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What Is Emerson's Argument To Individuals Who Lack Self Identity?

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Ralph Waldo Emerson was a well-known American writer of the nineteenth century. In his writing, Emerson speaks on behalf of cultural pressures and how this detrimentally impacts individuals in society. In Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance, he uses metaphors to reach out to individuals who lack self-identity. At the time, Emerson’s writing was notorious for being rebellious because his content was original and abstract. Through his writing style he had the ability to influence others to live life differently than society’s traditional customs. Emerson provides lessons on the importance of being authentic to one’s true persona (Rosenblum 1). Emerson conveys this message in order to remove the fears individuals may have when obtaining self-actualization. …show more content…

This “force” that Emerson speaks of can be physically draining for an individual (Emerson 36). This internal force can stem from frustration because individuals choose to avoid their true integrity due to outside pressures. The idea of having “no worth” can represent a lack of confidence found within an individual (Emerson 36). Therefore, since individuals lack confidence this in terms causes them to conform to society's means. This concept relates to Emerson’s statement “society is a wave” which represents another pessimistic metaphor (Emerson 49). In this quotation, Emerson wants to point out how society, like a wave continues to move forward. Unfortunately, as society progresses some citizens remain stagnant in fear of being different. Emerson metaphorically depicts that individuals cannot truly prosper and move forward until they release the negativity, which is preventing them from reaching progression. Emerson metaphorically shows sympathy by comparing individuals within a society to a leaf-bud that obtains no true sense of its capabilities. In order to provide assistance for these individuals who are having trouble accepting their own character Emerson provides …show more content…

Emerson states an encouraging optimistic metaphor, “Yes, but I cannot sell my liberty and my power, to save their sensibility… then they will justify me” (Emerson 42). Emerson is metaphorically saying that individuals cannot allow a society to tell them what is right and wrong. There are individuals that give up their freedom to think and act differently in order to fit in. Rather Emerson is stating that individuals should be set free and openly express themselves for who they are. Once individuals learn how to live within their own skin others will learn to accept them. Emerson supports this metaphor by elaborating on a leader figure by the name of Socrates, who was honored for his bravery. Socrates’ had a bold personality and enjoyed questioning life (Emerson 44). This same mentality is what gained him enemies during his lifetime. Despite this tribulation Socrates remained true to his passion and did not give in to his surroundings (Satris 1). As stated in the Last Name 6 previous quotation “Then they will justify me” (Emerson 42). This was found to be true for Socrates, after years of critique and judgment he is now known as an intellectual leader.

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