Transcendentalism In Modern Society

Transcendentalism Essay

In modern society it is important to be unique and have originality in order to be an individual. Emerson says that if we copy another person's work we are not reflecting on ourselves but just the experiences of another person. He teaches us that we should be unique, think for ourselves, be independent, and to be proud of ourselves. Also that if people are not original then they will just be repeating another person’s legacy and they will just be in their shadow and will not be ahead of them. There are many things in modern culture that is not original and are just copies of something from the old. In modern society there are many dangers conforming to society because it would stifle people's originality, causes imitation,

Words from “Self- reliance” by Emerson that talks about conforming to society is, “I read the other day some verses written by an eminent painter which were original and not conventional. The soul always hears an admonition in such lines, let the subject be what it may. The sentiment they instill is of more value than any thought they may contain. 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.”(Emerson, 245) this quote is talking about how we if we don't use our own originality then we won't reach enlightenment because of the word admonition it was used in this quote as a moral failure to get to enlightenment. One of the many examples of how we are not being original, are reboots of old movies. An example of the many reboots that were made once again is Spider-Man since the classical one is just a guy named Peter Parker that gets bitten by a spider and then gets superpowers that lets him shoot webs and be physically stronger than an average human being. But films make reboots of the original Spider-Man because of how it already has a fan base and because of this they don’t have the problem of risking money if the movie fails to sell and they don’t make profit at all. Since the fans will go see it, the revenue of the movie will be able to pay off the film in the production stages of the movie and be able to have extra

Emerson says, “But the great man in the midst of a crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson, 247) it is saying to be a great man they have to stand out in the crowd and not conform to society. Because if we just follow society blindly we just all become the same and nobody stands out. This is all true since nobody wants to break a rule so they just follow it and live a normal life. But if we act different we are to be an outcast which is why he adds the line “perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson, 247) which is trying to say it is a misunderstanding to be an outcast and we should not fear it. Since we have to stand out in the midst of the crowd we have to do things that aren’t the same as others which is why Emerson says, “There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide” (Emerson, 246) Which is saying that we should not copy others and think for ourselves because if we copy others we should just commit suicide. A clear example of this is from the Twilight zone episode named Number 12 Looks Just Like You. This example is about Marilyn Cuberle that once she turns 19 she has to be conformed into society by looking like the rest but she refuses to be one of them because of how her dad had the transformation and afterwards regret and