The phenomenon of conformity - Essay Example

9th February Memo Assignment Introduction “The virtue in most requests is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs” (Emerson 260). An individual finds it very difficult to trust society, yet at the same time, through Emerson’s words, it is clear that it is very difficult for a man to not conform to all that society throws at him; even when one hears something that his own intuition tells him with clarity, it gets muffled by the disdain displayed by others around him. It becomes very tough for a man to grow self-reliant, especially with others sharking his spirit. Only when a man can conform to himself will he experience pure bliss along with a sense of comprehension of his own mind, writes Emerson. Thus, the very intention of the existence of an individual has been questioned taking into account moral right and wrong, as well as portraying a situation where one individual, with ease, capitulates to what a large society and “dead institution” might throw at him. Circumstance The definition of conformity plays a huge role in the understanding of Emerson’s words. Conforming to someone else is the easiest task in the history of the world because it is not tough to submit to someone else. The writer has thrown a very important situation towards the reader – the question of living one’s own life. He talks about the virtues of men and how that separates one from living in itself. By this I understand that he means to talk about how one should not apologize for his actions because when he was carrying out a deed, to him it was virtuous, and it was everything that he had wanted to do. Rather than viewing life as a heady strenuous exercise, the author asks people to look at it as a glittery spectacle. Whatever one does should concern oneself and not others, and this sort of thinking is what separates the greats from the ones who are just struggling and turn out to be mean in their endeavors towards others (Richardson). In any kind of a circumstance, it is the easiest to live with people and conform to their needs and wants; while living by one self, it is the easiest to fulfill personal desires. However, when one lives in the midst of a sea of humanity and does what he likes, that is when he stops conforming to societal pleas. Great people such as Milton, Moses, and Plato are remembered today for their contribution to society because they followed their own thoughts and refused to conform to what others said. Taking modern day examples of entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs, it becomes easier to ascertain the very meaning of conformity – those who listen to their own as opposed to the desires of most men (in carrying out personal goals), remain the slaves of the thoughts of others. Cause/Effect Milton wrote what he felt; he took on nature as his muse and was inspired by all that was around him, except other individuals. Had he listened to what people said, however, he would have failed and people would not be praising his work today. During the period that he was alive, not many souls knew of him, yet he carried on. Plato’s teacher Socrates was regarded higher than him in the ancient Greek era. Yet today, in-depth analyses of Plato’s work helps readers understand how he questioned his own teacher and refused to be a servant to his thoughts. Steve Jobs failed to listen to his own parents and conform to his colleagues even though he was ousted out of his own company. Yet, he stood his ground and waited till the time was right – he was back in Apple in 2009 for a good two years during which the company shot all over the world and became one the most widely acknowledged and acclaimed companies of the world. Had he listened to his colleagues or taken into account their ideas, the company would not have been where it is today, even after his unfortunate demise. Comparison When a man refuses to conform to his peers, he is whipped with displeasure; however, understanding that the same is only of transient nature is what keeps him from becoming great. Therefore, it is very important for a man to stand his ground and take in all the unhappiness and disgust that others throw his way, so he can churn out a self-reliant soul from within and be prey to his own ideas instead of those belonging to others. When one begins to think like others, he loses out his own luster and thus the staunch emphasis on individualism goes to waste because he begins living for others rather than himself. Only those that have the capability to trust themselves are the ones who make it to the stars; when one fails to carry out this simple act, he loses faith (“Self-Reliance” 4). Conclusion “Ne te quaesiveris extra” (Emerson 259). Man is his own star, as correctly written by the author, and he must place emphasis on individualism as well as the importance of being self-reliant and not thinking thoughts that belong to other individuals. He should not be a meek receiver of other’s words, however sweet they might sound, and thus must not be subject to conformity. Man is very timid and tends to be apologetic for his actions because he distrusts what he might do, and believes that he might not get the reaction he hopes for, from others for his actions. However, Emerson talks about how this thought is a violation of one’s own self and how one’s self-esteem gets affected based on what others think about someone. Doubting only leads to mistrust and Emerson questions why one should even reach that stage. Thus, the slogan “trust thyself” plays again and again in the comprehension of one’s own character and must be something that people adopt into their lives in order to truly reach and achieve their potential. Works Cited Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Essays: First Series – Self-Reliance. New York, 1841. Print. Richardson, Robert. The Mind on Fire. University of California: Berkeley, 1995. Print. "Self-Reliance." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. Read More