The transcendental movement took place during the early nineteenth century. This movement was especially centered around American literature, politics, philosophy, and art. The principle belief in the transcendental movement was that each author, poet, or artist could “transcend” ayond the physical and into a broader mindset of spirituality, awareness, and independence. Transcendentalists, in this sense, could see into themselves and perceive their attachment to nature. According to transcendentalists themselves, “-society and its institutions corrupt the purity of each individual.” This meaning, organized politics (parties), religions, and social status would affect the cleanliness and simplicity of an individual’s soul.
Henry David Thoreau was an author, philosopher, abolitionist, historian, naturalist, tax resister, and a major figure in the transcendental movement. He was known to work closely with his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson throughout his lifetime. He is very well known for putting together nature and the demeanor of life. Born and raised in Concord, Massachusetts, he was strongly opposed to slavery. Henry David Thoreau, though poor, grew up well educated and later went on to attend Harvard College, which is now known Harvard University. At Harvard, he studied Latin, Greek, and some 4 other modern languages. He graduated in 1837 and set up a school with his brother John in 1838. The school disassembled a short time later. As a result, Thoreau went