the above-mentioned specific description shows, Thoreau's rebellion against Emerson came in the form of tolerance.

It also included the form of silence. Emerson ignored or ignored Thoreau's tolerance. and silence, or regard Thoreau's tolerance and silence as a message of acceptance. Therefore, Emerson felt comfortable calling him "my Henry Thoreau."

3. "Enemy", "Poison Arrow", "Elm Branch"

It was not until Emerson returned from his second study tour in Europe that Thoreau's rebellious spirit was strongly revealed. , the relationship between the two became indifferent and once reached a tense level. According to the researcher's analysis, there are three reasons for this disclosure. First, for nearly a year, Emerson was in Europe and Thoreau was at his home with his wife and children. They all established a very close relationship. Thoreau "seems to have become accustomed to staying at Emerson's house. Emerson's return must have made him feel at a loss." ; Another reason is that Thoreau disapproved of Emerson's trip to England, especially his praise of British secularity;

Furthermore, Thoreau's fame and popularity grew, but some people accused him of It is Emerson's shadow and follower.

Rejecting the real owner because you are used to staying in other people's homes is both emotionally and rationally inappropriate. This is just a form of expression

In fact, Thoreau has been silently emotionally attached to Emerson's second son, who is sixteen years older than him

< p>Wife Lydian. As early as 1841, when Thoreau was working as a tutor in Manhattan, he would send letters to Lydian from New York from time to time.

Those letters with handwriting as scrawled as heavenly books are all mysterious and full of emotions, and Thoreau's all-encompassing In the diary, there are also many passages that allude to Lydian. He seemed to be in love with Lydian in some complicated but not fully understood way. "The other people are my relatives and acquaintances, but you are mine." He wrote in Emerson's diary when he was studying in England:

" You belong to me and I belong to you. I don't know where I end and you begin - the intersection of your and my lives is so harmonious." These things, Emerson. It is impossible not to know that although everyone has the right to love, Thoreau's love for Lydian does not mean incest. Moreover, at that time, Emerson and Emerson were more than ten years younger than him. Margaret Fuller also had some kind of ambiguous relationship. Therefore, Emerson would not be jealous if analyzed rationally, but what about subconsciously? Because

you are not used to me coming home, which is even more ridiculous. Elders, mentors, and coaches such as Emerson cannot tolerate it.

While Emerson was in England, he naturally continued to write letters to his family and friends in the United States. The people who corresponded with these letters naturally included Thoreau, because Emerson included many of them in his letters. The local government praised British industrial civilization, but Thoreau could not accept it. The letter praised Emerson's British achievements, material civilization, steam engines, speed and freedom of speech, and books

< p>Ji and others held a skeptical attitude and expressed contempt for Emerson's enthusiasm and praise in front of all these things. Even in some letters, Thoreau was somewhat misplaced in terms of identity. He mistakenly regarded the position given to him as a member of the family by Emerson as his real position, and used harsh and defensive language towards his master in England. As for the issue of shadow and followers, in fact, from the beginning, Thoreau did not want to be Emerson's shadow, nor did he want to be just his follower. There is a whole philosophy of life and life that does not acknowledge Emerson's influence on him even in such a personal medium as a diary. His first diary entry is proof that he doesn't want to bring this shadow in, and he will wipe away the traces of him from time to time along the way. It's just because it hinders "the feeding hand" that he doesn't. But when the things that he had been worried about, guarded against and didn't want to admit were brought up after he became famous, Thoreau's rebellious and even angry emotions were revealed. You know it.

These reasons alone are enough to lead to the breakdown of the original relationship between the two and the tension in the existing relationship. Due to Thoreau's neurotic character

on his side, it may be difficult to express it. It's more obvious.

In 1849, Thoreau's "A Week on the River at Concord and Merrimack" was published. The book sold very poorly, and Emerson was no longer as generous and enthusiastic as before, even for< /p>

The shortcomings of this book have been criticized by some ridiculous people. Thoreau was confused: "I wrote a book and asked my friends to criticize it. I heard nothing except a praise. Later, my friend and I was alienated, and I was reduced to nothing because of the shortcomings in the book. "The so-called praise refers to what happened before the friendship broke down, "When I was still my friend. When he was my friend, he only paid me compliments, and I never heard the slightest bit of truth - but when he became my enemy, he attached the truth to a poisonous arrow and shot it at me." . Although Thoreau still didn't mention Emerson's name here, his words were so fierce that he called "enemy" and "poisonous arrow". Emerson, of course, also had some hurtful words: "Thoreau and I are different types of people when it comes to friendship. I would rather grab an elm branch than take Thoreau's arm. "And

and joked: "It's really unfortunate that Thoreau has no appetite. He neither eats nor drinks. He can't tell the difference between the taste of ice cream and

cabbage. , who has never even tasted liquor or beer, what do you expect to have in common with him?"

