Paul Hunt Self- Reliance

‘’Self- Reliance’’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson doesn’t relate to the American soul through different

characteristics. Three of these characteristics are lazy, close-mined and boring. Each one of

these characteristics and how they tie to the American Soul are demonstrated throughout the Self

Reliance essay.

One characteristic that doesn’t describe the American soul in the essay ‘’Self–Reliance’’ is lazy.

Emerson says “And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent

destiny” (Emerson 210). This quote doesn’t compare to the American soul as being lazy. It

wants people to think higher of themselves. Another way lazy isn’t shown in this essay in when it

says “No kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of

ground which is given to him to till.”(Emerson 209), this quote is tell people to go out and go get

you opportunity that waiting for you. Another point that comes out in this essay shows that lazy

doesn’t come out is when they Emerson says “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your

own mind” (Emerson 210) this quote is telling you that choices are in your control.

The characteristic close-minded is also not feature of the American soul based on Self-Reliance.

“Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you.”(Emerson, 210). This can be

interpreted as accepting yourself as you are, which suggest being open-minded. “The power

which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor

does he know until he has tried”,( Emerson 209) isn’t being close-minded because it means that

you never know what you can do until you try. The last example of the American soul not

relating to the characteristic close-minded is in the quote “Nothing is at last sacred but the
integrity of your own mind”, (Emerson 210). This suggests that you control what you think and

you can come up with new ideas.

The third and final trait that’s not included in the essay ‘’Self–Reliance’’ is boring. “Not for

nothing one face, one character, one fact, makes much impression on him, and another none.”

(Emerson 209). This doesn’t compare to boring. This shows the affect that creative situations

can have on one another. People can impress each other based on the creativity that is showed at

the time. “The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular

ray.”(Emerson,210). Boring isn’t related to this quote because it says that creativity is in the eye

of the beholder. In the ‘’Self-Reliance’’ essay, “It is not without pre-established harmony, this

sculpture in the memory” (Emerson 210), is like saying that it’s up to the person to choose their

own creativity. The creativity lies within the individual and they have to use it.

I believe the ‘’Self- Reliance’’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson has many characteristics that don’t

compare to the American soul. I chose the three that I felt were easily related to through his

essay. Emerson’s essay doesn’t show how the American soul is lazy, close-minded or boring

through his words to the reader.