# Representative Nature of Individuals in Representative Men

> Theme guide for Representative Men by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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.

## Where it surfaces

- [I: Uses of Great Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/i-uses-of-great-men): Emerson argues that men are representative of things and ideas, serving as interpreters of nature.
- [Plato; or, the Philosopher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/ii-plato-or-the-philospher): Plato is presented as the representative philosopher, embodying the synthesis of all prior knowledge and standing for the whole of philosophy.
- [Plato: New Readings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/vi-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/chapters/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.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/themes/representative_nature
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/representative_men_se/themes