Emerson's Idea Of Self-Reliance Analysis

1. Emerson’s idea of self-reliance basically supported the motive in trusting yourself and believing in yourself. He explained this by addressing that all people have a “self-contained genius” in them, need to be able to handle the disapproval of the world, and have immense self-worth. Additionally, he included notions against conformity and supported the ideal to obey yourself and your needs, not the world’s. Pertaining to Emerson’s philosophy, I agree. I believe that you need to be able to take care of yourself and believe in yourself because, in the end, nobody else will. You need to be able to trust and obey yourself in this world in order to be able to survive and thrive. Personally, I believe I am massively self-reliant. I am able to …show more content…
Throughout Thoreau’s essay on civil disobedience, many paradoxes were incorporated, including, “I saw that even though there was a wall of stone between me and my townsmen, there was a still more difficult one to climb or break through before they could get to be as free as I was”, saying that although Thoreau was separated physically from his townsmen, they are still connected by the idea of rightfulness for your own justice and individualism, which has a thicker hold than a prison wall. Thus, the truth Thoreau conveys is that individualistic ideals and independent thoughts are far more powerful than anything the government can inflict on you, and is also providing more freedom than the government could apply, thus supporting Thoreau’s ideas on civil disobedience regarding government and the people. Another paradox includes, “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison” meaning that in a corrupt government, even right men and correct men are imprisoned because the government has ultimate power and control over the people. Thus, the truth conveyed is under a government, you don’t have control over yourself, the government does, thus giving justification for civil disobedience measures in order to obtain your own justice and rights. Lastly, another paradox includes, “When the subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is complete”, meaning that once the individual has defied government and refused to cooperate with a corrupt government and the officer has resigned, the defiance was a success, since those who are controlling over the rights and consciences of man are out of position, in favor of the individual. Thus, the truth conveyed is that civil disobedience and refused allegiance measures are successful once the corrupt individuals are out of position and you have say in your own justice. In other words, you need to be in charge of you and your own rights