Individualism In The Earth On Turtle's Back
One pride that American culture values most is individualism; where one is self-reliant. However, individualism has taken its own course and developed over time. Previously, individualism was based on one’s own values and morals where they based their lives on their own ideals. The ideal of individualism developed into a set of morals and ideals of one individual in which their values and morals spreads to society. America was founded on the basis of individualism, where one is free to express their personal values and ideals. During this time, America had limitless amounts of land with vast resources where each man was able to claim their fortune based on their individual effort. Many immigrants who came to America were in pursuit of the
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“American Dream,” where they hoped to improve the condition of their lives, which was the beginning of individualism. At this point, many sought their own morals and values in life and set out to chase what they believed in. Many individuals had their unique set of self-image, “your genuine action will explain itself … your conformity explains nothing” (Emerson). Ralph Waldo Emerson greatly encouraged American’s to stay at home and make their own culture, to find their own individualist ideals instead of traveling around the world and being exposed to the many different cultures, where it would be hard for one to discover who they are as an individual.
As individualism began to become more common, individualism soon began to spread and other people started to conform to certain beliefs.
Just like the Chief of Skyland’s wife who had an individualistic idea, “The next morning she told her husband her dream. "This is very sad," he said, "for it is a dream of great power and we must do all we can to make it come true" ("The Earth on Turtle’s Back"), people began to realize that individualism could not be contained to one individual. Although the idea of individualism is set on the morals of one person, in order for their ideal world to come true, it needs to be shared with others. In The Earth on Turtle's Back, if not for an individual who had a vision, the world would have not existed, if Skyland's wife had not shared those ideas, it would not have come to past and there would have not been the new Earth. Many begin to find that their beliefs are important and that it is critical for others to share the same ideals in order to have a more peaceful society and to bring about radical changes. Keeping an ideal to oneself was found not to be beneficial as they would be acting on those ideas themselves. If they spread those ideas and get society involved, a bigger chain reaction may
occur.
The concept of individualism changed overtime from those who valued their morals and independently lived it to those who believed their morals were greater and wanted their ideas to influence society. Those individualistic views are shown when one greatly believes in something and truly sees a potential for their belief, so they spread the word so that society will conform to it. Chris McCandless, the protagonist from Into the Wild, sets an example as one who believed that life was to pursue happiness. When published, many were inspired by McCandless's story and went out to pursue what they greatly believed. Although this is an individual moral and value, it is through one individual who shared their story and left an impact on society. Even the former President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, embraced the American individualism. He delivered a speech about the Yellowstone National Park, “The Yellowstone Park is something absolutely unique in the world” (“Yellowstone Arch Dedication Speech”). Roosevelt embraced this Park because of its beauty where other countries do not have the luxury to enjoy such a breathtaking scenery. Roosevelt then urges the community to “co-operate with the superintendent to prevent acts of vandalism and destruction” (“Yellowstone Arch Dedication Speech) to maintain the American idea of individualism. Roosevelt wants America to be a place where one can come visit places like these where it is not found in other parts of the world. Yellowstone National Park began defining that individualism is a sense of pride in which one has in their country, as it is different from other countries.
Individualism is part of the American culture in which people take pride in, but individualism has taken its own course over time. Individualism began as one who valued their morals and ideals, but as time went on, those individualistic ideals began to spread and were shared with others. Now it is where one has an individualistic idea and begins to speak out their beliefs to influence society.
“American Dream,” where they hoped to improve the condition of their lives, which was the beginning of individualism. At this point, many sought their own morals and values in life and set out to chase what they believed in. Many individuals had their unique set of self-image, “your genuine action will explain itself … your conformity explains nothing” (Emerson). Ralph Waldo Emerson greatly encouraged American’s to stay at home and make their own culture, to find their own individualist ideals instead of traveling around the world and being exposed to the many different cultures, where it would be hard for one to discover who they are as an individual.
As individualism began to become more common, individualism soon began to spread and other people started to conform to certain beliefs.
Just like the Chief of Skyland’s wife who had an individualistic idea, “The next morning she told her husband her dream. "This is very sad," he said, "for it is a dream of great power and we must do all we can to make it come true" ("The Earth on Turtle’s Back"), people began to realize that individualism could not be contained to one individual. Although the idea of individualism is set on the morals of one person, in order for their ideal world to come true, it needs to be shared with others. In The Earth on Turtle's Back, if not for an individual who had a vision, the world would have not existed, if Skyland's wife had not shared those ideas, it would not have come to past and there would have not been the new Earth. Many begin to find that their beliefs are important and that it is critical for others to share the same ideals in order to have a more peaceful society and to bring about radical changes. Keeping an ideal to oneself was found not to be beneficial as they would be acting on those ideas themselves. If they spread those ideas and get society involved, a bigger chain reaction may
occur.
The concept of individualism changed overtime from those who valued their morals and independently lived it to those who believed their morals were greater and wanted their ideas to influence society. Those individualistic views are shown when one greatly believes in something and truly sees a potential for their belief, so they spread the word so that society will conform to it. Chris McCandless, the protagonist from Into the Wild, sets an example as one who believed that life was to pursue happiness. When published, many were inspired by McCandless's story and went out to pursue what they greatly believed. Although this is an individual moral and value, it is through one individual who shared their story and left an impact on society. Even the former President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, embraced the American individualism. He delivered a speech about the Yellowstone National Park, “The Yellowstone Park is something absolutely unique in the world” (“Yellowstone Arch Dedication Speech”). Roosevelt embraced this Park because of its beauty where other countries do not have the luxury to enjoy such a breathtaking scenery. Roosevelt then urges the community to “co-operate with the superintendent to prevent acts of vandalism and destruction” (“Yellowstone Arch Dedication Speech) to maintain the American idea of individualism. Roosevelt wants America to be a place where one can come visit places like these where it is not found in other parts of the world. Yellowstone National Park began defining that individualism is a sense of pride in which one has in their country, as it is different from other countries.
Individualism is part of the American culture in which people take pride in, but individualism has taken its own course over time. Individualism began as one who valued their morals and ideals, but as time went on, those individualistic ideals began to spread and were shared with others. Now it is where one has an individualistic idea and begins to speak out their beliefs to influence society.