The essay “Self-Reliance”, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is a persuasive essay promoting the ways of transcendentalism. He uses this paper to advance a major point using a structure that helps his argument. In the paper, Emerson begins his concluding thoughts with a statement that greater self-reliance will bring a revolution. He then applies this idea to society and all of its aspects, including religion, education, and art. This brings Emerson to a new, more precise focus on how society never advance, rather it recedes on one side as fast as it gains on the other. This shocking, yet intriguing, idea is supported and augmented using tone, metaphor, example, and the consequence of ignoring his opinion. The final result is a conglomeration of ideas into the major points that, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” With the major points and devices used by Emerson defined, it is now possible to examine in greater detail how he persuades the reader, starting with the use of tone.
The use of word choice, sentence length and structure, as well as many other factors set the tone of this paper. The final result is a paper that has a conciliatory tone. A paper written in this authoritative style is helpful in persuasion. It pulls the reader into the authors ideas, making them your own. The tone of the paper thus allows for metaphors to be extremely powerful in promoting Emerson’s ideas.
The metaphors are numerous throughout the paper, however there is one indelible one towards the end of the paper that really helps to shape the essay. “Society is a wave. The wave move onward, but the water of which it is composed does not.” The clear metaphor of society to the wave and the particles of water to the people distinctively demonstrates Emerson’s idea the society never advances. If a man is not self-confident and is unable to share himself with others, as people die so too does their experience. But the ability to be self-reliant eliminates this loss of experience. Although this metaphor is strong enough on its own to provide all of the support necessary for the idea that society never advances, Emerson adds to it and his other ideas with examples.
The first examples are used to support the lack of progression of society. The “civilized” man of the Americas and Europe is compared to the “savages” of New Zealand.
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.
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
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."
Emerson, Ralph. "Self-Reliance." The American Tradition in Literature. Eighth Edition. Ed. George Perkins. New York. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994.
Throughout our history, we have repeatedly tried to exploit the environment (i.e. nature) in order to perfect our lives. We not only manipulated the materialistic and economic aspect of our world, but we have also struggled to use the moral and the spiritual in making progress within ourselves. Instead of relying on ourselves to accomplish this purpose, we have unfortunately sought help from society's traditional institutions. These institutions, in turn, have tired to manipulate us for their own good, resulting in more harm than help. During the nineteenth century, authors such as Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne recognized this and have tried to stop it through their writings. To this end, they have adopted Ralph Waldo Emerson's view that people choose to deny the power of reason, or their own mind. He believed that until people choose to see the "light" of reason, they will remain morally dead. With the achievement of reason, external institutions will remain useless and they will understand that the spirit they so vehemently desired is indeed within them and will without a doubt eliminate their moral darkness. Therefore, Emerson affirmed that the only eternal law is that of experience and that "the one thing in the world of value is the active soul-the soul, free, sovereign, active." This essay will discuss how these authors (Melville, Hawthorne, and Dickinson) composed writings that mimicked Emerson's view of life to accentuate individualism against subjugation.
In the early 1900s, a philosophical movement emerged known as Transcendentalism. Its, including renowned writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, believe in five main principles: non-conformity, self-reliance, free thought, self-confidence, and the importance of nature. These principles inspired Henry David Thoreau’s essay entitled “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”. This is a bold, powerful piece of work that is very progressive for its time period, and has sparked a fire in the hearts of all those who have indulged in its words.
“Do not go where the path may lead you; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, the father of Transcendentalism, emphasized the importance of nonconformity in a world filled with followers. Instead of molding into society’s creation, or following “the path,” Emerson promoted abstaining from losing one’s individuality and creating a new “trail.” Emerson’s belief in refusing to conform and protecting one’s differences remains an integral part in living a transcendental life. As one of the fundamental rights of the movement, maintaining a distinct identity was an elusive but interesting concept, especially in the nineteenth century. Moreover, the act of finding one’s self in nature exists prominently
Simple descriptions such as homes, religions, and hospitality, exemplify the different expectations of a “savage” land and a “civilized” land. These distinctive differences demonstrate the different classifications of a civilized and an uncivilized country.
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
The so-called ‘practical men’ sneer at speculative men, as if, because they speculate or see, they should do nothing…As far as this is true of the studious classes, it is not just and wise. Action is with the scholar subordinate, but it is essential. Without it, he is not yet man. Without it, thought can never ripen into truth. Whilst the world hangs before the eye as a cloud of beauty, we cannot even see its beauty. Inaction is cowardice, but there can be no scholar without the heroic mind.” (Emerson’s Prose and Poetry,
An influential literary movement in the nineteenth century, transcendentalism placed an emphasis on the wonder of nature and its deep connection to the divine. As the two most prominent figures in the transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau whole-heartedly embraced these principles. In their essays “Self-Reliance” and “Civil Disobedience”, Emerson and Thoreau, respectively, argue for individuality and personal expression in different manners. In “Self-Reliance”, Emerson calls for individuals to speak their minds and resist societal conformity, while in “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau urged Americans to publicly state their opinions in order to improve their own government.
... 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.
Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” After the American Romantic Era, there was a common drive amongst the population to improve themselves as individuals. This movement towards self-improvement signaled the beginning of a new literary era in the United States: The American Renaissance. As a substitute to the traditional intellect, people in this time period chose to fall back on a religious view of the world, Transcendentalism. In this view, every physical item reflected the Divine Soul and these items served as a pathway to the spiritual world. The basis of this idea is that humans must go above the physical world in order to have a very divine experience or realization of themselves and the Divine Soul. In Transcendentalism, self-reliance and individuality became extremely important, which led to various social movements and reforms. For example, education became a hot topic of discussion throughout the Lyceum Movement. During the American Renaissance era, the Lyceum Movement influenced the transition of the American Dream to focus more on the individual’s destiny and self-improvement through the value of spontaneous feelings over intellect in Transcendentalism, as seen in various social reform movements and literary pieces of the time.
“Nothing can bring to a man so much of happiness or so much of misery as man himself.” – Frederick Douglass
A transcendental theme displayed in Emerson’s, Thoreau’s, Donovan’s, and Krakauer’s essays is self-reliance. Self-Reliance is the act of relying on your resources and ideas rather than using others. In Emerson’s works Nature, Self-Reliance, and Concord Hymn he provides on how you can focus on yourself in unlikely place. In Thoreau’s works Walden, and Civil Disobedience he expresses that your thoughts and ideas dictates society and law. In Donovan’s poem It's All-On-Me he writes about how at the end of the day you have to rise up and trust yourself to dictate your life. In Krakauer’s work Into the Wild the main