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Hawthorne criticizes puritan society
Hawthorne criticizes puritan society
Whitman song of nature
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Self-reliance is present in the writers of American literature as one 's own powers and resources rather than those of others in the purpose of feeling love for a nation and be kind as an example for all readers to follow the person and respect for what they should have been. Self-reliance makes more sense when we see in what context the authors write and the serious ideas they wanted to deliver to us. A closer reading of this period of authors allows us to view the value social reform movement and group action more than authors in the early period, so those were perhaps partly due to the maturity one gains in the life cycle, perhaps partly due to the failure of individual philanthropy to solve the increasing social problems of the author …show more content…
First of all, self-reliance represents maturity for a strong society. Emerson 's ideas of self-reliance in this point are very thought out and evolved throughout his lifetime. He said, "Belive anything you want to believe and do anything you want to do" in "Self-Reliance", he showed the relationship he had among the people and how ethical behavior of them has to be in American society. The maturity of the writing of Emerson 's poem includes the ideas about the "deep force" that existed to him and all people as an individual identity in the universe that is "true for all men" and all human beings. The reliance is the sign for strong feeling and the picture to design the standing up to society efforts to make them conform for moving forward. This maturity for strong power we read to "Song of Myself" by Whitman 's that tell us the man 's power with self-reliance is comprised with ideas, experiences, states and himself is at the same time individual voice with universal desires. It is not easy for those writers to get together an organization and …show more content…
That work is not staying without movement, but appointing to the several problems of political excitement for desirable life. Staying in this theme, they make short and long stories and follow the adventures in believing, starting, growing, solving, and finishing the problems, which may "change upon a summer night, not far from a hundred years ago" said Hawthorne in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux". They truly represented life in American society and describe what are the same major principles of the civilization in their life. For example, Emerson in "Self-Reliance", emphasizes following one 's own voice rather than an intermediary 's such as the church and this was conforming to social expectation when people try to abandon the church. Whitman in "Song of Myself", emphasize the features of Leaves of Grass that reflect to the American people to love the country and coherence to the apparently disconnected images or scenes. Whitman needed to tell all of us that this is a very great place of living with all you need and for what you have to be thankful as a moral problem for higher education. Hawthorne emphasizes in "My Kinsman" the information for lack of civility and humanity as a skill to be free and increase ideas of responsibility for each individual has for the country signing of the United States Constitution. Those authors with their works make a big jump for independence of American
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.
The authors’ literary works had a way of communicating and expressing their way of life by their own writing styles. The authors I will discuss shared their experience adapting into American culture. The authors I chosen to discuss is Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, and Thomas Paine who are distinctly different people who share a common background, but overcome different obstacles living in America. The criteria I have to share about their life experiences is their own writings and documented information from credible resources. The analyses and interpretations in the authors writings gives us idea about who they are because of their hardships in America, a new government, and their new culture.
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
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.
Emerson’s idea of self- reliance is different from similar to the common use of the term (take care of your own needs and don’t depend on others outside yourself) Emerson’s idea is similar because the words “self- reliant” is saying take care of your own. When your self reliant or taking care of your own you are dependent and not relying on other people. His idea is different because “self- reliant” is a more sophisticated way of saying “I can hold my own” and or “I can take care of myself.”
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
Throughout the span of this semester, much of the literature discussed revolved around the so-called renaissance of American literature and its impact upon both the nation and its people. Of all the authors studied in this time period, Walt Whitman may well be known as the quintessential American author. Famous for breaking every rule known to poetry in the inimitable compilation, Song of Myself, Whitman provided a fresh and insightful commentary upon the dualistic nature of society, love, and life itself. Through defining these essential aspects of humanity, Whitman indeed composed one of the most accurate and enduring definitions of the individual self that literature, American or otherwise, has ever seen. Specifically, this was done through
Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane wrote about the importance of relying on oneself in their novels, Walden and Maggie: A Girl of the Streets respectively, while disagreeing on the significance of philanthropy and material possessions. Thoreau writes about his expedition to Walden Pond to find the true core values of life and connect with nature in his novel, Walden. He expresses romantic and philosophical views on life in Walden, emphasizing different themes such as simplicity, obscurity, and self-sufficiency. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets features a young immigrant woman of the grimy New York tenements, who falls into a hopeless romance, forcing her into the neglected life of a prostitute.
... 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.
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.
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.”
One recurring theme of this era of American literature was the idea of establishing independence for the United States from the historical ties to Europe. A cry went out for Americans to marvel in the wonders of their own backyard, rather than to look overseas to the previously dominant western European nations. Emerson was no exception to this movement and took time during his “The American Scholar'; lecture to speak of the need for the present generation of Americans to establish their own history: “Each age, it is found, must write its own books; or rather, each generation for the next succeeding. The books of an older period will not fit this.'; Emerson called for active, original thought on the part of American scholars and criticized those who wrote as they: “set out from accepted dogmas, not from their own sight of principles.'; His criticism more specifically, was directed to those scholars who looked abroad for inspiration, only to find: “That which had been negligently trodden under foot by those who were harnessing and provisioning themselves for long journies into far countries, [are] suddenly found to be richer than all foreign parts.
In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance,” Emerson calls for each person in society to be wholly true to themselves. He claims that it is most rewarding to the individual and the society for people to believe in one’s own thoughts and not in the thoughts of others. Emerson believes that conformity will ultimately lead to an individual’s demise because by living for others, people are not being true to themselves. Therefore in order to have a well-formed society, citizens should focus inward and have confidence in their own ideas before beginning to look towards other individuals; moreover, Emerson calls individuals not only in “Self-Reliance,” but also in numerous essays to act independently from conformity and to live for themselves.
“What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think(American Literature Reader, pg. 56)” perfectly describes the main meaning of Self-Reliance. Emerson wants his readers to stop letting the community influence their own opinion and start trusting themselves. He says that men have to concentrate on their own thoughts and make them public. The beliefs of other men are not important for oneself since every human has inborn knowledge to recognize what is right, what is wrong and to understand moral truth.