After touring Orchard House, we drove to The Manse, just down the road.
FADING AWAY OF OUR TOUR OF THE MANSE
Unfortunately, their imminent closure for the day meant I had just enough time to purchase one book at the gift shop that I’ve been searching high and low for for the last week: Walden by Henry David Thoreau.
This particular copy is pretty neat, in that it has explanations throughout, writing assignments, and annotation space!
The Manse is located near the North Bridge and had been the home, once again, to different area authors at various times: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Hawthorne wrote a book about the Manse, called Mosses from an Old Manse.
A nearby garden was planted by Henry David Thoreau for Nathaniel Hawthorne. (see header photo)
From the Manse we walked to the Old North Bridge.
FADING AWAY OF WALDEN POND
Then we drove to Walden Pond so everyone could walk around while I read a little from Thoreau’s book…but it was getting late in the day and everyone was hungry.
Walden Pond is a beautiful, tranquil glacial pond where Thoreau lived on land owned by Emerson.
There are lots of hiking trails around the pond, as well as a replica of Thoreau’s cabin.
Perhaps one day we can come back to do some hiking and reading…as well as some reflecting and writing.
FADING AWAY OF TRANSCENDENTALISM
Later when asked what transcendentalism was, I had to laugh, because no one can accurately describe it because…get this…it’s too transcendental!
Besides, transcendentalism has faded away, it’s said, due to the passing of another literary author of Concord author, Margaret Fuller.
Critics from the famed literary circle of friends included Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
While Poe referred to transcendentalists as Frogpondians.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, on the other hand, wrote satire arguing against their utopian idealism in his short novel: The Blithedale Romance.
Although Hawthorne had experimented with the utopian lifestyle at Brook Farm, his novel satirizes the failed attempt.
Despite failed attempts at the utopian society, the Transcendentalists by and large spent more time pontificating lofty ideas than taking effective action on anything they fussed about.
Yet their loftiness attained a few contributions to literature.
Emerson extended the limit of the essay form. Henry David Thoreau contributed his own wit and clarity to the body of Transcendental literature. –The Literature Network
Although Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited for the origins of Transcendentalism, another author from the famed Concord literary circle, Margaret Fuller, apparently gave it the life until her passing in 1850.
ABOLITIONIST ACTIVISM AMONG TRANSCENDENTALISTS
Upon their friend’s passing, the Transcendentalists got their head out of the clouds and into concrete action they were passionate about: fighting slavery.
The Fugitive Slave Act, enacted by Congress a few months after Fuller’s death in 1850 created a reality check that compelled action by the Transcendentalists.
Apparently the two Concord Transcendentalists who took the most action through participation in the Underground Railroad include Bronson Alcott and Henry David Thoreau.
While living at Hillside from 1845 to 1848, Louisa Alcott’s father hid slaves as they fled north.
A historical marker documents this is on the Hillside property, renamed The Wayside after Nathaniel Hawthorne purchased the house from the Alcotts.
Henry David Thoreau participated in the Underground Railroad while living at Walden Pond from 1845-1847, and at his Main Street home a month after passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850.
Published in 1854, Thoreau’s book Walden records how he helped one slave running to freedom: one real runaway slave … forward toward the North Star… –Thoreau Farm
Not only hiding slaves, Thoreau also acted as conductor.
He escorted fugitives to the West Fitchburg railroad station, where they made connections for Canada. –Concord Library
THOREAU TAKES THE LEAD
Although the lead Transcendentalists often wrote against slavery before the Fugitive Slave act, the esoteric writings by Emerson, Thoreau, and Fuller led to little action.
As the winds of heated debate flamed through Congress, hinting at stricter slave legislation, Thoreau took heed.
On the eve of the Fugitive Slave Act, Thoreau powerfully penned Civil Disobedience, calling out abolitionists who did nothing.
There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet effect do nothing to put an end to them; who sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say they know not what to do, and do nothing. –Civil Disobedience, Thoreau
Putting words to action, Thoreau refused to pay taxes, which landed him in jail.
After his release the next day, Thoreau learned someone defeated his purpose by paying his tax.
His maiden Aunt Maria, without asking Thoreau, paid his tax and secured his release. Henry, wanting to continue his protest, was furious. Ralph Waldo Emerson is reputed to have visited Thoreau in his jail cell.”Why are you here?” Emerson asked. “Why are you not here?” Thoreau replied. –Environmental Protection Agency
Meanwhile Emerson continued speaking esoterically since he didn’t want to offend anyone.
Anyway, essays on this topic are prodigious, but this is the short (and long) of it.
Nathaniel Hawthorne clearly motivated my kids
Back to someone’s question after the day’s tours at The Wayside and Orchard House.
At both locations, the tour guides esoterically talked about Transcendentalism.
What exactlty is it?
As my daughter and I jumped in with all our gleanings from our early 19th century classical literature studies, my son interrupted us.
Despite his 19th century dialectic junior classical literature studies, he gave quite a dissertation on the specifics of this confusing philosophical movement.
Moving to Rhetoric level next year, my son will soon begin full-fledged classical literature and worldview studies.
Although I’ve dreaded dealing with motivating him, I dread this no longer!
My son’s opportunity to talk literature with Nathaniel Hawthorne has suddenly inspired his interest in studying classical rhetoric literature.
Meeting him made these illusive ideals of author intent and artistic weaving concrete!
I’m sure my son will still prefer to major in history, but literature will now carry more historical and practical meaning for him.
Likewise, I’m sure my daughter, who equally enjoyed her literature discourse with Hawthorne, will continue to pursue an interest in history studies, but she might now be hooked to major in literature.
As much as she has struggled in school over the years, understanding classical literature has come easily for her.
DREAM LIST FOR FUTURE LITERARY VISITS
There are many other 19th century author locations to visit, so here is my dream list, starting with the ones I tried to see this day, but ran out of time:
The Manse, former home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson in Concord
Walden’s Pond in Concord
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s house in Concord
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house in Cambridge
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Home-House of the Seven Gables in Salem – The setting is beautiful. The home is set in a flower garden by the sea! We hardly saw any water in Massachusetts, so this is at the top of my list next time.
