Self- Reliance Rhetorical Analysis
Have you ever wondered what ever happen to people personal beliefs or ways of doing things for self? Can you think of a time when you relied on your own thoughts instead of worrying if people will still accept you? In today’s society, many people have conformed to the idea of doing what the world says is common to gain approval amongst their peers. These are the exact instances that Ralph Waldo Emerson emphasizes with his belief of self reliance. In essence this is the capability of one’s self to have their own independence, to make their own decision, judgments, and to build their own self-trust. In Emerson’s essay on self reliance he uses several strategic rhetorical elements such as tone, his transcendentalism belief, and repetitive examples in order to promote self- reliance as an ideal, even a virtue, which contrasts with various modes of dependence or conformity. It’s about stressing the necessity of relying on oneself for knowledge and wisdom.
In addition, Ralph Waldo Emerson asserts the importance of individualism and illustrates transcendentalist through his 19th century work on self-reliance. Emerson’s work is more profound now than ever before because of society’s ever changing cultural values. In the past it has always seemed as though American Culture was solely based on sameness and anything outside of the mundane would undoubtedly be rejected by the majority. That ideal of the past rival, those of today’s hugely as that now it seems that they are the exact opposite for this generation. Almost everything that is considered unique is widely accepted by some crowd or another and people seem to go against the grain to prove their individuality. Though it has become increasingly common to be “different”, there are still people who are dependent on the will and actions of the majority to feel fulfilled. Emerson’s work serves as an artful fundamental code to remind one of oneself, to praise self encourage, non conformity, and abide by independent thought throughout life. To fully understand the intent of Emerson’s work, we must first examine his credence as it relates to transcendentalism.
Emerson’s first effective strategy was his appeal to pathos and the tone his writing style produced. His tone was adamant. He was really confident about what he was saying. He constantly boasted his beliefs repetitively which ultimately gave his writing style a matter of fact tone that convinces the audience to believe his claims. This tone that he adapted allowed his audience to believe that self reliance is essential. He states the person who scorns personal intuition and instead chooses to rely on others opinions lacks the creative power necessary for robust, bold, and individualism. In the words he was stating if you can think for yourself or you let others dictate your actions, you’re not bold. This piece worked off the audience emotions and gives encouragement for some that it’s better to trust ourselves. “To rely on others judgments is cowardly without inspiration or hope”. “A person with self esteem on the other hand, exhibits originality and is childlike unspoiled by selfish needs and yet mature”. Through this piece he was able to express the importance of individualism.
Moreover, the second useful strategy was using his transcendentalism belief as a driving force to draw you into why self- reliance is important to him. Emerson states that it is better to live truly and obscurely than to have one’s goodness extolled in public. It makes no difference to him whether his actions are praised or ignored. The important thing is to act independently: “what I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think”. His whole belief was doing what makes him happy as a person not being miserable and relying on the opinions of others for a stamp of approval. Emerson was addressing the issue the public can have on someone’s life. The public opinion can waste a life if you let it by dropping all your morals and conforming to the world’s way of doing things. Thus, in the end you lose yourself along the way.
Lastly, the third strategy was using repetition to provide various examples on why individualism is paramount. He explained the different between a self-reliance person and someone who just rely on others. He made a good point on how you can make someone who is famous more important than the average person who is doing the same thing based on the category society has placed them in. “ To believe your own thoughts, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,– that is genius. Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universe sense; for the inmost in due time become the outmost—and our first thought is rendered back to us by the trumpets of the last judgment”. Emerson maintains with this quote that it is better to follow your own heart and be true to yourself when there are emotional tides than to denounce your personal belief and one loses a sense of identity.
Emerson essay on self –reliance effectively proves the fact the people no longer rely on their intuition. The whole purpose of this piece is to bring awareness to the fact that people no longer rely on their personal thoughts but instead follow what the society thinks is right. Emerson was reminding everyone of the importance of self reliance by incorporating several rhetorical elements such as tone, transcendentalism belief and repetitive examples in order to promote self –reliance as an ideal, even a virtue, that contrasts with various modes of dependence or conformity. Everyone should be able to care for and tend to their own needs. The ability to depend on yourself is what will make you unique and stand out amongst others. He was reminding us of the purpose of thinking for yourself and not forgetting who you are to make society happy. Instead result back to the old ways of originality instead of what’s common. In hindsight, not much has changed from the past. Although Emerson chapter was written in the 19th century, the idea of people conforming to the world viewpoint remains the same. Sadly in this day and the time, the true meaning of self reliance hasn’t come into revelation for some people. When will people get the true meaning behind the concept of self-reliance that Emerson was trying to shed light on?
ENG 1020-01: Technology and Online Rhetoric 