Wakefulness Thoreau, Whitman, and Emerson - 1532 Words

â€Å"To be awake means to be alive†, and to be awake during the time of Romanticism meant one could witness literature as an intellectual achievement. Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Walt Whitman were three authors during this time that wrote about an idea that would later become the theme of many papers, discussions and lectures, Wakefulness. Though some may not have recognized the significance of these authors’ work at the time, their ideas and beliefs have captivated the minds of many people. Wakefulness, the idea of intellectual exertion throughout everyday life is essential to becoming self-reliant, creating a more intellectual and better community, and becoming closer to god. Being self-reliant is brought up in many of†¦show more content†¦However, it has enough support to be considered its own aspect of Wakefulness. Thoreau had much to say about society that he wrote an essay entitled, Civil Disobedience, in which he says, â€Å"I think t hat we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not so desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right† (Thoreau, Civil Disobedience). Here Thoreau is saying, as a society many should think for themselves first, and then answer to the government or an authoritative figure after. He also says is hard to appreciate the law compared to what is actually right. He is right to an extent, although government is very important to this country. If more people thought for themselves instead of being subdued by the government, then the US would have a much more intellectual society that would give more freedom to the people. This allows Thoreau to become awake because he believes the world needs to live this way in order to be great. Emerson believes that creating a better society will stem from self-reliance as he writes in his essay; â€Å"Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareho lder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs† (Emerson, Self-Reliance). Emerson means that society may seem