Rhetorical Analysis Of The Foul Reign Of Self Reliance

In the article “The Foul Reign of Self Reliance” by Benjamin Anastas the main topic being discussed is the topic of self reliance. It discusses how it is bad and how much the American society has been negatively effected because of it especially in politics because self reliance presents a self centered view. In the article Anastas’s uses rhetorical strategies such as pathos, logos, and to help the readers understand the concept of “self reliance”. Anasta’s uses pathos as well as logos, Anecdote and tone tone to let the reader know that the ideas that Emerson is discussing is not ok. Through out the article he explains that self reliance comes with one having to be selfish and self centered, Anasta uses examples from our society and challenges

what Emerson had said in his essay. Anasta achieves his goal and demonstrates hot the idea that Emerson proposed of “self reliance’ is actually just causing harm to our society.
“In the Foul Reign of Self Reliance” by Benjamin Anastas the main topic being discussed is the topic of “self reliance”, and how it has negatively damaged society.

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

idea of self reliance that was said by Emerson is doing nothing else but negatively impacting our society.
Benjamin Anastas’ uses many rhetorical strategies.

Some rhetorical devices that are used are anecdotal evidence, diction, pathos, logos and tone too. Anastas states his opinion of “self reliance” with an anecdote immediately once starting the essay. He states his teacher was not the smartest man ever, he thought what Emerson was stating was right and looked at things that way. In the beginning of the paragraphs Anastas’ uses intense dictation to express the same type of dictation Emerson had in “Self Reliance” what he does there is ironic and mocks Emerson. Certain words that Anastas’ uses such as “high flown pap” and “real hokum” made it very clear to the reader that the article was going to be about criticism of Emerson’s philosophy. Through out the whole article the tone and somewhat sarcasm presented within the text allows us to see how Anastas does not agree with Emerson. The diction used through out the entire essay is what one can call” smart” he uses sarcasm to argue what Emerson has said to believe is right. Anastas uses a strong tone to show that “self reliance” is not a good thing at

all.
Through out the article Anastas uses pathos and logos to help the reader get a better understand on an emotional as well as in a logical way to persuade the reader by reason. He accomplishes this by stating examples through out his text making the reader look at things in a certain way. One greta example that was uses was how the ad that was made back in 1997 the ad named “Think Different” by apple. The point of this ad was to show all the people who once did something different than any one else the what some would call the “crazy ones”. This ad contains all the people and their “crazy” ( something society did not approve) messages and how they did what they did to try and help as well as change the world. This ad also connects back to what Emerson had at the beginning which was an Emerson changing the world and its outlook.
Overall Emerson does a great job proving his point at the end however; it ca be pretty confusing after a few times you understand. This article should show people not to follow what everyone else is doing. One should do what they think is right not caring if it is considered normal or not. Someone should use their own mind and thoughts and live by their own rules to be happy. Anastas does a great job stating his opinion on what he thinks of Emersons “self reliance”. He uses a lot of evidence and examples to back up what he is trying to show his audience. Self Reliance is harming society one should be different and not try to be selfish and self centered because that is not the way to get anything done or to live a better life as a whole.