Selected Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson Chapter Summary & Analysis - Napolean, or, the Man of the World Summary

Napolean, or, the Man of the World Summary and Analysis

Napoleon Bonaparte is the most famous and powerful person of the nineteenth century, according to Emerson, and represents the middle class in Europe as well as America. In addition, Napoleon was "the incarnate Democrat" and focused on material success although he was an intellectual. His leadership, his ability to act decisively on the battlefield, his cunning and his courage all support the notion that he was a genius, according to Emerson. His was a triumphant spirit that was undaunted by any kind of obstacle. No small part of Napolean's greatness rests on his ability to enlist the support and admiration of the common man in France on the heels of the French Revolution. His birth into the aristocracy and his proclivity for sustained difficult work also were helpful in his rise, Emerson says.

Napoleon possessed both the virtues and weaknesses of the average man, Emerson says. He was vain, self-deluded,...
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