Self-Reliance by Emerson - Essay Example

Emerson In the essay "Self-reliance" once a man has acquired life's bare necessities and feels adequately accommo d in the areas of food andshelter, Emerson then believes he has an obligation to seek his true self. He believes this is done by establishing individuality, trusting instincts, and re-evaluating established thoughts by thinking creatively. He urges us to reject conforming to conventional society that hinders man's opportunity to develop his unique self-identity. Although Emerson's views on self-reliance give support to personal idealism, they are fraught with romanticism and present over-used and impractical ideas for today's world. Emerson, a former preacher forced from his church for preaching his own radical ideas on Christianity, uses strong arguments to try and get us to understand his individual philosophical perspective. Emerson tries to be the embodiment of every man not merely the writer/intellectual. He seeks affinity with all men striving for individuality, especially those disillusioned with society's constraints. Just because not conforming to the expectations of society was a compelling discovery for Emerson, one hundred and fifty years ago, today it is unlikely to rally the same enthusiasm Emerson had then. Especially when Emerson exhorts: "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world." (Emerson, pg. 876) Have we found that power to trust ourselves "And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort and advancing on Chaos and the Dark" (Emerson, pg. 875) "Self-Reliance" expressed the need for creative thinking. Recognizing the reality that society during Emerson's time opposed reform and the reformer, makes his statement even bolder. For Emerson individualism conflicted directly with society. Although Emerson often criticized society, he stressed how important it was for the individual to reach openness through the soul. The quote "To be great is to be misunderstood" (Emerson, pg. 879) exemplified those who shunned ideas regarding new thought and theory during his time. Today's era echo's a different chord. We constantly thrive on the newest and latest in writing, music, television and video games. We are easily bored with things unimaginative, over used and over-romanticized. Entertainment has become very individualized. As for self-sufficiency, what kid attending his first day of school isn't already inundated with the prospect of being programmed to become self-reliant If a child appears too dependant early on, parent-teacher conferences are soon in order to correct the problem. Independence is revered; free spiritedness that creates chaos is frowned upon, in classrooms and in society. Emerson muses: "What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." (Emerson, pg. 877) Again, Emerson's romantic notion of the free thinker on his mountain top living by his own set of values and beliefs is not a new concept today. Our society freely condones creative thinking as long as it doesn't infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others. We've gone full-circle in terms of expressing individuality and freedom. Our freedom today is measured by political correctness. Sensitivity to alternative lifestyles and embracing the differences of others is at a premium. Emerson's ideas that seemed so revolutionary during his era are tame by today's comparisons. We all seek individuality in one way or another: how we dress, the car we drive, our hair color, to pierce or not to pierce. These notions all flirt with the idea that today you can become anything that you want to be. Knowing that we have all the freedom to become anything is sometimes more intimidating than not having that realization at all. With Emerson's statement: "A man must consider what a blindman's-buff is this game of conformity. If I know your sect, I anticipate your argument." (Emerson, pg. 878) Some validity can be given to what he's saying, yet we don't see the basis for criticizing divergent views; unless they attack us directly. Again, because individuality is emphasized so widely, if a group presents a belief in opposition to our beliefs we would grant that freedom as long as they weren't posing any threat. We can't imagine a group or organization that doesn't exist for those who have the desire or belief. Because Emerson's beliefs were ahead of their time, he too was considered to be "misunderstood." When he asks then: "Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood." (Emerson, pg. 879) Romanticizing this notion of being the undaunted voice crying out in the face of opposition, again, doesn't carry the same weight. We are used to strong-willed individuals standing up to injustice and expressing their personal beliefs. The only difference being that even Emerson couldn't envision women taking an active role in such causes. Not only do we embrace individuals, irrespective of gender to oppose injustice, but we encourage them to voice it. This is probably one of the most distinct differences. We're so far ahead in our individual freedom today that when we see someone abusing it, it sticks out, glaring and incongruent. Another notion romanticized by Emerson is that of the person who achieves individual success using unconventional means but is not viewed with the same professional esteem. "A sturdy lad from New Hampshire or Vermont, who in turn tries all the professions, who teams it, farms it, peddles, keeps a school, preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to Congress, buys a township, and so forth, in successive years, and always, like a cat, falls on his feet, is worth a hundred of these city dolls. He walks abreast with his days, and feels no shame in not 'studying a profession,' for he does not postpone his life, but lives already. He has not one chance, but a hundred chances." (Emerson, pg. 886) If anything today we are guilty of over-romanticizing the unlikely success story. It graces our news programs and is the fodder for movies and television shows. It has even infiltrated our consciousness with reality shows. We even have an expression to characterize this rallying thing we do with strong emotion and affection. It is called: "Rooting for the underdog." Sadly, an area we haven't been able to overcome that Emerson extols as a key proponent for maintaining individuality is in imitating something successful. Emerson advises, "Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession." (pg. 889) Which is worse being held accountable for one glaring indiscretion or like Emerson's influence, to be clichd and romanticized, and readily found in self-help sections of any book store In Emerson's day the ideas he presented for "Self-reliance" were extraordinary and innovative. His philosophy on individuality and non-conformity created a movement that still is being discussed and studied today. However, with many of his views not only have we caught up with him but we're seeing him in our rearview mirrors. Emerson's romanticized notions are now viewed in the context that he pioneered the need to establish an individual creative approach to life. However, the idea of receiving recognition for expressing unique talents is so popular, we are now guilty of over-indulging those capable of expressing them. The desire to establish individuality has become an idol. Cited Works Emerson, Ralph W. "Self Reliance." Anthology of American Literature. Volume 1. Eighth edition. Eds. George McMichael et al. New Jersey: Pearson/ Prentice Hall, 2004. 874-891 Read More