The Theme of Self-Reliance in Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson
I will, in the following, discuss the theme of self-reliance in the above-mentioned texts. But what exactly is self-reliance? In his 1841 publication called Essays, Ralph Waldo Emerson includes an essay simply entitled Self-Reliance in which he states "Trust thyself…Great men have always done so and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age…" . Self-reliance is thus defined as the ability to be your own master and to seek your own fortune free from influences from your surroundings.
Hawthorne wrote Young Goodman Brown in 1835, some 6 years before Emerson's Self-Reliance. Still it is obvious from the text that the notion of self-reliance was, if not named, very much alive. In the text we encounter Goodman Brown -- a pious puritan settler - as he embarks on a strange and perilous journey into the woods surrounding the settlement. Hawthorne, being a harsh critic of the puritan society from which he himself derived, uses the story as an allegory, a metaphor, for the necessity of facing your internal demons and doing it alone. The Puritans believed that the wilderness was the home of the devil and his minions (Indians, wild beasts and the like) and
as such was a place to be shunned. Still, Goodman Brown leaves behind his devoted and maiden-
like wife (appropriately named Faith) and walks off. In the woods he encounters a man with features remarkably like his own (it is himself, his demon within) that guides him to a place of evil worship. Goodman Brown has visions of unthinkable evil that leaves him paranoid and unable to feel happiness for the remainder of his life. Because he has succumbed to fear of failure, he fails. But why does he f...
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...in mind goes to show that this philosophy did not arise from one day to the other. It slowly formed itself at the base of the American culture and literature in particular played a key part in this manifestation. Self-reliance defined the thought of American exceptionalism to the point where it gave birth to the American dream. Literature was itself influenced by these developments, but it also helped further them by spreading the above-mentioned notions to the common people. In any case the 2 texts are among the best American literature I have ever read.
1061 words
William Bjarnø
Bibliography:
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Young Goodman Brown
Norton Anthology of American Literature, 5th edition
Page 613 to 623
Clemens, Samuel J.
The adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Norton Anthology of American Literature, 5th edition
Page 1265 to 1453
Self reliance means to rely on one’s own powers and resources rather than those of others. Having self reliance is the key to controlling one 's own future. James Frey demonstrated this in the memoir, A Million Little Pieces, when he was forced to overcome addiction by relying solely on himself rather than by listening to the professionals in the rehab clinic. During his time in the rehab clinic, James did not overcome his substance abuse by following the notorious twelve step program: he overcame the abuse by taking control of the addiction on his own. Instead of blaming his family or his genetics for the cause of the addiction, he blamed himself for his decision to drink alcohol and use drugs. Because of his stubborn personality, he refused to let anyone take
INTRODUCTION: why is Young Goodman Brown a sinful and bitter person? Why and how is he like that?
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.
...loses control of his whole body, when he enters to convert to the devil.The dark figure declares "Evil is the nature of mankind" (314). Which mean that evil consists in everyone. Suddenly, Goodman Brown regains his consciousness and starts to call his wife, "Faith! Faith! Look up to Heaven and resist the wicked one!" (314). He wants her to regain consciousness. After that, Goodman Brown finds himself in the woods, “amid calm night and solitude, listening to a roar of the wind, which died heavily away through the forest” (314).
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.”
Unfortunately, Goodman Brown truly has lost his faith. Though his wife appears unchanged and wishes to welcome him with open, loving arms Brown rejects her. The reader is left slightly confused as to why, but perhaps Brown has given up hope that good can win over the enormous amount of sin or evil out there. He is unable to accept Faith now that he is forced to see her in her unclean or imperfect state. Brown can no longer see the good for the evil surrounding him, and has lost all hope. Although Brown tried to resist the devil, in the end he failed in his journey of exploring evil and returning to the side of good.
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.”
The name of Goodman Brown and his wife Faith are clear symbolic elements. Goodman Brown stands for the naïve, immature young man who only sees the good in his fellowman, and has yet to be confronted with evil. Faith, Goodman Brown’s young wife stands for what Goodman Brown believes in. He sees his wife as all that is good and when he realizes that she too has made a pack with the devil he cries “my faith is gone…There is no good on earth.” This makes Brown a stern, sad and distrustful man. I think Hawthorne was saying th...
to an Indian village” and “lashed the Quaker women” (312). These acts show that he does not come from a family of "good Christians" (312). When Goodman Brown's first excuse not to carry on with the errand proves to be unconvincing, he says he can't go
On Brown's return from his errand he finds that all seems apparently normal, but he cannot help shun his wife, who runs to meet him in the street, Goody Cloyse and the other good people. Brown's experience in the forest permanently blights his life. He scowls and mutters during prayers, suspects all the pious, recoils from his wife in bed at night and finally dies sad and without hope.
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.
... 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.
Goodman Brown, a young man who was only married for three months, left his home and his wife, Faith, to go into the forest and spend the night on some mission that he will not explain. Even though Faith has strong feelings about his journey and begs him not to leave, Brown has made his decision and leaves everything behind. Faith is appropriately named, because she represents Browns faith and what he believes in. The name is genuine, religious and hopeful. It represents the good side of Brown and his hope for life. He feels bad for leaving her because he knows what he is about to do is evil and goes against his faith. Brown swears that after this night he will be good and not do anything evil again and vow his life to Faith. Brown is upset about leaving her because he knows that what he is about to do in the forest is evil and goes against his Faith. Hawthorne describes Browns journey as "crossing the threshold", meaning that he is going from one part of his life to another, he is leaving the genuine good side to go to the bad evil side.
From the beginning of Hawthorne’s story a test of faith prevails. From the moment that Young Goodman Brown parts with his wife, Faith, to when they meet again at the heart of the forest, the very manner Young Goodman Brown has been taught his entire life is at stake. Yet it is not so much Goodman Brown’s faith in God that is the concern but whether or not Goodman Brown feels he can trust anyone or anything he has ever come to know and believe in. Society has preconditioned him to think a certain way, thus through this journey Young Goodman Brown cannot deal with the new Puritan life he witnesses. Since he is unsure of what his society is truly like Goodman Brown is now incapable of knowing his place in society and knowing whom he really is.