Self-Reliance
In the essay Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson tells the reader how important and necessary to one’s life it is to be, well, self-reliant. He explains how, there is only one you, so taking that as it is, if you were to try to imitate anyone else, you would have destroyed part of yourself; if you are jealous of someone else, you are ignorant of everything you are or could be. Though other people are amazing, one must find themselves doing their work in order to create themselves. Emerson also goes on to explain how too many people don’t completely express themselves, but that is the only way to truly be happy and satisfied.
Throughout the essay there are themes which Emerson continuously stresses to his audience. The importance of self-reliance obviously being the overall theme, but these are the main reasons why it’s so necessary to someone’s life. For the first part, you need to trust yourself. You are a unique individual with something of your own to offer the world which will make you great, and no one else could be that, but you. You can only be great if you are completely true to your heart and are 100% yourself. Secondly, though people are great, society as a whole does not allow for an individual to be as creative and have his own liberty. In society people conform for security, giving up part of their heart and being. Emerson encourages people to be nonconformist and always speak what they believe with conviction, even if tomorrow you are of a different conviction; this will make it impossible to be understood, but a great mad, is a misunderstood man. Overall Self-Reliance is a reflection on society and oneself. A look at the state of everyone in society and in their own minds.
Transcendentalism is all about creating a unique identity for Americans and finding a balance of spirituality in nature and oneself. Transcendentalists believe that every person deserves to have the same ability to be themselves and not be restricted by society, like African-Americans and Women so often were. This is represented in Self-Reliance by Emerson’s stress on how much an individual has to offer simply by the fact that he is his own person and interprets the world differently from others, and had different thoughts and abilities unique to himself.
Study Questions:
For more information on Transcendentalism try going to http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/
Works Cited:
Goodman, Russell. "Transcendentalism." Stanford University. Stanford University, 06 Feb. 2003. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
"Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
"Emerson's Essays." About Self-Reliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
"Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism." Summary and Analysis. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
"From 'Self-Reliance' by Ralph Waldo Emerson." From 'Self-Reliance' by Ralph Waldo Emerson. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Throughout the essay there are themes which Emerson continuously stresses to his audience. The importance of self-reliance obviously being the overall theme, but these are the main reasons why it’s so necessary to someone’s life. For the first part, you need to trust yourself. You are a unique individual with something of your own to offer the world which will make you great, and no one else could be that, but you. You can only be great if you are completely true to your heart and are 100% yourself. Secondly, though people are great, society as a whole does not allow for an individual to be as creative and have his own liberty. In society people conform for security, giving up part of their heart and being. Emerson encourages people to be nonconformist and always speak what they believe with conviction, even if tomorrow you are of a different conviction; this will make it impossible to be understood, but a great mad, is a misunderstood man. Overall Self-Reliance is a reflection on society and oneself. A look at the state of everyone in society and in their own minds.
Transcendentalism is all about creating a unique identity for Americans and finding a balance of spirituality in nature and oneself. Transcendentalists believe that every person deserves to have the same ability to be themselves and not be restricted by society, like African-Americans and Women so often were. This is represented in Self-Reliance by Emerson’s stress on how much an individual has to offer simply by the fact that he is his own person and interprets the world differently from others, and had different thoughts and abilities unique to himself.
Study Questions:
- Emerson stresses self-reliance, why do you think nature is also so important to Emerson?
- What does the quote mean “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
- How self-reliant can a person really be in society?
- How does the condition of the 1800’s seem to have affected Emerson’s writing?
- How can you apply what Emerson says about self-reliance to your own life?
For more information on Transcendentalism try going to http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/
Works Cited:
Goodman, Russell. "Transcendentalism." Stanford University. Stanford University, 06 Feb. 2003. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
"Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
"Emerson's Essays." About Self-Reliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
"Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism." Summary and Analysis. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
"From 'Self-Reliance' by Ralph Waldo Emerson." From 'Self-Reliance' by Ralph Waldo Emerson. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.