Pauline Emerson Individualism

Reading Note #2 “I shun father and mother and wife and brother when my genius calls me.” “Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins.” These criticisms found in Emerson’s Self Reliance, and his essay Friendship.

In this world, there are two types of people: conformists and non-conformists. Non-conformists do not like to follow people’s path and prefer to create his or her own path and let others follow them. Being a non-conformist is not easy because there are many people who disagree with one’s beliefs or practices and one of the reasons why to that is people do not like changes or being different. They prefer to keep things the same as long as it is still working followed by the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Although, a non-conformist might argue that it is necessary to keep certain traditions or practices that we think are important. To counter, a conformist might say, if we do not try out new things or look at it in a different way then how could we ever improve ourselves to become a greater individual?

His next remark, "Standing on the bare ground, - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space, - all mean egotism vanishes." He feels free of the bars society has constructed, he is free of all concerns and worries. the "infinite space" he describes indicates a place with no restrictions, where he can be as he ought to, to see the glory and majesty of nature. Emerson also notes that selfishness dissolves as the figurative big picture is made visible. Again, being in this situation enables a man to realize his insignificance as a single being.

Ralph Waldo Emerson can go by many titles: scholar, philosopher, wordsmith. All hold true in one of his greatest pieces, Self-Reliance. In which, he uses his words to spread an idea of individuality in thought and how essential it truly is. Scattered throughout the massage are examples of metaphors, comparing his vast and complex ideologies to comprehendible and mundane objects, he uses allusions as well, bringing to light not only Biblical themes, but also men of old more times than often seen as great and influential and referring time and time again to the Bible. In doing these things, Emerson conveys his ideas, swaying and bending the words to his will. A first arguably more evident example of this would be found in his metaphors.

In the essay Self Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson addressed the topic of originality and uniqueness to depict the idea that these are the qualities that make people great. Emerson stated that “We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represent” in order to argue that each person has a uniqueness because their environments is unique (Emerson 2). The quote infers that every person in society has an ability to possess a unique idea. Every person has a unique idea, which means that every person can become a free thinker. Those who do not act on their thoughts and ideas due to societal rules lose the chance to become unique. Emerson believed that “Society is a wave. The wave moves onward, but the water of which it is composed does not”, meaning something sparks society to do something, everyone starts doing it but why they do it is lost over time (Emerson 20). The wave of society represents the masses and the water that makes up the wave are the individuals in society. Every person has an ability to possess a divine thought but cannot ferment it because of societal restraints (the wave). Due to the influence of society, one lacks the strength to act on their original thought and follows the crowd. Martin Luther acted on his original thought but thousands of people adopted his thoughts, even though the reasons for his regional thought are no longer present. Instead of creating and following their own ideas, they adopted Luther’s instead. In society, many people follow and imitate well established beliefs, thus leading to the lack of divine thought. In the reading, Emerson came to a conclusion that all people have divine thoughts but cannot act on them because of societal influences.

Not all American literature relies on the idea of a conformative society. Ralph Waldo Emerson , and early transcendental writer, describes a way to defeat conformity by using individual thinking in his writing piece, Self-Reliance: “The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs”. By calling self-reliance as the aversion of conformity, he is implying that conformity needs to be averted.

In spite of his individualism, Emerson's thought is similar to the romantic nationalism of 19th century Europe, but where this nationalism focused upon collective entities such as a people, their language and culture, Emerson's focus is upon the individual. In Self-Reliance he says, "it is easy, in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." Where nationalism stresses the development of an authentic national culture free from foreign influences and takes a collective perspective more or less for granted, Emerson applies a similar approach to each individual. Emerson complains that all men hear the inner voice, but most are too scared due to peer pressure to act upon the intuitions. "Society everywhere is a conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members." Emerson feels man must work on his own and be diligent and truthful in that work to produce a better society.

Conformity is a metaphorical jail that has the overwhelming power to enslave the minds of impressionable people. Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. His essay, Self-Reliance, explains his reasonable thoughts about nonconformity and individual authority. Emerson had several beliefs about people solely relying on themselves. He felt that people should deny false consistency, follow their own instincts, and celebrate their individuality in society rather than merely fitting in. In his essay, Emerson states that “the virtue in most is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion”(Emerson, 3). Emerson preached that society encourages people to be indifferent

Self-Reliance emphasizes that individuals must avoid conformity and express individuality and one should follow their own ideas. Emerson sees society

Nearly two hundred years ago Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered a speech to a group of Scholars, it was his intention to motivate and inspire. He expressed his beliefs in a way that was objectionable to some and encouraging to others. Each man was given a chance to examine his life and the life's of their predecessors.

In the essay “Self- Reliance”, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emerson conveys his ideas of man breaking away from his society to become an individual. By compiling his thoughts into an essay Emerson allows himself to express and clarify his ideas elaborating to the reader. His expression of his idea in the second paragraph allows the reader to understand his thoughts of being an individual. “Envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide;...” This quote expresses the idea that envying someone else is incompetent and by imitating them it’s kills your true self. By becoming someone else there is no room for society to change and expand itself, differentiating people as individuals. Through his ideas Emerson conveys he allows himself to influence a change

By employing varied sentence structure, Emerson details the events that brings up a sense of mindfulness in him. An example of this is found when he describes how he feels while looking up at the stars. “The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred [similar] impression, when the mind is open to their influence.” (Emerson) By bringing up this conscious moment, the author employs a sense of a childlike wonder as each experience is unique to every person who decides to watch them. The reader then starts to think about what they’ll experience the next time they open their mind to the star’s influence.

Emerson brought to focus areas in which people have come to lack individuality, on that account, his idea that Self-reliant individuals were a necessity in this world was born. Religion; which fears and lacks individual creativity, Culture; which devalues individualism and Art; that he pointed out has merely developed into repetitive “imitation.”These are the crucial aspects that Emerson wanted to point out to his readers. “We are like children who repeat by rote the sentences of grandames and tutors.” Emerson accentuates that the way to live isn't to grow into an imitator, life becomes bland and dull once an individual loses his passion for being individualistic. His philosophy stands on the grounds that

One of society’s major values is conformity. As individuals, we tend to naturally express the beliefs we hold to be true - however, these voices are drowned out by the overwhelming common opinion of a topic because of society’s requirement of conformity. In order for one to succeed in the world, they must sacrifice their “liberty and culture” (6). When Emerson states,

In the essay Self-Reliance, Emerson addresses his idea on individualism which allows for nonconformity because being a nonconformist in today's mimetic society, can construct an authentic identity. The social conformity in today’s world influences people into conformism, thus eliminating individual thoughts or beliefs. According to Christina Bianca, a creator from At Auburn University, claims that, “In today’s society...it’s become all too easy to let society tell us what to believe through the constant swarm of messages attempting to achieve communication with us.” Society, as stated by Christina Bianca, “attempts to carve beliefs into the human brain by any means possible.” For example, “if you were to log onto any form of social media, you would immediately be exposed to a thousand different beliefs,” which can, “ form wrinkles in the brain.” These wrinkles can potentially alter people’s thoughts, persuading them into changing their beliefs and the way they are. Although one holds the choice whether to believe or not, many leave behind their individuality in order to conform to with others which can mess with the Psyche. Christina argues that: “With the ever-expanding technological advances among us…we are slowly falling into a routine of blissful ignorance.” This is true, as stated by Christina Biance, “we, as humans, are defined by the beliefs we hold in our hearts and minds” not by what others suggest over texts or in person, people should be defined by their own