Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance Analysis

2256 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Self - reliance in society

“Trust Thyself,” these are Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quintessential words in Self-Reliance. Self-Reliance is an epic essay on individualism that embodies transcendentalism – a philosophical movement that aims for its followers to aspire to original, honest, and virtuous thoughts among other belief in nature and unity of spirits. One scholar, Alan Hodder wrote about the essay, it is “arguably America 's most famous essay” and “Despite the passage of time, this essay has never lost its power to inspire or to enrage” (423). The ideals of an individual are the foremost concern though. Emerson’s ideal of an individual is essentially the belief of genius in oneself. He calls for individuals to have free thoughts and struggle to overcome the shackles of captive thought and subservience. Emerson further writes of philosophical musings to that which we all came from, and of the divine truths that are timeless and inherent in the essence of humanity. Emerson’s message of individual value is a glorious and inspiring message. He had these thoughts in a time when the only opinions …show more content…

Emerson writes, “I suppose no man can violate his nature.” Given this, people should not establish a comfortable rut where the same tasks and chores are done to mindless ends. Emerson also writes, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin minds.” Consistency is relegation to insignificance. Opportunities to broaden the mind are lost. Ultimately, if people fail to go outside the established boundaries, then their lives will not change and nothing will differentiate them from the populace. To quote the brilliant 20th century scientist Albert Einstein, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Such a person bound to consistency has no more value than an insect which only function serves to live a non-sentient existence and reproduce further happenstance

Show More
Related

  • Does Benjamin Anstas Make About Ralph Waldo Emerson Self Reliance

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The Foul Reign Of Self Reliance

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    Self reliance was proposed by Ralph Emerson. ANastas claims that “self reliance” has impacted the American society So in this essay it starts off in the setting of an English class at the authors private school. His teacher “Mr.Sideways” is the teacher that first introduced him to Emerson. They begin to go on and on describing how “self reliance’ has had a negative impact on the American society. When talking about Emersons essay it states that it has a negative impact on society mainly in politics and government because they present a selfish and self-centered view. Later in the article he mentions an advertisement for Apple and in this advertisement a poem called “Here’s to The Crazy Ones” he states in the article that the ad reflects how the actions that one takes has little to no meaning and that is because it is so important to be viewed as a nonconformist. In our politics it is almost impossible to try to compromise and that prevents anything from being done. it The adoption of self reliance comes with many other things, he lets us know that it comes with self importance as well as self centeredness. Antasas lets us know what Emerson said is not good people focusing on themselves is a damaging thing and does not help with anything.SO overall the author still completes his purpose he demonstrates how the

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Self Reliance

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    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."

    Read More

  • Comparing Ideology in Emerson's Self Reliance and Catcher in the Rye

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    Human beings all around the world are different in many ways. They all have their unique and physical characteristics, as well as different personalities. They each also have different ideas and thoughts on different topics. America is made up of a great amount of diverse people with diverse, even conflicting opinions and ideas. Diversity is a major component of the foundation of our country. The cliché of American as a salad bowl is extremely true. Every person is different and every person in his or her own way makes up a small part of America. Without the diversity of ideas and beliefs of Americans, the nation would not be nearly as successful as we are. A major similarity between Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self Reliance and J.D Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is a non-conformist ideology that both exhibit, and the idea that one should choose their own individuality above confomity.

    Read More

  • The Use Of Aphorisms In Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self Reliance

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    Douglas Adams once said “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” This quote resembles the idea that is illustrated throughout Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance. Many people believe that we need to plan out their own life, but God lays out your life in his own unique way. Emerson uses many different types of aphorisms throughout the essay to express how we need to fulfill our own life. He also expresses that we should follow God’s path toward what he wants them to show within their lives. My philosophical values are congruent with Ralph Waldo Emerson’s. Emerson reminds us to stay true to ourselves, avoiding conforming to societies’ expectations, and ultimately listening to our own inner voice.

