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Nonconformity In Ralph Waldo Emerson And Henry David Thoreau

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Transcendentalist's Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau illustrate themes of nonconformity in their literature in order to show how one must distance themselves from prevailing to established customs and ideas. Both authors work to spread the transcendentalist idea of being an individual. Through Emerson's text Self-Reliance, he discusses the realizations one experiences through their journey to individuality. He says this occurs "at a time in every man's education" (Emerson, Self-Reliance 185). One realizes that in order to be themselves they have to go against the customs and ideas they have been taught to follow. Emerson believes that being a follower, and going with the flow of things could be what ruins a person true identity. …show more content…

If he believes one does not meet his personal conscience, then he does not feel obligated to conform to it. But with that being said, "it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it" (Thoreau, Civil Disobience 213), meaning one must deal with the consequences of being a nonconformist. Although the consequences may be difficult to deal with, it is necessary in order to prove the point of nonconforming. Thoreau values that with the creation of new ideas or beliefs one must be assured "that [they] do not pursue them sitting upon another man's shoulders" (Thoreau, Civil Disobedience 213). They should be positive that their loyalty to other ideas are not done at the expense of others. One must be agreeing to these ideas on their own, and not because of another person. One can still agree with the values of others while being a nonconformist, but they must be sure it is not because others believe in it. When Thoreau went to jail for disobeying a law he said he "did not for a moment feel confined" (Thoreau, Civil Disobedience 213). How could someone stuck between four white walls not feel confined? Thoreau never felt confined because he will never allow himself to be. He knew he must deal with his consequences of being a nonconformist, and this meant jail time for him. To Thoreau, jail is more than just a punishment for breaking the law. It is proof of his identity of a nonconformist. He believes in firm respect of the individual so one can proposer. He focuses on the individual's responsibility to live deliberately and to gain meaning from their life. This can be accomplished through nonconformity, or refusing to prevail to the customs of

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