Analysis Of Self-Reliance, By Ralph Waldo Emerson

For the essay in Module Two, I decided on the reading by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance. I personally feel that the reading does belong in an American Literature course, such as the one we are currently enrolled in for American Writers. I feel that this writing belongs for several different reasons. I feel it belongs because in a course such as this one is because Ralph Waldo Emerson was the author. Ralph Waldo Emerson is such a well-known author that his work should be included in any book about American Literature. Self-Reliance is a reminder of who you are and what you can become, it also reminds people not to judge a book by its cover because there may be something deeper that we do not know about. I feel a course such as this …show more content…
People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that "transcends" or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel. This knowledge comes through intuition and imagination not through logic or the senses. People can trust themselves to be their own authority on what is right. I feel that Self-Reliance” fits the transcendentalism perfectly because Ralph Waldo Emerson had a simple idea, had knowledge of what was around him, and trusted himself on what he thought was right. Ralph Waldo Emerson throughout his life kept journals of his thoughts and actions, this is how Self-Reliance was written. I, personally feel that, the fact the work for Self-Reliance came from his own journeys and personal thoughts made the reading even more interesting and personal. With Ralph Waldo Emerson using his personal journals of his thoughts and actions to write Self-Reliance gives the reading that much more reason to be used in an American Writers …show more content…
He quoted in the reading, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." I feel that Emerson is correct when he stated this, all the material items cannot bring us peace. Only we can bring peace to ourselves. This statement also confirms why I feel that this reading belongs in an American Literature course. Emerson was a person with amazing thoughts and who would have known that he would be so right about society today. I think that overall this reading is amazing and should be offered in a course such as this. I am surprised i did not read it sooner. I feel that Emerson touched so many points and maintained valid points throughout his