Individualism in America: Double Entendre of Individualism - Essay Example

Individualism in America: Double Entendre of Individualism Introduction Americans characteristic has embodied individualism since the independence of the country. Individualism supports finding identity through self-exploring. Three different works show individuals independence and self-exploration. In Frederick Jackson Turners essay, The Significance of the Frontier in American History, he examines how American frontier and modernization developed into a unique culture, and unveiled individualism. In Henry David Thoreaus essay Walden, the author writes about his individual life experience in Walden Pond where he isolates himself from civilization. Turner and Thoreau present individualism as a positive Americans core identity. Sherwood Anderson in his fictional work, Winesburg, Ohio, shows a deferment view to individualism. While two of the three books show positive aspects of individualism, Sherwood draws attention to the various negative aspects of individualism thus proving that despite the perceived benefits individualism has numerous negative impacts as the discussion below portrays. In The Significance of the Frontier in American History, Turner argues that Frontier Thesis during Westward expansion in the 19th century resulted in the unique culture of individualism in America. Turner believes that independence from Europe helped develop Americans self-reliance. He states, “[As] moving westward, the frontier became more and more American... Thus the advance of the frontier has meant a steady movement away from the influence of Europe, [and] a steady growth of independence on American lines.” This statement reveals that progressive expansion led independence from Europe and independence has grown into the self-reliant features. As he examines American history, Turner believes that Frontier Thesis contributed to the flourishing Americas civilization and developing a unique culture, which is individualism. In Walden, similar to Turner, Thoreau expresses self-reliance in positive ways. Thoreau argues that individuals can find identity by exploring the wilderness. Thoreau believes civilization is inharmonious with nature and subordinating. His belief finally drives him to leave civilization and live in Walden Pond, where he thinks wilderness. Thoreau states, “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 dies, discover that I had not lived” (Thoreau, 25). When Thoreau separates himself from civilization, he came to wilderness alone to find himself better. As he wants to live a self-reliant life, he farms and builds his cabin by himself. He makes an effort to live life “with the fewest obstacles” (Thoreau, 51). To fulfill his aim, Thoreau mentions “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel” (Thoreau, 46) are barest necessities to live. Without others cooperation, Thoreau works as an individual. Also, while he lives in the wilderness, Thoreau gets affectionate with nature, and he finds his identity. Thoreau pays attention to the details of his environments: working on soil, listening to the birds, and makes a record of the depth of ice on a frozen pond. By harmonizing with his surroundings without others distractions, he understands what he genuinely likes and knows himself better. After Thoreaus experience at Walden Pond, he suggests that people should explore novelty by themselves. He says, “it is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar. Do this even till you can do better, and you may perhaps find some “Symmes Hole” by which to get at the inside at last” (Thoreau, 256). Thoreau believes that an individual has the power to explore and to understand his or her experiences. This reflects that Thoreaus experience of self-explore in Walden Pond had affected him positively. By demonstrating how individual life in Walden Pond helped him discover his identity, Thoreau reflects positive features of individualism. However, in Andersons Winesburg, Ohio, the author shows a different perspective from Turner and Thoreau. Anderson examines how individuals in small town, Winesburg, were affected negatively after the frontier era. According to Anderson, “it was the truths that made the people grotesques. The old man had quite an elaborate theory concerning the matter. It was his notion that the moment one of the people took one of the truths to himself, called it his truth, and tried to live his life by it; he became a grotesque, and the truth he embraced became a falsehood” (Anderson, 24). In other words, individuals hold truths. However, they become ugly should they develop an excessive reliance on truth. Since they desire to define themselves by the truths, the truths become falsity. Anderson thinks this problem occurs to Americans who lives in a small town. In Turners viewpoint, people who live in small towns in America are leftovers from the frontier era. Thus, Anderson believes that individualism is affecting the society negatively. One of the stories of people in the town, Winesburg, Anderson illustrates loneliness of individualism. A story of Wing Biddlebaum shows how individualism can be dangerous to oneself. At the beginning of the chapter “Hands,” Wing Biddlebaums loneliness of individualism is illustrated. As it states, “Wing Biddlebaum … did not think of himself as in any way a part of the life of the town where he had lived for twenty years” (Anderson, 27). But he has one friend, George Willard, in the town. Biddlebaums name “Wing” describes