Describe To Moses, Plato And Milton, By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson’s Self Reliance essay is a motivational to say the least. Several quotes from the essay challenge our current society's moral compass, even though it was written 150 years ago. The essay stresses the necessity of relying on oneself for knowledge and guidance. Unlike other writings that are often compared to the Bible, Emerson’s essay conveys the same ideas as the Bible, without using scenes or characters to get his message across.

These scholars, in their quest for excellence both revert back to simplicity. In both works children, and child-like thought are exalted. Emerson is awes at the freedom of a child, seeing it as god-like independence. He says a child conforms to no one, but rather all conform to the child. Whitman speaks of the wonder of a child contemplating what grass is.

1. The main theme of the piece “Self-Reliance” is that one should never conform to the way that society views that they should because in doing that, a person loses their individuality. Emerson believed that a person should, “Speak [their] latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense,” meaning that if a person chooses to march to the beat of their own drum, then nobody can tell them their opinion is wrong because at least they are taking a chance and speaking their mind. Emerson’s definition of self-reliance is similar to the common use because both definitions discuss how one should take care of personal needs and be independent. Emerson himself stated that, “the great man is he who

I believe that, essentially, life consists of a series of choices. A grouping of these choices in one direction or another makes us who we are, and ultimately we have control over our lives. What makes one person different from another is his own set of choices. When going through life’s motions, we develop certain worldviews and ideas and values to live by. We develop an opinion of what makes a person “great.” In the well-known essay “Self-Reliance”, Ralph Waldo Emerson provides a beautiful way of approaching these choices, and he reveals a very inspiring set of values centralized around going through life answering only to yourself. I love the way Emerson evaluates the society we live

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay titled “Self-Reliance” he speaks on the topic of the individual, creating the idea that an individual being independent leads to greatness. Emerson’s writing within this memoir is relatable to young individuals who are looking for themselves, an individual must avoid conformity and false consistency while following their own thoughts making themselves an individual. Within the essay, Emerson uses a range of rhetorical devices to prove that every individual can do great by being an individual and not like everyone else, something that young people everywhere should hear while growing up with the heinous act of peer pressure.

Emerson has issue with society. He believes that the conformity and “encroachment on peoples’ liberties [hindered the individual.] He says people should look for individual freedom, and in finding that freedom, people will achieve self-reliance” (Yanella 4, 13). More so Emerson does not trust the system that governs society. He sees society as a “joint stock company that is in conspiracy with every one of its members” (“Self-Reliance” 535). Society can be seen as a hindrance on individual thought because a lot of times people will do what society or authority tells them to do without thinking of themselves first.

In this writing, Emerson’s meaningful metaphors proclaim the sheer importance of individuality and how much it is longed for, saying that “every heart vibrates

In “Self Reliance”, Emerson discusses being one’s own person and not allowing society to mold someone like a piece of clay; “Trust thyself” are the exact words he used. Trusting oneself means it is okay to be different if one wants or chooses to be different. It

Emerson encourage people to take action to don’t be afraid if it’s wrong its better than just sitting around; it’s important for people to find their own path. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”, it’s a foolish thing to believe or think the same thing all the time it’s important to think, to grow, to not be afraid of changing your mind

After reading Emerson’s essay, I noticed a big difference between him and the rest of narratives we read. Emerson believed in being independent, and not being influenced by anything and anyone around you. He assumed that the mind’s primary theme is an unhappy conformism. In his essay “Self-Reliance”, he focused on his catch-phrase "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string " (Emerson, 270).

Emerson demonstrates that since “man has built a coach,” he “has lost the use of his feet” (5). He means that in the past, man would rely on himself for transportation by using his own two feet. Emerson uses a metaphor and cause-and-effect to explain that after the transportation is provided by technological advances, man will no longer use his feet. He will go from relying on himself to relying on society, especially if everybody else also does so. The cause, man building a coach, results in him no longer able to use his feet. The cause-and-effect teaches nonconformity because the reader is informed that by relying on society, man has lost the most important skill of all, which is self-reliance. As a result, he becomes weaker as an individual. In order to be a nonconformist, Emerson believes that one should not be afraid to be different from everybody else. By using cause-and-effect, Emerson is able to convey his thoughts about separating one’s mentality from society’s.

	Emerson really believes that society is bad, whichever way you look at it. Don't listen to what society has to say, do things on your own free will how you want to do them.

Emerson criticizes that men do not even try to build their own opinion because they blindly trust the thoughts of the majority or they conform to the will of the community because their opinion differs from the common beliefs. They do not have enough courage and self-confidence to express their opinion since they are afraid that other men could look down at them because they do not have the same opinion. This turns them into just one, tiny, unimportant part of billions of people, whose thoughts are basically equal, but exactly the aspect of being different from everybody else, being an individual, being special and having his own personality is what a human being is all about and is necessary for having success.

A Quote from, Emerson Self-reliance tells how people should consider themselves, “Insist on yourself; never imitate, your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have an extemporaneous half possession” (Emerson 166). Emerson’s is encouraging people to be self-Reliant and use their own instincts. A person should trust their selves before other; because they are the only ones who can see into their own heart.

The form of “Intellect” is comprised of just six lines—which suggests a call to action for the reader to listen to his wise words. The short form produces a riddle-like tone; it follows a strict rhyme scheme and a very strong rhythm. The lines are end rhymed—this, coupled with the length of the poem—produces an almost child-like simplicity. The morals hidden in “Intellect” aren’t simple per se, nevertheless we are reminded of the riddles of our primary school days; we remember the catchy rhythm and traditional morals we learned from these riddles. The rhythm and meter are also vital aspects of this poem’s structure: each line contains seven syllables and begins with a stressed syllable. This didactic rhythm jumps out of the page at the reader, causing us to pay attention. The stressed and unstressed syllable pattern produces a sing-song effect; the poem beckons us to listen to the wise counsel of Emerson with a child-like openness and implores the reader to find the moral that Emerson is trying to get across.