Issues in Self–Reliance (1841), an Essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson

The essay has three major divisions: the importance of self-reliance (paragraphs 1-17), self-reliance and the individual (paragraphs 18-32), and self-reliance and society (paragraphs 33-50). The importance of self-reliance (paragraphs 1-17). Emerson would have us learn "Trust thyself," a motto that ties together this first section of the essay. In other words, to accept one's destiny, "the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events" (Emerson,1841:8). If such advice seems easier said than done, Emerson prompts his reader to recall the boldness of youth. Emerson now focuses his attention on the importance of an individual's resisting pressure to conform to external norms, including those of society, which conspires to defeat self-reliance in its members. The so-called "maturing" process becomes a process of conforming that Emerson challenges and the non-conformist in Emerson reject many of society's moral sentiments. Emerson states that it is better to live truly and obscurely than to have one's goodness extolled in public in a subdued, even gentle voice. Outlining his reasons for objecting to conformity, Emerson asserts that acquiescing to public opinion wastes a person's life. Shifting the discussion to how the ideal individual is treated, Emerson notes two enemies of the independent thinker: society's disapproval or scorn and the individual's sense of consistency. Although the scorn of "the cultivated classes" is unpleasant, according to Emerson, relatively easy to ignore because it tends to be polite. The term "hobgoblin" in “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds” (Emerson,1841:7) symbolizes fear of the unknown, furthers the effect produced by the "corpse" of memory, and reinforces Emerson's condemnation of a society that demands conformity. Society is not the measure of all things; the individual is. "A true man," Emerson's label for the ideal individual, "that a true man belongs to no other time or place, but is the center of all things. Where he is, there is nature” (Emerson,1841:8)

Self-reliance and the individual (paragraphs 18-32). The second section of "Self-Reliance" offers more suggestions for individuals who want to achieve the desired quality of self-reliance. Emerson begins with a directive: "Let a man then know his worth, and keep things under his feet” (Emerson,1841: 9). Given the inferiority that an individual can feel when confronted by conformity and consistency, and now commonality, Emerson wonders how people remain confident in their abilities. Then, Emerson introduces a contrasting idea to the portrait he has drawn of the intuitive individual: the characteristics and behavior of the "thoughtless man," who cannot see the depth of truth being used by the self-reliant, intuitive person. Transcendence is gained only through intuitive knowledge. In the paragraphs leading up to this section's conclusion, Emerson moves from analysis to exhortation, offering suggestions on how to act.

Self-reliance and society (paragraphs 33-50). In the final third of "Self-Reliance," Emerson considers the benefits to society of the kind of self-reliance he has been describing. His examination of society demonstrates the need for a morality of self-reliance, and he again criticizes his contemporary Americans for being followers rather than original thinkers. Emerson now focuses on four social arenas in which self-reliant individuals are needed: religion, which fears creativity; culture, which devalues individualism; the arts, which teach us only to imitate; and society, which falsely values so-called progress. The last two paragraphs of "Self-Reliance" are a critique of property and fortune. Finally, Emerson urges the individual to be a risk-taker. No external event, he says, whether good or bad, will change the individual's basic self-regard. "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles” (Emerson,1841:21). Self-reliance, then, is the triumph of a principle.

1. American Transcendentalism

The roots of American Transcendentalism reach back into the eighteenth century in New England, which had been dominated by Calvinist ideologies set forth by the Puritan settlers. Calvinist doctrine included the idea of the inherent corruption of human nature and the concept of salvation coming only by the discretion of God himself. It is important to note here that the Calvinist belief was that the individual had absolutely no control over their ultimate spiritual fate through their actions in life.

Self-Reliance is a concept by Emerson addressing the importance of the individual in moral and intellectual growth. His essay supports the philosophical foundation of the American Transcendentalism movement: that the individual is identical with the world and that the world exists in unity with God. 'As soon as the man is at one with God, he will not beg. He will then see prayer in all action' (Emerson, 1841: 16). This logic follows that the individual soul is one with God, thus eliminating the need for an outside institution. Emerson argued that people ought to have the strength to speak up for social justice by believing in their own transcendental meaning. Thus the transcendent driven individual was necessary to disrupt the social order.