his shaking hands. Although Wing Biddlebaum only communicates with George, he did not say anything about his hands. George once tried to ask about the hands, but he felt fear in Biddlebaums eyes. Biddlebaum has hidden story about his hands. He used to be a teacher in Pennsylvania when he was young, and he used to have a different name. However, his gentle kinship with his hand to students caused misunderstandings and finally he was exiled from his town. After the incident, Biddlebaum moved to Winesburg. Since Biddlebaum had a wounded heart, he lived without social interactions. Biddlebaum once said to George to shut his ears to the roaring of the voices (Anderson, 30). This shows Biddlebaums individualism that never tries to listen to others. His wounds negatively grown into individualism, and made an introverted person. At this point, the author reflects not only the problem of Biddlebaums individualism but also neighbors individualism. Another word for individualism can be indifference to others. If Biddlebaum ever tried to talk about his wounds with others, or if people in the town ever tried to become friends with him, he might not be alone. Even though they were friends, Biddlebaum already lived about twenty years alone in the town. Therefore, his mind was closed. The author intensifies loneliness of individualism by describing that Biddlebaum “still hungered for the presence of the boy, who was the medium through which he expressed his love of man, the hunger became again a part of his loneliness and his waiting” (Anderson, 33). Through illustrating the story of Wing Biddlebaum, Anderson shows that individualism is unhealthy and even detrimental in our society. Although Thoreau shows positive aspects of individualism, negative aspects can be found at the end of his essay. There is similarity between Thoreau and Biddlebaum. Both individuals were separated from the society. Despite Thoreau enjoyed self-reliant life and Biddlebaum did not, they both felt loneliness. After two years at Walden Pond, he says, “I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one” (Thoreau, 257), and goes back to civilization. Thoreaus last decision to leave Walden Pond portrays that human cannot live without normal social interactions. Furthermore, in Turners work, the duality of individualism can be seen. In American history, social evolution went the path of choice and responsibility. Turner sees frontier only as free lands that are the opportunities for a pioneer in America. Since Turner believes that humans are ought to conquer the wilderness, he describes border as “outer edge of the wave, the meeting point between savagery and civilization.” The case shows Turners belief that frontier gave American civilization and culture through dominating the wilderness. To become modernize, pioneers had to think benefits for themselves first, rather than savagery. But Turner states, “it begins with the Indians and the hunter; it goes on tell the of the disintegration of savagery by the entrance of the trader, the pathfinder of civilization … finally the manufacturing organization with city and factory system” (Turner). It is evident that our society has chosen savagery, yet Turner argues that America transformed Indians little by little that is different from Europes colonialism. Turner and pioneers assumed that America was a free land. In fact, it was already occupied by Native Americans. To them, pioneers were just invaders and plunderers. To become modernize, pioneers had to think benefits for themselves first, rather than savagery. Therefore, individualism naturally becomes a center of their minds. On the other side of the coin, Turners idea of unique American culture, individualism, can be considered as egocentrism. Conclusion Two of the three authors strive to portray individualism positively. However, the conflicts in the plots prove that individualism has numerous negative effects most of which manifest themselves automatically. Turners The Significance of the Frontier in American History, and Thoreaus Walden illustrate individualism in a positive perspective as a factor that improves self-sufficiency. Despite their detailed portrayal of individualism as a positive feature, the two stories have several inconsistencies that show the negative aspects of individualism. Andersons Winesburg, Ohio reveals some of the negative aspects as he argues that individualism makes people grotesque owing to their detachment from reality. The fictional story shows that individual communities become isolated a feature that often leads to the prevalence of various social vices. Life is a long journey, a rocky road covered with contradicting occurrences with numerous manipulating factors that would blind and an individual thereby deterring him or her to reach false judgments. Certainly, it is beyond dispute that individualism is the center of Americans characteristic. However, there are some problems if we only focus on individualism. Our society has become becomes lethargic such characteristics as individualism. Works Cited Anderson, Sherwood. Winesburg, Ohio. New York: Viking, 1960. Print. Thoreau, Henry David. Walden and Civil Disobedience: Authoritative Texts, Background, Reviews, and Essays in Criticism. Ed. Paul Lauter. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Print. Turner, Frederick J. “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” Turner: The Frontier In American History. 1 Mar. 1920. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. Read More