The lack of formal structure in the work enhances rather than inhibits the reader’s grasp of the literature. An examination of the work, however, suggests that nonconformity and discontinuity are the foundation to attaining these merits, highlighted by the work’s organization. Emerson uses a discontinuous writing approach to highlight his philosophical beliefs, and the metaphors are numerous throughout the paper. However, paragraph 45 towards the end of his work shaped the essay’s view on society. “Society is a wave. The wave move onward, but the water of which it is composed does not” (Emerson 45).
The clear metaphor of society to the wave and the particles of water to the people distinctively demonstrate Emerson’s idea that society never advances. “It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other. It undergoes continual changes; it is barbarous, it is civilized, it is christianized, it is rich, it is scientific; but this change is not amelioration. ”(Emerson 45) It never advances because man is not self-confident and conforms to the guidelines set before him. Experience and progression are lost when man eliminates the ability to be self-reliant.
Although this metaphor is strong enough on its own to provide all of the support necessary for the idea that society never advances, Emerson adds to it with his ideas on continuality in society. Whereas, Emerson does provide for some structure in “Self-Reliance,” complete continuity and adherence to form are not only absent from his work but are contrary to Emerson’s underlying themes of inconsistency and nonconformity. Emerson declares, in paragraph 15, that “consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little philosophers” (Emerson 15).
The Essay on Chris McCandless and Emerson’s work “Self-Reliance”
In 1841 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote his famous essay “Self-Reliance”. This stated his belief in the importance of being self-reliant and outlined the steps necessary to become independent. Over 250 years later Chris McCandless entered the Alaskan wilderness embodying most of the principles that Emerson highlights. Indeed, Chris is almost a perfect example of Emerson’s self-reliant ...
The use of a discontinuous literary pproach is Emerson’s way of shunning the consistency that he so outwardly vilifies in his work. Readers expect a complete explanation of one thought at a time, but Emerson refuses to compromise the purity of his work for the need of expectation. This appearance of random construction is only a strategy “calculated to render his thoughts more faithfully and forcefully than direct statement would permit” (Warren 210).
Emerson wants the reader to think for himself and appreciate the “intellectual flow” of his thoughts rather than accept his doctrines without introspection.
Emerson preaches how important it is to know that “to be great is to be misunderstood” (Emerson 15).
If the ideas in “Self-Reliance” were clearly presented, the work would be easily understood, and subsequently consistent, which is exactly what Emerson is trying to prevent. After examining the contentions and structure of “Self-Reliance,” the reader is left with the feeling that Emerson was knowing of the effects of discontinuity and that the lack of form is only a tool to further the reader’s understanding of the principles in “Self-Reliance”.
The organization of “Self-Reliance” has more order than the reader first notices, and that Emerson provides enough clues to ensure continuity, though in a reflectively casual manner. Jonathan Bishop, in his Emerson on the Soul, states that Emerson is a “worker in sentences and single verses”; however, Emerson ties these verses together with structurally sound conclusions and catalogued guides. Evidence of discontinuity can be seen when the reader comes upon the sentence, “the other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency” (Emerson 15).
Immediately, the reader wonders what the other terror is that Emerson has omitted.
It is not till the conclusion of Emerson’s work “I hope in these days we have heard the last of conformity and consistency” that the reader realizes that conformity is the missing terror (Emerson).
The Essay on Response To self reliance By Ralph Waldo Emerson
I believe that, essentially, life consists of a series of choices. A grouping of these choices in one direction or another makes us who we are, and ultimately we have control over our lives. What makes one person different from another is his own set of choices. When going through lifes motions, we develop certain worldviews and ideas and values to live by. We develop an opinion of what makes a ...
The Emerson tactic of delaying an answer till the conclusion is an original stylistic application. Additionally, Emerson guides the reader in a second form of structure seen throughout “Self-Reliance. ” When Emerson predicts that he will work revolutions in men’s “religion,” “education,” “pursuits,” and “modes of living,” he provides a map of his disagreements that is even given in the right order.
However, as Emerson addresses the ideas on the list, he covers several more topics that are unmentioned. Between Emerson’s thoughts on “religion” and “education,” he writes about the “rage of traveling” and “American art on beauty” (528).
Emerson leaves several thoughts interlaced between the listed subjects for the reader to find. Therefore, Emerson’s catalogued list provides for some consistency but absolute continuity is clearly missing. Through the use of Emerson guiding the reader originally, he presents a literary form with an original use of discontinuity that still allows the reader to maintain an understandable grasp of his beliefs.
Emerson presents many of his disagreements and beliefs in “Self Reliance” in a random form. They’re structured to allow the reader to exercise his mind, navigating the inconsistent flow of the work. Emerson’s belief in nonconformity and inconsistency are the major points presented in the work. “With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall” (Emerson 15).
Men will waste away conforming to society, being denied the chance at originality. Emerson displays his belief in man to trust in himself, not in society, allowing him originality to achieve his “highest truth”.