If we take 1849 as the dividing line, Emerson and Thoreau will be different. The friendship (at least in the eyes of Emerson and outsiders) lasted for ten or twelve years, and the relationship was tense for two more years, until Thoreau's untimely death (1862). However, even during the period when their friendship

tended to fade and their relationship became tense, they still had contact and interactions, and their quarrels could still

get back together. Emerson Students have always regarded Thoreau as the best writer in the United States and have high hopes for him. Whether they are friends or enemies, they are both giants in American thought and culture, and as Emerson said, they are two different types. People seem to be very close or consistent in some ways of thinking and behavior, such as loving nature, walking, etc. But upon closer inspection, they are very different. Emerson loves nature. He believes that modern civilization can take nature and make it more orderly, while Thoreau loves nature and treats nature as For the sole purpose of "without traps or guns", there seemed to be two mountains between them that could never get closer. In essence, Emerson should

be a secular person who values ??prestige, reputation, status, property, family, etc., while Thoreau is absolutely extraordinary

< p>Vulgar, do not pursue property, do not pursue false fame, do not care about family ties, stay away from modern civilization, and even "don't like ordinary topics

and talk about mysterious things to all visitors, and finally They have all been reduced to nothing." Emerson was enthusiastic, considerate, and helpful. Although Thoreau was sometimes cheerful, joking, and loyal and sincere, there seemed to be a seriousness about him. Calm as the grave. Of course, there are countless aspects, including the treatment of tradition and

classics, the understanding of modern civilization, etc. To analyze the similarities and differences between Emerson and Thoreau is a huge task

which is beyond the scope of this small article.

Stephen Hahn has two points worth mentioning: one is the difference in their language and narrative style, and the other

is the issue of "hegemony". Hahn said: "Wordsworth pointed out that Thoreau was 'a man who spoke to the masses' - he used colloquial language, often digressed, was argumentative, and liked to use Dialect or conversational style. But Emerson's style is that of a teacher, speaking in a majestic and arrogant manner, and no one else can interrupt. "In terms of narrative style, "Thoreau's"

The article does not begin with an abstract summary of general facts but with detailed observations... Emerson was able to quickly reduce experience to abstract concepts such as 'fate' and 'nature' , making the empirical level look like the essence of things

". Hahn did not make a detailed analysis of this, but it is obvious to those who are familiar with Emerson and Thoreau. Emerson's works are full of aphorisms and aphorisms. Some people think that he only writes with aphorisms. Until now, Emerson's aphorisms can be seen everywhere in the United States. They are the product of high abstraction and generalization. Emerson's speeches are also based on

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Aphorisms and eloquence captivated audiences across the United States. Thoreau always describes the facts, even very trivial descriptions, and then casually hides his opinions in the description of the facts (or randomly intersperses some comments). Thoreau's views on Emerson, or his criticism of some of Emerson's thoughts, are also based on the description of the facts before him. For ordinary readers, You may still be ignorant (Hahn regards "Walden" as a philosophical work), but applaud his

description.

Regarding "hegemony", Hahn quoted a passage from Emerson's "Ode" written when Thoreau died:

If his gift was only to think, Then he is very suitable to live his life, but his abundant energy and practical ability make him seem like a person who is born to achieve great things and be a leader. Therefore, I am very sorry that he gave up his practical ability, which is rare in the world. I really can't help but point out his shortcoming, that is, he has no ambition. Because of the lack of this, he has no chance to become the manager of the entire United States, but can only be the leader of the American Huckleberry Party.

After establishing hegemony, it would not be a bad thing to plant beans one day, but even after so many years, Thoreau still only has beans! (Emerson: "Thoreau: Walden" p. 320)

Emerson criticized Thoreau for having no ambition, being unable to become the manager of the entire United States, and being unable to create hegemony and continue to create it

p>

What Quan later did was to speak entirely from Emerson's own standpoint. It was not only a criticism of Thoreau, but also a kind of self-confession

. At this point, Emerson was completely in line with the fundamental interests of the United States, and he himself became the spiritual leader of the United States. Thoreau was different. He was just a free man in the eyes of Americans. , an extraordinary person, now

At best, he has an image of environmentalism superimposed on him. Therefore, Hahn said, "In a country like the United States where hegemony is everywhere, such an evaluation almost means a condemnation. It is not just Emerson's personal heartache and disappointment."

I discussed Emerson and Thoreau at the Concord Public Library with Ms. Wilson, who was in charge of the manuscripts and first editions of Emerson and Thoreau. Regarding Rowe's relationship, Ms. Wilson repeatedly emphasized the fact that they reconciled in the end, and quoted Thoreau's sentence in refuting Emerson's "On Friendship": "The relationship between good people Although the friendship ended, their principles remained unchanged, just like the disconnection. "This is natural for the hometown scholars who love both Emerson and Thoreau. understand. But I think whether their conflicts or reconciliations are the fact that two mountains are confronting each other, their respective existences show the height of each other. For thinkers, no one should act as a spiritual mentor or a life coach, nor should anyone claim to be an elder, or even be a strong leader of all living beings. There is a limit to tolerance and silence.

Both parties seemed embarrassed, embarrassing and even terrible when it started.

Needless to say, all the arrangements and furnishings in Emerson’s former residence were made by descendants. The management committee of this former residence

is composed of the Emerson family. Once, the Emerson family also used an eraser on Thoreau, erasing the traces and smell he left in the house. Only then did I recall the words of the tour guide at Emerson's former residence: "You probably live in the attic." It turned out to be a sentence that contained a mocking meaning for Thoreau. Language, but I take it seriously.

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