Trust Thyself: Emerson's "Self-Reliance"

            Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” is probably my favorite piece that we have read so far this semester. The prose is insightful and each word seems to be selected by careful thought. I was impressed by his vocabulary and the ability he had to capture his thoughts so eloquently. I could connect with his writing as he gave his points and I thought he was engaging in proving them. I enjoyed identifying the aspects of romanticism and transcendentalism in “Self-Reliance” as well.

            In reading “Self-Reliance,” I thought one of the most striking features was the intense difference between the viewpoint of the Enlightenment and the radical statements that Emerson uses to support his opinions. Emerson seemed to emphasize a much more personal and spiritual view of the world; often he referred to ideas in terms of nature in order to explain his feelings toward them. Emerson thinks of man as a natural being, and so, nature best captures for him the ideals that men should strive for in their lives. Several times I caught myself underlining things that directly opposed the idea of understanding the world through reasoning and logic. A few lines in particular were striking to me: “All men plume themselves on the improvement of society, and no man improves. Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other.” In contrast with Franklin’s ideology of pragmatism and improving society as the main reason for life, Emerson’s view is stunning. Emerson postulates that no man is ever able to improve while he is focused on the betterment of society. While I think this is a bit drastic, there is some truth to the idea. If you are never able to look inward to analyze yourself, who are you to help other people? Can you support the decisions you make enough to say that you are knowledgeable in improving the lifestyle of others? You have to be confident in your own life in order to make a difference in society and the lives of others, “insist on yourself.” Emerson’s views on prayer were equally intriguing. Anyone who will openly state that “men’s prayers are a disease of the will” deserves to be listened to, in my opinion. He states that prayers in words are simply a crutch for humanity to be lazy and idly sit by without doing anything. To Emerson, taking action and pushing to help yourself is the true form of prayer because it gives you the highest amount of happiness.

            I found Emerson’s writing to be incredibly motivating. While I do think that some of his statements are a bit on the radical side, he does an admirable job supporting them. By the end of his essay, his argument is justified and persuasive in showing the audience his point of view. The last lines evoke a desire for fulfillment through self-acceptance and self-knowledge.