Classics and the Western Canon discussion

We end our look at transcendentalism with a short and lighthearted look at transcendentalism in action.

You probably know Louisa May Alcott as the author of Little Women, whether or not you've read the book, but as the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, a major figure in transcendentalism, and as a friend and informal student of Emerson and Thoreau, she was also well versed in the principles of transcendentalism. Out of this knowledge and experience came this little story, Transcendental Wild Oats.

Your moderators have chosen this end to our look at transcendentalism because it may serve to lead into an ending question: is transcendentalism relevant to the modern world, and if so how?

http://transcendentalism-legacy.tamu....

Transcendentalist doctrine seems to appeal most to the extremes of its audience.

But, having cast the forms and vanities of a depraved world behind them, the elders welcomed hardship with the enthusiasm of new pioneers, and the children heartily enjoyed this foretaste of what they believed was to be a sort of perpetual picnic.

David wrote: "Transcendentalist doctrine seems to appeal most to the extremes of its audience.."

And yet, as they developed the philosophy, neither Emerson nor Thoreau was an elder or a child. Hmmm?

Everyman wrote: "Your moderators have chosen this end to our look at transcendentalism because it may serve to lead into an ending question: is transcendentalism relevant to the modern world, and if so how?

http://transcendentalism-legacy.tamu....
"

I am not sure what I was expecting, but satire was not it. Lol I guess because the only work of her's I have read was Little Women, which is far from a satirical work.

At first, I thought she was dismissing Transcendentalism, but there is one functioning, successful transcendental community in her piece, the Shakers, which was characterized by hard work. So then I thought maybe she advocates a more moderate form of T??

Even though "Transcendental Oats" is clearly a satire, I found the conclusion to be quite serious and sincere:

"To live for one's principles, at all costs, is a dangerous speculation, and the failure of an ideal, no matter how humane and noble, is harder for the world to forgive and forget than bank robbery or the grand swindles of corrupt politicians."

The experiment falls apart, and the family must leave their Eden. Transcendentalism failed as well, at least in its purest, most ideal expression. But is its failure "unforgivable"?

I think of transcendentalism as slightly adolescent, in the way that idealism often is. Having ideals and realizing their impracticality is part of growing up, but those ideals are never entirely left behind. They are compromised, and grow into something else.

When I was a kid this was called "selling out." At that age, it did seem unforgivable. (Even now I cringe when I hear Iggy Pop in a Carribbean Cruise commercial.) At the end of this story, Abel says, "I sold all we we could spare, and have enough to take us away from this snowbank." That's not unforgivable. That's picking up the pieces and going on with life.

And even though it is a bit sappy, I like the way the story concludes:

"Ah, me! my happy dream. How much I leave behind that never can be mine again," said Abel, looking back at the lost Paradise, lying white and chill in its shroud of snow.

"Yes, dear, but how much we bring away," answered brave hearted Hope, glancing from husband to children.

It reminds me of the absurd extremes of Dr. Kellog satirized in the movie "Road to Wellville." For example the vegetarian lion (or tiger, I forget which it was).

Do we have the beginnings of PETA when the Timon reprimands Jane for eating a "tortured and slain" fish?

The women seem to have their feet more firmly planted on the ground than the men.

"Mrs. Lamb merely followed wheresoever her husband led, -- "as ballast for his balloon," as she said, in her bright way. "

I found this the most troublesome:

"looking about for help, he saw no sympathizing face, no hand outstretched to help him, no voice to say cheerily,--"We all make mistakes, and it takes many experiences to shape a life. Try again, and let us help you."

I say most troublesome because I would most likely not have helped either despite any sympathy I have for them. I want to give them an "E" for "Effort" instead of a big fat "F" for "Failure".