Exploring Fate and Self-Reliance: An Analysis of Emerson's Contradictions

450 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Critical analysis of emerson's self reliance

Self-Reliance - Fate Fate as defined in the Websters Dictionary is "That which inevitably happens as though determined by force". If this is what fate means then I believe that Emerson "hit the nail on the head" when he wrote his essay "Fate". Emerson really believes that everyone has a predetermined fate or destiny that will happen. It seems that his message is that you do not decide your future but it is already decided for you and you just have to deal with it because you have no control over what is going to happen. The class, for the most part, agreed with him. Examples were given that if you lose everything because of an Earthquake it was fate because you have no control of nature. I disagree if you want to be safe you can move to a place in the world where earthquakes and natural disasters are at a minimum. To a point you can protect yourself from harm and determine your own fate. Emerson disagrees with me he believes that everyone was born to do a certain job and what we will do in life is already predetermined. Emerson writes that "..in every million there will be an astronomer, a mathematician, a comic poet..." suggesting that there is no point in trying to better yourself because you were destined to be something and no matter what you do you cant escape your fate. Then just as he has convinced you of your fate he puts limitations on your destiny. He writes that "..Fate has its lord; limitations its limits" so now fate has a limitation. I dont think anyone brought this up in the class discussion but it has to be addressed. Emerson now admits that there is a greater power than fate but gives no clear image(at least not to me) of what exactly it is. This essay seems to follow Self-Reliance in that it gives you a false sense of security. It also shows that Emerson cant even make up his mind and finds contradictions in the points that he is trying to make. But then again as we have discussed over and over when you read a work many times you often find messages that you didnt even realize were there. I am convinced that Emerson as he wrote this essay and re-read it many times kept finding different meanings and wanted to show that he too was just as confused as the average person. "Fate" shows one mans acceptance and denial of what he holds to be true, a comforting thought when you consider that everything around you is changing.

Show More
Related

  • Wes Moore Analysis

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Well there is always the fate aspect in everything that occurs in our lives but majority of the outcomes created from the individuals own decisions. It is up to the individual to determine what can occur, if they do one thing then something will be the outcome. A side from that, there is always the possibility of being at the wrong place at the wrong time which can have an affect of on the outcomes of life.

    Read More

  • Emerson's Key Ideas

    441 Words  | 1 Pages

    b: Each person has a divine purpose for which they should live. Whether or not they follow this plan is partially to their own accord. 3. Craft and Structure (a) Make a Judgment: How important is Emerson’s use of the adjective “foolish” in his discussion of consistency? (b) Speculate:

    Read More

  • compare and contrast the relationship between man and nature in Emerson and Thoreau.

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Emerson, he considers both nature and man equally and he says that men are multi-talented and men have the ability to be whatever he wants. However, most of the people don’t find the talent within themselves and they end up doing something else in their life. “When man gets in the field, he becomes farmer, instead of man”. Likewise, people create their own boun...

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Benjamin Franklin And Ralph Waldo Emerson

    1163 Words  | 3 Pages

    Destiny is not arranged by God anymore in Franklin and Emerson’s view, so that develop individual self’s desire of exploring their potentials becomes necessary to succeed. Withholding various definitions of success, Benjamin Franklin and Ralph Waldo Emerson coincidentally stick with the same principle: everyone can succeed if he or she works hard enough. They have controversies over what is success, but the spirit of upward mobility exits in both of the authors and the time

    Read More

  • Cleopatra's History: The Evolution Of Cleopatra

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    Subsequent to the death of Caesar, there was a power struggle within Rome between the second triumvirate and Caesar’s assailants. Both parties requested assistance for Egyptians militia legions, but Cleopatra decided to support the triumvirate, and her forces swiftly defeated those of Brutus and Cassius (History.com Staff). In 41 B.C., Mark Antony requested to convene with Cleopatra in Tarsus to discuss her relations with Rome’s deceased leader Caesar (Biography.com Editors). Antony and Cleopatra had an instant connection, and he vowed to help keep her on the throne. It is mentionable that during this time period, sovereigns usually chose a god or goddess to relate themselves to in order to prove their divinity. It just so happened that Cleopatra considered herself to be the “New Isis” and Mark Antony believed himself to be a reincarnated Dionysus. So Antony spent 41-40 B.C. in Alexandria, during which their twins, Alexandra Helios and Cleopatra Selene, were conceived (History.com Staff). Antony’s wife Fulvia was furious at the reports of him spending so much time with Cleopatra, so instigated a conflict in Italy to ensure his return (Schiff 187). Once back in Rome, the third wife of Antony passed away. After her passing, Octavian felt that Antony needed to prove his loyalty to the triumvirate. This resulted in the marriage between Antony and Octavian’s sister Octavia. In 37 B.C., Antony and Cleopatra met once again to further discuss political and financial arrangements. Antony asked for financing in his attempt to overtake Parthia in exchange for Egypt’s eastern empire being returned to Cleopatra. Cleopatra consented to the ordeal, and inevitably, they once again embarked on a romantic relationship. Their affair resulted in a son named Ptolemy Philadelphos in 36 B.C. At a festival, Mark Antony proclaimed Caesarion, Cleopatra and Caesar’s son, as scion of

