Individualism In Ralph Waldo Emerson And Henry David Thoreau
Individualism: Part of Being American
Individualism at its heart is the concept of being free from state control, independent or self reliant; in deeper contexts, the drive to overcome personal and social issues. This collection of ideas has been an integral part of American culture. Ever since the colonial era, we have fought for and displayed our individualism. There is also an idiom- “nothing ventured, nothing gained”, and Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau display these concepts wonderfully in their essays, “Self Reliance” and “Walden” respectively.
“Self Reliance” is a perfect example of individualism at its finest. The main point of his essay is even in the title, to be self reliant. To be self reliant, you rely on your own power to accomplish or goal, rather than using somebody else to help you along the way. “Whoso would be a …show more content…
man, must be a nonconformist.
He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore it 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 122) Essentially, to be a man, you must not conform to society’s standards and be your own person free from any and all influences. If you don’t venture outside of the norm, then you will never be able to become yourself and become just another one of society’s pawns instead. When you go to look outside and see people, you see very distinct individuals, some of whom might be in groups, such as a baseball or football team. Each one of these individual people each has their own thoughts, ways of life and their own bodies. In a way, Emerson is arguing against collectivism, which is the concept that everybody is part of a group and must sacrifice themselves for said group. In order to break free from collectivism, again we absolutely must
travel outside of social norms and become one with yourself, god and nature. “Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of it’s members. Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread, to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs”(Emerson, 122). Emerson is only enforcing his beliefs that we need to get rid of the notion of collectivism
Individualism at its heart is the concept of being free from state control, independent or self reliant; in deeper contexts, the drive to overcome personal and social issues. This collection of ideas has been an integral part of American culture. Ever since the colonial era, we have fought for and displayed our individualism. There is also an idiom- “nothing ventured, nothing gained”, and Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau display these concepts wonderfully in their essays, “Self Reliance” and “Walden” respectively.
“Self Reliance” is a perfect example of individualism at its finest. The main point of his essay is even in the title, to be self reliant. To be self reliant, you rely on your own power to accomplish or goal, rather than using somebody else to help you along the way. “Whoso would be a …show more content…
man, must be a nonconformist.
He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore it 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 122) Essentially, to be a man, you must not conform to society’s standards and be your own person free from any and all influences. If you don’t venture outside of the norm, then you will never be able to become yourself and become just another one of society’s pawns instead. When you go to look outside and see people, you see very distinct individuals, some of whom might be in groups, such as a baseball or football team. Each one of these individual people each has their own thoughts, ways of life and their own bodies. In a way, Emerson is arguing against collectivism, which is the concept that everybody is part of a group and must sacrifice themselves for said group. In order to break free from collectivism, again we absolutely must
travel outside of social norms and become one with yourself, god and nature. “Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of it’s members. Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree for the better securing of his bread, to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs”(Emerson, 122). Emerson is only enforcing his beliefs that we need to get rid of the notion of collectivism