Self-reliancce

The American Renaissance, a flowering of literature and art that had been gaining momentum since the 1820's, which caused an American Romanticism, called Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism was an "intellectual movement that stressed intuition, individuality, and

self-reliance, that directly or indirectly affected most of the writers of the New England Renaissance." (Prentice Hall, page 273). From "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the essay seemed so tame and innocent, you ponder what makes this piece of writing so valuable. "Self-Reliance" is not appreciated by each and every individual due to its monetary value, which it does not have, but for its value of "uncivilized free and wild thinking." How Emerson looks toward nature and human's surrounding, he believes these elements are central to the presumption of the individual would react. Throughout "Self-Reliance", Emerson uses the elements of literature; diction, syntax, symbolism, imagery and tone that creates "uncivilized free and wild thinking."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an essayist, a poet, an orator, and a respected philosopher emerged in the late 1830's as the most influential spokesman for American literary nationalism, although he did not compose any novels. As the

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"Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string", creates syntax to your heart beating and your soul in a cold, industrial environment. The syntax Emerson created when individuals are "capitulate to badges and name", one surrenders their ideas and opinions, they receive favorable positions or tiles such as "Sir" or " Baron". Each of these individuals, Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus!

, Luther, Galilieo, and Newton, that Emerson mentioned in "Self-Reliance" can be considered non-

conformist. Each on of these brilliant individuals disagreed and rejected the doctrine of an established faith or church. Emerson writes or lectures plainly and to the point, the individual feels passionate when they read or hear Emerson's writings. The imagery that Emerson created can be connected to the Indian religion, Hinduism; Brahma, Krishna, and Shiva, the three important gods. Emerson wrote, "speak what you think now…speak what tomorrow thinks…!

" This would contradict what the individual would say beforehand, and how they change what they think or act in an opposite manner, which makes the individual a hypocrite. Emerson was trying to point out that "Pythagoras … and Newton", these individuals made major contributions to scientific, philosophical, or religious thinking by going against norms. " The message that Emerson was trying to send to readers during Transcendentalism, to be successful, you have to be unique and misunderstood by others. "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its member. " Man would conceive that Emerson believed that the individual felt they should explore nature thoroughly, then the individual will come to their senses, know who they are, and get well aquatinted with nature. The message is, if one who lives a good life, does not need to attend church or do rituals, but follow your gut feeling.

"Self-Reliance" constituted its "uncivilized free and wild thinking", when Emerson looks towards nature for answers. leading light of the Transcendentalism movement, an American offshoot of Romanticism, "Self-Reliance", constitutes "uncivilized free and wild thinking" by focusing all you attention on human spirit and discovering that human spirit is reflected in nature.

Approximate Word count = 945
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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