    Read More

  • Fate in Macbeth

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fate can be defined in many different ways. Webster's Dictionary defines fate as a power that supposedly predetermines events. Fate is synonymous with the word destiny, which suggests that events are unavoidable and unchangeable. Whatever happens in life is meant to be and cannot be changed by mankind. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, fate plays an important role in the lives of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo.

    Read More

  • Identity in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars

    1746 Words  | 4 Pages

    The quote suggests that unfortunate events happen not because of destiny but because of the fault in characters. The three main teenage characters in this book suffer from a fate, which has in no way been caused by their actions but rather their destiny. Unlike the other characters Augustus fights to not let his destiny impact his choices, he strives to be seen as more than his illness. Augustus goes through the same struggles as any normal teenager and also the struggles of a cancer patient. Though his fate won the battle, till his death he fought being defined by his illness.

    Read More

  • Is Complete Self-Reliance Possible?

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    If you are self-reliant then you don’t need to depend on anyone. That is the obvious message that Emerson is trying to convey in his essay "Self-Reliance". It seems as though Emerson believes that we all need to be individuals and put ourselves before anyone else. However, the real question is “is it possible to be totally self-reliant”.

    Read More

  • The Influence Of Fate In Macbeth

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    The effect fate has first appears in Macbeth when Lady Macbeth receives the witches’ letter telling of a prophecy. This prophecy reveals that Macbeth will seize the crown, and

    Read More

  • Fate Draws Lovers Apart

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout this story, there are many ways fate changes the outcome of this story. Fate is how a story or life, for example turns out the way it does. Fate is the growth and joining of events in a story or in life that are not controllable by the person. Fate is the biggest driving force in this story because the characters do some crazy actions that they later regret or wish they would have done differently. The story revolves around fate because no one can control their life and the things that happen, all happen for a reason.

    Read More

  • What Is The Theme Of Fate In Romeo And Juliet

    1707 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fate is just people coming up with an excuse for life’s problems. In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet’s relationship shows how their short time on Earth affects the decisions they make. Their love has death quickly approaching as they try to stay together through the feud that tears their family apart. Conversely, the “fate” that lies ahead is very erroneous because they follow a predictable life path and act quickly on the events that occur as a result of following the basic lifestyle. Since it is a predictable timeline, the characters can see the result that lies ahead, but choose to follow it anyways, which puts the outcome in their control. Fate is nonexistent because the characters follow the obvious

    Read More

  • Self-Reliance Rhetorical Analysis

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    The mode of discourse Emerson uses in “Self-Reliance” is argument. In his argument he logically presents a variety of evidence to prove the main purpose of the essay. Emerson’s purpose of this essay is to present the core ideas of Transcendentalism and motivate the reader to “trust thyself.” This idea is repeated throughout the essay in a variety of ways. For example, Emerson states that a person’s belief in his or her personal truths is the source of genius. To the reader it is obvious that Emerson is confident in his beliefs and is not concerned what others may think. Emerson’s hope is that he can convince the audience to change its view and become self-reliant as well.

    Read More

  • His Bromance Is Killing the Romance

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    While a bromance may be healthy for him, to you ‘his boy’ is nothing more than a pesky nuisance, a third wheel whose company seems to put a damper on all your romantic efforts. Barbara, 25, tolerated a lot in her relationship with her former boo, but when her significant other’s friend went ahead and invited his brother and a friend on a special date night, she was at a loss for words. “He joined us on our Valentine’s Day dinner date. Our first Valentine’s Day together! It gets worse. He went ahead and invited his little brother and female friend.” As if this was not enough for Barbara, “Once, he stayed over for a whole week and they would hang out the whole day watching movies and go out to clubs at night. He was there at every meal. It was horrible; I could just never cuddle ...

    Read More

  • Fate And Pessimism In The Mayor Of Casterbridge And Tess Of D Urbervilles

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fate and Pessimism in The mayor of casterbridge and Tess of D’Urbervilles; Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate, is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fatalism refers to the belief that events fixed by fate are unchangeable by any type of human agency. In other words, humans can not alter their own fates or the fates of others. there are three types of fate.

    Read More

  • Essay On Fate Vs Fate

    1794 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to the Oxford English Dictionary, fate is defined as "the development of events outside a person's control, regarded

    Read More

More about Exploring Fate and Self-Reliance: An Analysis of Emerson's Contradictions

Open Document