# Ralph Waldo Emerson — The Varieties of Religious Experience character guide

> Ralph Waldo Emerson in The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Emerson, R. W. Emerson

**First appearance:** 0005-lecture-iii-the-reality-of-the-unseen

## Who they are

Transcendentalist philosopher quoted on the soul and nature.

## In the story

### [Lecture XX: Conclusions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/chapters/lecture-xx-conclusions)

Mentioned as a type of religious personality that should not be forced to be like a Wesley or Whitman, illustrating James's argument for the necessity of diverse religious types.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/characters/ralph_waldo_emerson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_varieties_of_religious_experience_se/characters