    Read More

  • Self Reliance Rhetorical Analysis

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Emerson and His Impact on Today's Society

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Wakefulness: Thoreau, Whitman, and Emerson

    1545 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... God. Self-reliance is the idea of individuality and making decisions for oneself. In turn, creating a more highbrow society is achieved through self-reliance and the belief in intellectual distinction. Finally becoming closer to God allows one to realize they are just a small part of even greater concept. Thoreau, Emerson, and Whitman showed that intellect is the most important aspect of their works and they believe everyone should pursue these three facets of living.

    Read More

  • How Does Rip Van Winkle Relate To Self Reliance

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Response to Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    If I can successfully shape my life around ideas of self-reliance I can be exactly who I want to be. I look around me and don’t want to conform to society’s standards, I recognize that there is an easy way out, but try my best to remain true to myself by following my heart with pure conviction. Because of my desire to remain true to myself, I closely identify with Emerson in “Self-Reliance”: “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, - that is genius.”

    Read More

  • Observations on Emerson's Self-Reliance

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles ." This quotation forms the closing two lines of Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self Reliance". I am greatly enlightened by his ideas in this article. "Trust thyself" was his advice and many Americans listened. They not only listened in Emerson's lifetime, but his individualistic concepts have reverberated up to the present time. After reading the ideas expressed in "Self-Reliance", I have come to believe that self-reliance is the most important factor in my life.

    Read More

  • Autonomy and Self-Reliance: Kant Vs. Emmerson

    1675 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the late eighteenth century, with the publication of his theories on morality, Immanuel Kant revolutionized philosophy in a way that greatly impacted the decades of thinkers after him. The result of his influence led to perceptions and interpretations of his ideas reflected in the works of writers all around the world. Kant’s idealism stems from a claim that moral law, a set of innate rules within each individual, gives people the ability to reason, and it is through this that people attain truth. These innate rules exist in the form of maxims: statements that hold a general truth. Using this, Kant concluded with the idea of autonomy, in which all rational human wills are autonomous, each individual is bound by their own will and in an ideal society, people should operate only according to their reason. Influenced by Kant’s ideas, an american writer by the name of Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote his own call to individual morality through an essay on Self-Reliance. In “Self-Reliance”, Emerson tells individuals to trust in their own judgments, act only according to their own wills, and to use their own judgment to determine what is right. Emerson’s Self-Reliance and Kant’s autonomy differ to the extent of where reason comes from. However, they agree on its purpose in dictating the individual’s judgment and actions. As a result, Autonomy and Self-Reliance have essentially the same message. Both Kant and Emerson agree that the individual should trust only their own reason, that they are bound only by their own free will, and that the actions of an individual should be governed by reason.

    Read More

  • The Idea of Self-Reliance in Henry David Thoreau's 'Walden'

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leading transcendentalist and close friend of David Henry Thoreau, says, “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius. Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense; for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost, —— and our first thought is rendered back to us by the trumpets of the Last Judgment” (Self-Reliance). Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writing Self-Reliance had an impact on David Henry Thoreau and is influential as to why he moved out to Walden

    Read More

  • What Are Examples Of Transcendentalism

    415 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the essay “Self Reliance”, Emerson illustrates the ideas of Transcendentalism by describing how one must trust themselves and not be swayed by others. Emerson's essay “Self Reliance” demonstrates one of transcendentalism main principles of trusting one’s intuition. In paragraph 3 Emerson begins to speak of the importance of nonconformity and one’s intuition. It is in this paragraph where he quips “nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind”(Emerson 1).

    Read More

  • Emerson Self Reliance Essay

    381 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" evokes the independent American spirit, defining itself as the personal power of individuality through simplicity and hard work. Emerson espouses, "Whoso would be a man must also be a non-conformist." (Emerson 1165) And again he avows, "insist on yourself, never imitate." (1177) Emerson's version of self-reliance depicts one's freedom to exercise his will without the pressures of social or economic influence.

    Read More

More about Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance Analysis

Open Document