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Comparing Individualism In Henry David Thoreau And Ralph Waldo Emerson

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A common question asked various times is what is more important: my own ideas or those imposed by society? The idea of individualism in literature became a trend during the age of Enlightenment of 1685-1815. A similar trend emerged in the United States, it was referred to as the Transcendentalist movement. Two main writers of this movement that encouraged the self over society were: Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In his essay arguing the importance of self-reliance, Emerson makes encourages the individual. Individuality is more important than conforming to society’s expectations as seen through the historical examples of Nelson Mandela and women abolitionists, but at times you have to follow certain expectations mandated by society …show more content…

Laws can be considered preventative or retributory. It is important to follow laws, although you may disagree with many of them since these are in place for necessary reasons. The idea of placing your beliefs in front of those of society is true in the majority of cases. However, when concerning safety it is more desirable option to follow what is mandated by society. Most countries have laws that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol. Societies place these laws to prevent accidents that would harm the driver and the victim itself. Governments place punishments if you are caught going against this law. Gun laws in the United States is a controversial issue since there have been many incidents concerning weapons, however this right is protected by the Constitution in the 2nd Amendment. Due to the increased number of shootings, the United States is becoming stricter with these laws. The new policies that are implemented by the United States have received criticism from their citizens. However, citizens should try and grasp why these laws were placed and respect them so that they can be safer. Laws are complicated because people are always trying to find ways to avoid them, “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” Greek philosopher Plato made the observation. Most of the people that go against laws are criminals and they receive punishment that is appropriate to their

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In the texts “Declaration of Independence”, “Civil Disobedience”, and “Self Reliance”, the authors show that individuals shape the society, just as the society shapes the individuals. Individuals often stray away from society’s norms. In “Self Reliance”, Emerson writes about the primacy of the individual, and the importance of the individual, disregarding the expectations of society. He states, “What I must do is all that concerns

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The relationship between the law and society affects everyone and everything. How the law is written and how it is acted upon in society are two different things. It is imperative, therefore, that we as citizens pay attention to and understand the importance of the relationship between the law and society as it affects both our own lives and the lives of those around us. We engage in and witness the power of the law and society everyday. The law is personal, however, the law is also discretionary depending on where you look.

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Laws can usually be more repressive and strict for people but they are created for safety. However, Laws can be restrictive and upsetting, which is the reason for Jekyll creating

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The early 1840s till the early 1950, a person 's desire to follows laws varied. Some people didn 't question any law and just followed them to avoid any trouble. But a few people objected. Two very influential writers, Ralph Emerson and Henry Thoreau, put together their opinions to form essays. Emerson’s work as published around 1841; Thoreau’s work was published around 1849.

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Laws, throughout the years have changed tremendously. Laws are words on a piece of paper that help to govern society. Laws are obligatory and are enforceable by authorities such as law enforcement agencies. It can have much effect, or little to no effect on people. The truth is some people will do whatever it is they want to do.

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Law is considered to be one of the many forms of a social science, and that science exist because of law. The relationship between society and the law are similar to glove and hand. The social world is continually changing every second of the day. These particular changes happen because of our contradictory views in our minds of people in the community. Due to these changes over history we should not use nor expect to use these laws that were amended in a constitutions over decades old, because it does not apply to the current situations in a community, or society.

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According to Gloria Steinem, “Law and justice are not always the same”. This quote means that following the law may not always mean justice is being served. Laws are rules and guidelines that are set up to govern behavior. Laws set out standards, procedures

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Transcendentalist writers were focused on the belief of the divinity of the individual soul, the inner voice, (Crawford, Kern & Needleman, 1961) to overcome social stereotypes and to avoid conformity. It is highlighted the importance to return to nature to enhance the quality of humans beings by living simply since being apart of common social rules is the only way to be in communion with nature’s wisdom. Those transcendental characteristics could be seen in Emerson’s ¨self-reliance¨ or Thoreau’s ¨Walden ¨ bearing in mind that although, Emerson’s ¨Self-reliance¨ adheres more descriptive examples to illustrate metaphors and Thoreau’s ¨Where I lived and what I lived for¨ introduces metaphors creating much more imagery, both make a critique of the modern individual using

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America has had a tumultuous existence, replete with war, progress, and ideologies. The most formidable of these is individualism, or the shift of society’s focus from the group to the individual and a growing emphasis on their personal needs and desires. Despite wide criticism, it has become the societal norm, spanning all generations, genders, races, and walks of life. Individualism, while indeed centered on the individual, is more accurately described as the changing and shifting relationship between the individual and society.

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Individualism not only helps a society grow, but also help the people in it realise that they are good at doing. Richard Koch in this article “In Individual Good or Bad,” compared the pros and cons of individualism. He believes that “individualism has been an enormous success in encouraging ordinary people

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The laws stand as a basic understanding of right from wrong and allowed civilizations to keep the most peace among their people as they

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Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau both fond nature to be essential to being a whole person: spiritually and emotionally. Emerson saw nature’s effect on people and their thoughts, whereas Thoreau saw the deliberateness of nature and thought that if people could seize the same decisiveness that they would have more to enjoy in life. Both authors believed that humans needed to enjoy nature to be one with the universal being that is the basis of Transcendentalism. Emerson wrote “When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind.” (Nature 693) Emerson was saying that nature is similar to poetry for the mind, in that it is relaxing and wholesome.

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Many authors such as Hemingway, Steinbeck and Faulkner have used the theme of violence in their stories to make their stories seem more realistic and state something about life. However, these authors did not understand the purpose of violence nor how it is necessary for grace. Flannery O’Connor argued that violence could lead to grace because suffering is redemptive and grace itself is violent. Hemingway in his short story The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, illustrates two different reactions to violence. Francis Macomber successfully shoots a bull and feels empowered by the violence.

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Are we obligated to obey unjust laws? Laws are important because they are guidelines for a state. Without laws citizens would not know how to act and cause harm to others. Laws are aimed at common good and keep a society together and functioning.

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What I will explain to you in this article will, how we are connected with the law and I hope, make you see sense in the importance of our laws in the society we live in. To be against the importance of laws in our society would show one to be ignorant and naïve. I encounter the law on a daily basis when I am driving. I have to follow the speed limit of each road, I have to signal before changing lanes, my vehicle must be in good condition in order to safely drive and I must obey all road signs as they are set in place to ensure the safety of everybody.

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