Emerson's Self-Reliance, By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a famous essayist of the Romantic Era, helped to lead the transcendentalist movement with his essays describing individualism: “Nature,” “Self-Reliance,” and “Each and All.” “Self-Reliance,” specifically, portrays the idea of the transcendentalist movement through breaking away from the norms of society, for one must make his own decisions. Emerson explains that people should not rely on knowledge provided by others; instead, they should make their decisions based on personal experiences and thoughts. Rather than depending on what society believes is right or wrong, Emerson expresses his idea that it is better determine one’s own opinion about a subject than having the same belief as others. Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” helps promote the idea of transcendentalism in the Romantic Era through the ideas of making one’s own decisions, ignoring the norms of society, and making decisions without fear based on social status. Throughout Emerson’s “Self-Reliance, he stresses the idea of people making their own decisions on certain beliefs. Throughout the Romantic Era, authors used their works to push the idea of individualism. Likewise, Emerson adds emphasis to this idea in his belief of people

Emerson’s idea of people making their own decisions is a vital point presented throughout the Romantic Era. Not only does Emerson introduce the idea of breaking away from the norms of society but other authors also speak against common ideas based on customs of society. Moreover, a prevailing topic demonstrated in Emerson’s essay is the idea of focusing no attention to a person’s social status. Ultimately, Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” conforms to many aspects of the Romantic Era through the characteristics of making one’s own decisions, disregarding what society views as right or wrong, and focusing little attention towards financial