Change Through Thought- American Romantics and Radicals Essay

An influential literary movement in the nineteenth century, transcendentalism placed an emphasis on the wonder of nature and its deep connection to the divine. As the two most prominent figures in the transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau whole-heartedly embraced these principles. In their essays “Self-Reliance” and “Civil Disobedience”, Emerson and Thoreau, respectively, argue for individuality and personal expression in different manners. In “Self-Reliance”, Emerson calls for individuals to speak their minds and resist societal conformity, while in “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau urged Americans to publicly state their opinions in order to improve their own government.

The names and faces of those considered pioneers in the fight for rights and freedom may not be instantly recognizable, but nevertheless, they are an important part to the history of the United States of America. Throughout the history of our country, there has not just been an injustice towards black slaves, but also towards women, with both being unfairly discriminated against. It was the work of many individuals who brought the unfamiliar taste for rights for all God’s creatures to the mouths of many people. The impact of such people, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass, towards the demand for rights for women and slaves cannot be measured.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote Self Reliance in the early 1840s as an essay that advocates a new way of thinking. Rather

In the essay Self-Reliance Ralph Waldo Emerson claims that a great man is self-reliant, trusts his own intuition, and does not allow the crowd to dictate his ideas; therefore, his claim is practical in today's society because although it is not easy, a person can still choose to be a unique individual.

The transcendentalist movement of the early 19th century was one that altered American political, philosophical and literary ideas for centuries to come. In fact, the transcendentalist movement is still alive in the modern day: as seen in our societies focus on individualism, nature and sensibility. This paper will discuss the ideas of transcendentalism through the work of Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance by comparing both works finding similarities and differences between them.

“Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson is an ambiguous essay that portrays different concepts. Emerson uses his own opinions as well as facts we see in everyday life to try and persuade his readers to trust themselves and have self reliance. He includes many strong arguments and explains himself thoroughly. This essay does not focus on earthly things; it focuses on how one views themselves independently in the world. Emerson shows his readers that self reliance should be embraced throughout yourself, others, and society.

Ralph Waldo Emerson resembles a Transcendentalist thinker because of common belief of individualism. When addressing society and it’s values, Emerson comments, “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore it be goodness” (Self Reliance, 551). Emerson explains that if a man acts as a nonconformist, then he can explore new things that would otherwise be restricted. Being free from societies limitations is proves to be the principle idea of individualism, which this analogy clearly reflects. As Emerson explains the role of God and self-confidence in life, he adds, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place divine providence has found for you” (Self Reliance, 550). If everyone were to fully follow what their heart tells them to do, they would find joy and happiness in their life. A second principle of Transcendentalist individualism, independence, makes itself present as Emerson stresses the following of one’s heart. As he explains the journey of a man through education, Emerson concludes that everyman eventually learns “Envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion”

Many people now refuse to drink the Kool-Aid offered to them by those in positions of power, choosing instead to operate on their own terms, based on their own personal values. Political protest has undergone a modern resurgence since Donald Trump’s inauguration: millions of Americans feel a renewed conviction to purposefully and defiantly exercise their rights of speech, press, and assembly before those rights get taken away. It has become a trend to speak one’s mind, to stand up to authority, and to highlight injustice while fighting for justice. People are no longer able to content themselves with blind complacency or calculated amiability. In many ways, this reflects the ideals of the Transcendentalist movement, which arose in the United States in the mid-1800s and promoted individuality and self-reliance. Although cynics may argue that civil disobedience is just the newest fad for conformists to flock to, transcendentalists––namely, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau––would celebrate the rise of heartfelt disobedience against American society and government, as it portends a future in which free thought is the norm rather than exception.

The most famous philosophical window into Ralph Waldo Emerson’s mind is his 1888 essay published “Self-Reliance.” The essay sets the standard for Emerson’s beliefs as a Transcendentalist philosopher and was a key element to the movement as a whole.

Emerson 's essay on self-reliance unearths a plethora of distinctive lessons that serve to guide the people of society in each of our pursuits to become fully human. Serving as the overall driving idea behind the essay, Emerson details the significance of man valuing and acting upon his own ideas and judgement. He writes, “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,—that is genius,” which simply means that to trust oneself is the epitome of brilliance, to further accentuate that belief. He also notes that society idolizes thinkers who present their own unique concepts, yet we as a society are too weak to speak our own minds. By dismissing our thoughts, we will start to notice a trend in which we see traces of those thoughts in the words and works of others, leading to self-shame as we cowardly accept our own opinions pouring from the mouth of someone else.

Self-reliance is beneficial because individuals create ideas that are better compared to those of the majority. Emerson explains the importance of

In the first paragraph of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self Reliance”, Emerson focuses on the concept of self reliance. He uses repetition to emphasize his philosophies regarding man. Emerson states, “he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion.” He then goes on to state that the universe is full of goodness. Each individual has the ability to succeed but can only earn these good terms with incessant hard work.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher that contributed to the concept of individualism. As part of a series of essays, Emerson wrote “Self-Reliance” to explain his personal worldview of individualism, a moral philosophy that judges people based on their individual personality traits, values, experiences, and values. The main idea of “Self-Reliance” is that people should not conform to morals and values of other people, but should instead let their values be shaped by the life that they lead.

An individual deferring to an expert opinion on a practical matter and instead chooses to follow blindly to their own opinion is not a practitioner of self-reliance. The moment an individual chooses to forgo the guidance of an expert, who has the time and dedication in the field where they spent their lives perfecting their craft, is the moment they become enslaved by their ego. I will first give a brief explanation of Emerson’s view on self-reliance, and then show it relates to today. Lastly I will explain the difference between being self-reliant and thinking that you are self-reliant.

Emerson opens up the narrative explaining the importance of self-reliance. The importance of self-reliance first begins with one’s self. A person knows when he or she is self-reliant, when he or she can use the skills and abilities God has given them to take care of their self or their families without guidance nor