Representative Men · Question
How does Representative Men develop the theme of Representative Nature of Individuals?
Answer
Representative Men by Ralph Waldo Emerson develops Representative Nature of Individuals across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Each great man is a representative of his age, nation, or a particular human faculty, embodying the ideas and necessities of his time rather than being purely original.
Emerson argues that men are representative of things and ideas, serving as interpreters of nature.
Plato is presented as the representative philosopher, embodying the synthesis of all prior knowledge and standing for the whole of philosophy.
Plato is presented as a representative philosopher who marks an epoch, embodying the privilege of the intellect and the power of carrying up every fact to successive platforms.
Evidence in the book
- I: Uses of Great Men
Emerson argues that men are representative of things and ideas, serving as interpreters of nature.
- Plato; or, the Philosopher
Plato is presented as the representative philosopher, embodying the synthesis of all prior knowledge and standing for the whole of philosophy.
- Plato: New Readings
Plato is presented as a representative philosopher who marks an epoch, embodying the privilege of the intellect and the power of carrying up every fact to successive platforms.
- IV: Montaigne; or, the Skeptic
Montaigne is chosen as the representative of skepticism, illustrating how individuals can embody broader philosophical attitudes.
- V: Shakespeare; or, the Poet
Shakespeare is presented as the representative poet, embodying the genius of his time and country, and standing where all eyes look one way.
- Napoleon; or, the Man of the World
Napoleon is presented as the representative man of the modern age, embodying the spirit, aims, and tastes of the middle class. Emerson argues that he is France and Europe because the people he sways are 'little Napoleons.'
- VII: Goethe; or, the Writer
Goethe is presented as the representative writer, embodying the type of culture and the office of the secretary of nature.
