Imagine the world taken over by young children who yield to no one or thing. In a world where everyone does as he or she wanted, much chaos would be present. In Emerson's "Self-Reliance", he shares his version of an ideal society where nobody conforms to one another. Even though his ideas maintain influential in modern society, his impractical world contradicts with human nature and ceases to encourage any nation to establish such a society. I have recently read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s, Self –Reliance, and have many different thoughts about the essay. I personally think he is a weird man. He has many different thoughts that I agree with to a point and some that I just do not agree in at all. In this paper I will argue all of the main thoughts that come along with his story, Self-Reliance.
Some thoughts of Emerson and some other 19th-century
New Englanders were based on a search for reality through spiritual intuition, or knowledge about
things without conscious reasoning. Emerson was a doctrinaire in these thoughts. He
targets his messages toward the younger age groups to try to get them to think as he does, so to pretty much brain wash them into doing and thinking as he says. He thought that every individual is basically
good, can make rational decisions, and is worthy of respect. I understand he says is basically good, but I disagree with this thought simply because you may think someone is good but to another that person could be awful. Depending on what the other individual has done to you it should be your decision on if you want to give the person any respect and in some cases people need to earn your respect rather than you just handing it over. He believes that if these three steps
were followed the world would be a ...
... middle of paper ...
...life. Emerson has world a way to find there meaning in life, but to him it
seems like no ones trying.
Even though Emerson's idea is unreal, "Self-Reliance" continues to be studied and searched for more meanings by people around the world. During Emerson's time, an idea that influenced many thoughts was that to achieve direct connection with the mind, one must acquire self-reliance and yield to no one else’s thoughts or actions. In a world where everyone does as he or she pleases, chaos would dominate. In Emerson's "Self-Reliance", he proposes his version of an ideal society where no one conforms to one another. Again I say that I do both agree and disagree with many of his main thoughts that stuck out to me in the essay. There is no doubt that this essay was effective because after 160 years the essay is still talked about and taught in different classrooms.
In "Self-Reliance," philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson argues that people shouldn't be reliant on what others in society think. The main point of this essay is for people in society to realize that the only way to be comfortable is to be uncomfortable first. Throughout the essay it can be complicating to understand what Emerson is trying to accomplish. In the first paragraph Emerson states," The soul always hears an admonition in such lines." He also writes," Watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind." Lastly Emerson claims," we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinions from another."
Throughout our history, we have repeatedly tried to exploit the environment (i.e. nature) in order to perfect our lives. We not only manipulated the materialistic and economic aspect of our world, but we have also struggled to use the moral and the spiritual in making progress within ourselves. Instead of relying on ourselves to accomplish this purpose, we have unfortunately sought help from society's traditional institutions. These institutions, in turn, have tired to manipulate us for their own good, resulting in more harm than help. During the nineteenth century, authors such as Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne recognized this and have tried to stop it through their writings. To this end, they have adopted Ralph Waldo Emerson's view that people choose to deny the power of reason, or their own mind. He believed that until people choose to see the "light" of reason, they will remain morally dead. With the achievement of reason, external institutions will remain useless and they will understand that the spirit they so vehemently desired is indeed within them and will without a doubt eliminate their moral darkness. Therefore, Emerson affirmed that the only eternal law is that of experience and that "the one thing in the world of value is the active soul-the soul, free, sovereign, active." This essay will discuss how these authors (Melville, Hawthorne, and Dickinson) composed writings that mimicked Emerson's view of life to accentuate individualism against subjugation.
Emerson’s idea of self- reliance is different from similar to the common use of the term (take care of your own needs and don’t depend on others outside yourself) Emerson’s idea is similar because the words “self- reliant” is saying take care of your own. When your self reliant or taking care of your own you are dependent and not relying on other people. His idea is different because “self- reliant” is a more sophisticated way of saying “I can hold my own” and or “I can take care of myself.”
