Transcendentalism In Emerson's Self-Reliance

Although the quotes, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string,” (Emerson) and, “‘You have to choose, Tony,’ Cico said, ‘you have to choose between the god of the church, or the beauty that is here and now,’” (Anaya 237), were ages apart, the transcendental idea that each person must follow his or her own path is explicitly expressed in both. Not only do they relate to this transcendental idea, but they also relate to each other. Emerson’s quote in Self-Reliance is a great example of the nonconformity aspect of transcendentalism and the best representation of his piece as the writing itself is about accepting your true self. In the quote from Bless Me, Ultima, Antonio and Cico are waiting at the creek for golden carp to