2. Nonconformity

In his essay, Self-reliance, Emerson's main objective is for people to resist conformity because it’s the death of individuality. Emerson argued that everyone has to follow their own beliefs and "do their own thing" to truly be an individual. Emerson rests his abiding faith in the individual ”Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”— on the fundamental link between each man and the divine reality, or nature, that works through him. “For nonconformity, the world whips you with its displeasure.” (Emerson, 1841: 6). Emerson states in Self-reliance, the masses love “not realities and creators, but names and customs.” Names, customs, and organizations give the conformist a sense of order and security: they are signifiers and pillars that they grasp to accomplish a certain sense of stability in the uncertainty and ambiguity of reality.

Nonconformists are viewed by the majority as a threat, as individuals who need to be educated in the “ways of the world” – domesticated to the socially accepted worldview and values. This fear of nonconformists comes from the fact that nonconformists are individuals who carve out their own perception of reality and come up with their own understanding of what it means to be a human being, of what is decent desirable, and true. In a universe of contention, conflict, and uncertainty, the striving soul will shift in its expression: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" (Emerson, 1841: 7).

3. Individuality

In his essay Self-reliance, Emerson boldly states society has an adverse effect on a person’s growth. Self-sufficiency gives a person in society the freedom they need to discover their true self and attain one’s true independence. Emerson stated that each and every soul should become its own sage, striving independently for self-realization. He stated that "Man is apologetic. He is no longer upright. He dares not say 'I think,' 'I am,' but quotes some saint or sage. ... He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time" (Emerson, 1841: 11). Essentially, do what you believe is right instead of blindly following society. Emerson urges everyone to follow their individual will instead of conforming to social expectations. Emerson sees the need to confront positive and negative tendencies beyond the abstraction of the human mind. Emerson recognized that the road to peace and harmony is transition and inconsistency, of trial and error. Every soul has the ability to harmonize the light side and shadow side of its own microcosm in the present.

Microcosm is a transcendental study that emphasizes the significance of something presumably insignificant. Universes of potential are within individuals, no matter where they come from or where they're going. Human lives seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they are as important as every star and broad as every universe. In other words, humans are seen as the epitome of the whole universe. The ancient Greek philosophy of microcosm or the perception of viewing humans as their own little world or mikros kosmos means that everyone has a profound impact on this world, being a “big existence” and should continue to live on to continue to be their best selves.

4. Paradox of Imitation

Another issue in Self – Reliance is imitation. Surprisingly imitation has a bad impact on society. By highlighting the sentence “There is a time in every man's education... that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide (Emerson, 1841:2), Emerson clearly states his resentment towards imitation, the society demands the acceptance of each individual, and then they adapt and deviate from individuality through imitation. Individuals who lose themselves are equal to suicide. He emphasizes through one of his quotations, “Insist on yourself; never imitate.” (Emerson, 1841:18) that denies imitation brings significant benefit. But at the end of his essay, “We imitate; and what is imitation but the traveling of the mind?” (Emerson, 1841:18). It seems that he supports imitation, “traveling of the mind” underlines brain travels somewhere without leaving home physically. Emerson draws the use of imitation in the features of “our houses” (Emerson, 1841:18), he says that people usually imitate foreign tastes, as well as in design buildings of Doric or Gothic architecture. Although those quotes sound contradictory, Emerson does not mean to uphold imitation. In fact, both quotations convey the same message: imitation is unfavorable and obstructive in every aspect of existence, particularly to our souls. Imitation is negative and obstructive for all conditions in life.

Reference:
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Ralph Waldo Emerson Essays, First Series 1841. Self-Reliance. Web. April 27th, 2020. https://archive.vcu.edu/englis...