Comparing Emerson And Thoreau Essay

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Recommended: Thoreau vs Emerson

Laura Lee
ENGL131
Professor Cohen
What does it mean to live?

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance” and Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” focus on the importance of authenticity and the importance of the individual over society as a whole. Both transcendentalists stress that the individual must break free from the chains of society and instead of conforming, display originality. Personally, I agree with both thinkers that in order for an individual to live a meaningful life, one must live deliberately and be able to think for oneself instead of conforming to the ideas and values of society. It is important to take action upon one’s own instincts and thought instead of being a follower and conforming to social expectations. Henry David Thoreau resides at Walden Pond, surrounded by nature, and …show more content…

Thus, it is essential to stop being a follower and experience life for one’s own self. It is easy to follow a regulated path yet I agree that it is an obligation to the self to be able to break free from the footprints of society and form one’s own footprints. Emerson argues that high thinkers, such as Moses or Plato, are highly acclaimed because they were able to break free from conformity and act upon their own thoughts and ideas. Instead of being accustomed to everyday life, I believe that in order to live meaningfully, one must challenge the self and be able to experience life differently in a new way. It is important for the individual to be independent and to take the road less traveled for it will free them from the conformity of others. I agree that an individual should take on challenges and feel uncomfortable in order to be able to achieve a higher sense of self. The path of least resistance should not be traveled as time and effort should be invested in order to carve out a new, original trail in order to live a meaningful

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