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
In The American Scholar, Ralph Waldo Emerson touches on the topic of “individualism” and saw freedom as “an open ended process of self realization by which individuals could remake themselves and their own lives.” He wanted the people to make their life their own especially scholars because they were still connected to European life. He says, “The scholar is the man who must take up into himself all the ability of the time, all the contributions of the past, all the hopes of the future.” He places the responsibility on the individual to accomplish certain tasks, in this case the scholar is the
In the essay Self-Reliance, Emerson addresses his idea on individualism which allows for nonconformity because being a nonconformist in today's mimetic society, can construct an authentic identity. The social conformity in today’s world influences people into conformism, thus eliminating individual thoughts or beliefs. According to Christina Bianca, a creator from At Auburn University, claims that, “In today’s society...it’s become all too easy to let society tell us what to believe through the constant swarm of messages attempting to achieve communication with us.” Society, as stated by Christina Bianca, “attempts to carve beliefs into the human brain by any means possible.” For example, “if you were to log onto any form of social
In “Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he promotes the importance of self reliance as an individual, and in society. Individuality to Emerson Opposed the traditional ideas of society, and to him it meant to oppose the conformity and consistency in society. He believes that the majority of people have given up their self reliance because of their fear of judgement by society. To be an individual, Emerson stresses that one has to be a risk taker, and disregard all things external.
I agree with the statement Benjamin Anastas makes about Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “self-reliance” of how it is “the most pernicious piece of literature in the American canon” (Anastas 602-603). One reason why I agree with Anastas is that Emerson believes the people are timid and apologetic and do not have opinions of their own. Another reason why I stand alongside Anastas is that Emerson thinks people are afraid of each other and the truth(s) that others have are but quotes from a saint or sage. My final reason that I believe Anastas is correct is due to Emerson believing our society does not gain anything new that makes life worth living.
...is parents, or materialistic items. Seeking for his independence is what led Chris to his adventure to Alaska. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Self- Reliance”, an essay that stated how he believed how people should be self reliant. It also stated the steps to becoming independent. In his essay, he states, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” (Emerson). Emerson also believes in non-conformists, and states that all men should become nonconformists.”Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” (Emerson).
He wants us to trust our inner drives and be honest with the relationships that come within our life experiences. Personally, I agree with Emerson’s philosophy on life. In a world where there is so much emphasis on social acceptance I personally feel ones real value should come from deep within relying on their personal relationship with God. Emerson is very effective in presenting his argument by his word choice, his use of figurative language, and his many references back to God and society. Society today happens to be the same kind of idea. We look at what society tells you to be instead of focusing on our own self which is the most important part of what God tells you to
“Nothing can bring to a man so much of happiness or so much of misery as man himself.” – Frederick Douglass
Emerson, Ralph. "Self-Reliance." The American Tradition in Literature. Eighth Edition. Ed. George Perkins. New York. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994.
Nearly two hundred years ago Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered a speech to a group of Scholars, it was his intention to motivate and inspire. He expressed his beliefs in a way that was objectionable to some and encouraging to others. Each man was given a chance to examine his life and the life's of their predecessors.
“What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what the people think.” (Emerson, 552) demonstrates that Emerson wants individuals to discover their true self that have unique way of thinking and should have a strong sense of self; The strong sense of self is also presented by “A great man is coming to eat at my house. I do not wish to please him: I wish that he should wish to please me.” (Emerson, 555) while stating that nobody’s ideas should be less valued. Through “The one thing in the world of value, is, the active soul, --the soul, free, sovereign, active.” (Emerson, 539) he shows his preference of resisting influences thinkers in past brings because he believes individuals nowadays can come up with better ideas and reading old ones will hold creativity back. In case that Emerson sticks with the stand that everybody can look into themselves carefully and bring up brand new and great thoughts to contribute to the world, he has no compassion toward poor people. If each individual has ability to be self-reliant, and then the only reason why poor people are poor is that they do not even try to manage their destiny. Therefore, unlike Franklin, Emerson questions “Are they my poor?” (Emerson, 552) to blame poor people.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emerson is a firm believer of maintaining self-reliance and values rather than following the crowd. He also explains that in order to be truly successful in life, a person must make decisions and trust in his or her judgment. In today’s society, teenagers are more likely to not be self-reliant because the teens feel they will be judged for having different beliefs. People today need to realize that they should not conform to be like the rest of the world, they must not depend on the judgment and criticism of others, and people must refuse to travel somewhere in order to forget their personal problems. Through Emerson’s piece, readers are able to reflect on how people in the world today must try to be independent of others and uphold their personal opinions and philosophy.