Self Reliance Rhetorical Analysis

High school students experience a lot of pressure to “fit in”, or to be “normal”. This age old concept applies not only to adolescents, but to all people. We strive to think and act like those we respect or idolize. Ralph Waldo Emerson attacks the imitation of others in his essay Self Reliance, stating instead that people should think and speak what they themselves think. Emerson sets up a strong rhetorical situation for his argument by using a common societal trait as his exigence. His urgency for writing is rooted in his dislike of imitation. Emerson sees how people, rather than expressing their own thoughts, speak only the words of others. This could be caused by lacking self confidence, but is most likely merely a fact of life. As a champion of thinking for one’s self, Emerson composed his essay to bring awareness to the common man. His essay primarily targets middle and lower

He writes, “all things real are so by so much virtue as they contain.” Emerson says that things that are unique and individual are real, so therefore people who are mere imitations of society are neither unique nor individual. This makes it impossible for them to have distinct characteristics and qualities. A person with greater self reliance, Emerson’s goal for society, is an individual who brings value to themselves and others. In his closing paragraph, Emerson drives the final point home in his case for self-reliance. “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” The major goal in life is seen as being at peace with oneself, a goal nearly impossible if one is an imitation of someone else. Becoming self reliant is not so simple as making a single decision, it is a journey. Emerson provides crucial explanation and motivation for one to become self-reliant, and leaves it to the reader to take this goal upon