Essay On Emerson's Definition Of A Nonconformist

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Nonconformist: a person who refuses to conform, as to establish customs, attitudes, or ideas. That is the dictionary's definition of a nonconformist. In the essay Self-Reliance, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the author provides the reader with his definition of a nonconformist. Although his definition is relatively similar to the dictionary’s version, it is a bit more complex. Emerson describes a nonconformist a someone who thinks for themselves rather than submit to the ideas of others; a person who doesn’t listen and feed off of the opinion of others but listens to their own personal convictions. Emerson says that in order to be a true nonconformist you need to, “Trust thyself…. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events” (Self-Reliance). Being a nonconformist 100 - 200 years ago would’ve been much more risky than being a nonconformist in the 21st century. That doesn’t mean that being a nonconformist today is the new norm, or more common- that’s not what nonconformity is. Over the past several years there have been dozens of nonconformists (although they don’t necessarily label themselves that) who fight, …show more content…

Knowing the Taliban had taped a death threat on her back and that her life was at risk, she still continued to fight for what she knew everyone deserved. After the Taliban began attacking girls schools, Malala gave a speech titled, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” Her speech reminded me of a quote said by Emerson in his essay that goes, “I cannot consent to pay for a privilege where I have intrinsic right.” Malala knows that she -as well as many other children- deserves an education; attacking and terrorizing schools is not a price children should have to pay for wanting to become

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