Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance” embodies some of the most prominent themes of the transcendentalist movement in the 19th century. Emerson was considered a radical thinker, during a large portion of his life.
Thesis:
In the essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson, titled “Self-Reliance,” there is sophisticated use of abstract diction used to carry out the point that man needs to trust in themselves more than others and also convey his argument of self-truth.
Themes:
Emerson strongly encourages for trusting one’s inner inspirations and following what they say about one’s calling in life. Emerson states that a person should be non-conformist as he embarks on life, not looking to do what is expected from society, but rather what his soul desires. He explained by saying one should
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events” (Emerson, 237).
According to Emerson, each person is born with a destiny implanted in him by God and whichever person who does not fulfill that destiny will be unhappy until he accomplishes it. The essay highly favors and promotes individualism:
What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. 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 (Emerson, 239).
One must be original and true to oneself in order to find true gratification in life. Non-conformity does not mean going out acting like a hippie, but it instead means discerning, beneath material gain or the easy way out. Do what is meant to be done in life, even if it is difficult and criticism is experienced. There is no other way to live peacefully or find one’s highest potential:
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles” (Emerson, 253).
Emerson uses many similes, metaphors, and allusions to help foster his point about self-reliance. “To be great is to be misunderstood” is one phrase that stood out to me.
Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. (Emerson 241)
The list only includes men who introduced new thoughts and ideas to society. Emerson uses these men to drive home a point that the men listed had great minds and they used them to develop great new thoughts and not take from previously provided information. They used their full potential to work and think independently.
There are three aphorisms that will be taken away from Emerson’s essay, “Self-Reliance.”
My personal favorite aphorism in “Self-Reliance” is the following:
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string” (Emerson, 237).
The imagery of that statement resonates in the memory: trusting yourself comes from the heart, not the head. A person can think something all day long, but if that person does not truly feel in their heart that it can be done, then they will not carry out the task. Also, when you trust yourself, it does tend to feel that the energies are very high. In addition, likening trusting oneself to an “iron string” is a reminder than believing in yourself is a source of strength. An iron string is stronger than ever.
Another favorite is:
“…envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide…” (Emerson 237).
Emerson is saying briefly that when we want what another person has, we are unaware of what that person is inside (therefore, deeming us ignorant), and also, we are not looking inside ourselves to find out what we really need (which again means, we are ignorant). Envy should encourage us not to hate another person, but to look within and discover what envy tells us about ourselves. “Imitation is suicide” states strongly and unequivocally that our souls die when we follow others. Stating these truths so strongly and straightforwardly helps them reverberate in a person’s mind.
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself” (Emerson 253).
This comes near the end of the essay and summarizes Emerson’s thought beautifully. Many philosophers and religious people say the same: true peace of mind comes from being true to oneself.