Ralph Waldo Emerson Non Conformism

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American writer who believed in living as a non-conformist. His writings were admired greatly by Thoreau, who considered himself a disciple of Emerson. For Thoreau and Emerson, non-conformism embodied the necessity for living an authentic and unique life.

What is a non-conformist? A non-conformist is one who chooses “to live deliberately as nature” (Thoreau line 106) meaning that they are someone who follows their own path and realize their purpose in life. Emerson mentions in part of “Self-Reliance” that “Whoso to be a man, must be a non-conformist” which is stating that in order to be one who lives an authentic life that one must also have the ability to know their place in the world and do what they believe is
right for themselves, not society. Both Emerson and Thoreau felt that being an individual was more important than going along with society as the status quo. When a man is taught to think for himself and rely only on himself, he becomes the most that he can be. How easy it is to be one of society and want to blend in with the crowd. This is normal states Thoreau in his BOOK by saying “How deep the ruts of tradition and conformity!” (Thoreau line 221). The “ruts of tradition” is the idea of how people are supposed to act, respond and live their lives, but that tradition, so to speak, is what keeps society from becoming non-conformists. “Nothing is at last sacred, but the integrity of your own mind” (Emerson paragraph 3) sums up non-conformists perfectly by stating that without being independent and going to the tune of ones own song nothing in the world has individuality and integrity. Non-conformism was what Thoreau believed made mankind they way it is today.

Henry David Thoreau believed that being a non-conformist was important for many because without it there would be nothing special about mankind, or society as a whole. His quote stating “if a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer” (line 241) tells the reader that being different is nothing to be ashamed of and that it is perfectly normal to be special in unique ways. Thoreau continues his reasoning by later saying, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary” (lines 30-35). He moved away from the city to live a new life and live his own way. He recommend everyone to do so, not necessarily move away but take a break from the handle society has on people. Thoreau did not care for the rhythm of the life that every man lives. He felt it important to be in nature and live his life based on his own feelings and time. Thoreau’s idea is best described in this quote by him, saying “Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life?” (line 65). It did not matter to him how others lived their lives, though he would be the last to judge others. How he lived was important to him, and that was enough. Emerson’s ideas of not rushing life and enjoying at its fullest and most natural state are exactly what Henry Thoreau based his life off of completely. Ralph Waldo Emerson chose to live deliberately and be on his own at times.
Emerson believed that “No law can be sacred to me but that of nature” (Self-Reliance paragraph 3) and that society's rules of what was normal did not pertain to him as long as he was living the life he wanted to make for himself uniquely. He observed the way the water rippled, the sun rose and fell, the leaves swayed and the insects lived enjoying the natural and simplistic things that everyday people pass by. He was completely engulfed in his life and maintained the mentality that “What I must do is all that concerns me, not what people think.” (paragraph 4) The way emerson lived was not based on what society approved of, he lived the life that was unlike anyone else's which in his mind was better than sticking with how everyone else lived. What society perceives of him as was unimportant. Being a non-conformist means that you believe in what you believe, not what the superior man thinks. That is not to say that he judged those who chose to live with society and their ways and norms, but that he believed in a different path.The last lines of Emerson’s writing happen strikes most relevant by saying ”Is it so bad then to be misunderstood?… To be great is to be misunderstood”. (paragraph 6) which is how all great men and women lived, unique and
misunderstood.

Thoreau and Emerson chose to live within their own rules and lives. Being a non-conformist meant living in solitude and following the decisions of you and you alone. In today’s society, one can choose to be a non-conformist while still living within society’s “walls”. One need not move to the depths of the woods to do so. One chooses how he lives and what ideals he will “conform” to. This is not to say that one can break laws. We have Thoreau and Emerson to thank for allowing us to live and think “differently” without it being a bad thing.