Emerson’s Theory of Beauty: Reading His Poems of Nature

Abstract

While going through the various poems of Emerson, readers generally consider that the poet actually valorizes natural beauty over man made beauty but having considered Emerson’s theory of beauty, this speculation turns out to be wrong. In Emersoni zan aesthetics, beauty in its perfection approximates Deity. Emerson, in fact,envisions that man-made beauty is as beautiful as that of the beauty of nature because poets with the virtue of their intuitions and refined perceptions can forge a mystic union with Deity and can represent beauty in art that is divine. Just as god created this beautiful nature, artist can also create a work of art that is nature in miniature. So, man-devisedwork of art is analogous to the creativity of nature. Moreover, Emerson holds that there is spiritual correspondence between mind and matter as both, he considers, are thee manations from the One. Whatever exits in natural world also exist in human mind. So,the beautiful form that dwells in phenomenal world also dwells in our mind. In creative process, this beautiful form is externalized. Therefore, man-made beauty is identical withthe beauty of nature.Furthermore, according to Emerson, divine and perfect beauty is accomplished when we see diverse facts of nature mounting towards the transcendentalunity with Deity. This transcendental unity is discovered when we open the inner eyes of our intuitions. Thus, man-made beauty is as beautiful as the beauty of nature.