JE21 Darkness

            During the Romantic period, there are two different groups – the Transcendentalists and the Dark Romantics. Although sometimes they called the Dark Romantics anti-transcendentalists, they in fact have something in common. Transcendentalists and the Dark Romantics both valued intuition over logic and reason. They also see signs and symbols in events. However, unlike the transcendentalists, the Dark Romantics emphasized the original sin, which is the innate wickedness of human beings and its notion of predestination. Their view derived from the Puritan thoughts, which give a more pessimistic feeling but discuss about both positive and negative sides of an event. They explore conflicts between good and evil, as well as guilt and sin. Dark Romantics saw the blackness and the horror of evil. Transcendentalists believe everything in the physical world is a reflection of the Divine Soul. I think I would like to read the Dark Romantics’ works more because they discuss the relationship between good and evil, which sounds more practical for me. Also, I think there are more common ideas between the Dark Romantics and the Puritanism. The discussion of sin, for me, has always been an interesting idea. The meaning of sin can be described and symbolized in many different ways.  Transcendentalists seem to only discuss the good sides and their love for nature. To me, it sounds like a Utopia. Besides, I don't like nature a lot.