Ralph Waldo Emerson's Idea of Self-Reliance in Henry David Thoreaus Writings - Essay Example

?December 6, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Idea of "Self-Reliance" in Henry David Thoreau’s Writings Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are perceived as two of the greatest and most influential transcendentalist writers the 19th century. Ralph Waldo Emerson being a lecturer, and Henry David Thoreau being his student, both of them made thorough research on human nature and encouraged individualism. Ralph Waldo Emerson first drew the idea of self-reliance, individualism and independence in his writing. These ideas were developed and introduced in a broader sense by Henry David Thoreau in his writings. One specific introduction of self-reliance is seen in “Where I lived and what I lived for”, and another bright illustration can be seen in “Civil Disobedience”. From a very early age Henry David Thoreau decided to use his own life experience as a helpful source and means of self-education. Being a self-confident, optimistic personality, he reflected this essence in his writings. In “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”, Thoreau describes the small shack he lives in which can be seen as defense against the external world. In spite of the shortcomings of the poor habitat, he perceived positively even the drawbacks in his situation. Thoreau emphasized the importance of essential things only, and conducted his own life as if it was a reflection of one’s internal spiritual reality. Thoreau represented a lifestyle where one seeks the true meaning of live irrespective of what others are doing or what the world outside the shack tells him to be right. Simplicity in every aspect is perceived as the only necessity. In the endless search of the “good” for the entire society Thoreau managed to shift the attention on the individual. The only factor that contributes to success and personal growth is self-reliance. Thoreau implies that the society has always and will always create new standards to try and make the state of the humankind better, while it is wiser to center your attention on your own life and strive for perfection on your own. Henry David Thoreau’s “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” is an example of a writing with a romantic and transcendentalist attitude which can be noticed not only in the subject of the writing, but also in the language which shows direct interaction with the reader. Thoreau shares his unique understandings about society and adds new perceptions on them by means of his own observations. Thoreau emphasizes self-reliance as a key factor. The first and foremost issue should be thinking about your own life, trusting your ability and adding to your individualism.  In his writing ‘Where I Lived and What I Lived For” he shows his own example of purchasing a farm and moving into the small shack in this spot in order to be separated from the society as he understood it and move to quiet simplicity with more chances of observing himself. The main purpose for this is to be able to experience life and make natural findings for himself when put into a completely new environment. The reason for it is also, as Thoreau mentions, the fear of living “life unlived”- staying in the tight circles of family and society, the natural order of life and never being able to live and reveal the world for himself. This is a cognitive attempt to make the world more individual, man-oriented instead of society-oriented. It can be easily illustrated with the following extract from the book: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (Thoreau, 1882.)  During his stay in the countryside, he takes care of the farm and the house, and later on describes not only his actions, but also the philosophical thinking that he had during this time. It is of great interest to note a passage that he uses as an illustration to show the way individuals depend on the society: “If we do not get out sleepers, and forge rails, and devote days and nights to the work, but go tinkering upon our lives to improve them, who will build the railroads? And if railroads are not built, how shall we get to heaven in season? But if we stay at home and mind our own business, who will want railroads? We do not ride upon the railroad; it rides upon us.” (Thoreau, 1883.) In this extract the author uses railroads to illustrate the unnecessary dependence on something. He shows that the society creates artificial ties to keep people in labor, whereas if they understood that it is not a general necessity, they would cease to need it and the labor of building it, therefore, would also be unnecessary. In this illustration Thoreau raises ambiguity in self-imposed social ties. Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” is an attempt to make the people aware that they are more important than the government and society which create a lot of barriers in the true understanding of individuality. The solution to this crucial issue is found in self-reliance, which means that an individual is only responsible for his own life and not the entire society. The only obligation of every free man is taking care of himself. Very often the society is in search of pressing this true principle theories on what is right and moral, whereas the true meaning of right and moral is also individual and depends on the unique way of thinking of each man. Becoming a self-reliant and true individual can be reached only by making decisions based on your own morality, no matter what society, the family and other individuals say. In this works he implies that one should give way to his individual thought which can result in a genuine work of a genius. So, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Idea of "Self-Reliance" is developed and introduced in a fully-fledged, illustrated manner in Henry David Thoreau’s writings, specifically in “Where I lived and what I lived for” and “Civil Disobedience”. In the work, the main issues of self-reliance and individualism are addressed by means of a man’s example and are aimed at creating a more self-reliant s atmosphere in people. The second work includes philosophical thinking on the issues of individualism and self-reliance, stating that the most important thing to be reached is taking care of one’s own life. References Thoreau, Henry David, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Wilder Publications, 2008. Thoreau, Henry David, Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, Penguin Books, 2006. Read More