Transcendentalism In Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Robot'

Transcendentalism is the idea that people do not have to conform to the ideas of the world and can instead be their own person that works in harmony with nature through their free thoughts. As I researched the idea of transcendentalism in modern society I came across the song “Robot” by Trip Lee. This song says, “ I was really born a robot as a baby. No life in me, I just played a role. No self control, I just did what I was told.” This quote shows that people often work to follow the ideal social norms, end not to become self-reliant, and refuse to break from conformity with confidence. The idea of non-conformity is a key theme found throughout many different transcendentalist essays. For example, in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay entitled “Self-Reliance” he states, “Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree… to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater.” This quote expresses that society often attempts to force people into submission and conformity. Emerson claims that the idea of forced submission is wrong. Likewise, in Robot it says, “My heart took the order, I couldn’t break the mold.” Trip Lee talks directly about how society makes

This idea is expressed in Thoreau’s Walden when he states, “ if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” This quote shows that a person is responsible for reaching his own dreams and he can not follow the ideals and dreams other people. In Trip Lee’s song he says, “You are not my boss that’s the old me.” He claims that he does not rely on the opinions of those around him and he works to follow what he believes in alone. The lines from Thoreau and Trip Lee both express the idea that relying solely on yourself and not depending on the rule or commands of others is key to living a life full of success and