Essay “On Self-Reliance”

       Many people in our world seem to follow the “trend” instead of doing what they actually want to do. In the essay “On Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he gives great examples and reasons on why we should all be ourselves. The title itself gives many meaning and also the tone is pretty clear throughout the essay. Emerson makes his statements clear by the diction and syntax being used. Emerson’s essay will help me in my personal life, because this essay has made me view things differently.

       The title “On Self-Reliance” wrapt the whole essay into a few words, which gives the main idea. The tone of this essay is being yourself and that you shouldn’t rely on others. “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, -that is genius” (par. 1). This is an example of his tone because the quote shows that you should believe in your own thoughts, and to always believe what is near your heart. “What pretty oracles nature yields us on this text, in the face and behaviour of children, babes, and even brutes! That divided and rebel mind, that distrust of a sentiment because our arithmetic has computed the strength…” (par. 5). This shows how we should all be like “children, babes, and even brutes” since they don’t care what others think of them, they just do or say that they want. Emerson was able to make his tone very clear to understand by his choice in words used.

       Diction and syntax are very important which made Emerson’s point of view more simple to understand. “Familiar as the voice of the mind is to each, the highest merit we ascribe to Moses, Plato, and Milton is, that they set at naught books and traditions, and spoke not what men but what they thought” (par. 1). The words used are showing diction because he gives examples about important people, they succeeded because they listened to themselves not anyone else. “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events” (par. 4). The arrangement and wording in this quote shows syntax because the paragraph itself shows a very good example on when you should be yourself, which is when your in the highest point in life. Although, there are many examples of diction and syntax, I believe this two quotes are very important to also explain the tone.

       When you first read the essay you don’t truly understand the meaning, however when you look back you start to realize the beauty of the overall essay. “This sculpture in the memory is not without pre established harmony” (par.3). This sentence made me truly understand how our ideas come to place. Although, they come from our experience we try to deny them because we care to much about what others think. “Do not believe it. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles” (par. 41). Emerson ends with these two sentences to show that you are the person who can make yourself feel better and have peace towards yourself and others. These two quotes made me see life differently because only ourselves can help you in life and you need to learn to express what you believe in.

        Even if the essay was written many years ago the same concept has been the same since then. Although, many people believe social media causes us to not be able to express ourselves, that is not technically true because when this essay was written there was none of that. Being self reliant makes you succeed in the long run, then following that others want you to follow. The essay “On Self-Reliance” can really make people realize that being yourself is the only thing that matters in this life.