Ralph Waldo Emerson Self- Reliance (1841) Background Born in 1803, the son of a conservative Unitarian minister. Father died when he was eight, leaving family in meager circumstances. Influenced by an eccentric aunt, who encouraged his education and broadminded thinking. Attended Harvard at age 14, graduating at 18 and working as a schoolmaster before studying theology. Ordained as junior pastor of Boston’s Second Church (1829) where Cotton and Increase Mather preached more than a century before. Married Ellen Tucker who died of tuberculosis sixteen months later. Resigned his pastorate in 1932, because of his skepticism with the theological doctrines such as the Lord’s Supper. Traveled to Europe meeting well-known writers, Coleridge, William Wordsworth, and Thomas Carlyle. Moved to Concord, Massachusetts, began lecturing and writing. Married Lydia Jackson; fathered four children. His first born, Waldo, died in 1842 at age 5.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Self- Reliance (1841) Additional Background Believed in individualism, non-conformity, and the need for harmony between man and nature. A proponent of abolition. His first book, Nature (1836), influenced by a range of idealistic philosophies, confirmed his future as a prose writer -- establishing him as the center of the Transcendental Movement. Self Reliance is his most famous collection of essays. These essays were gathered from his journals and lectures and covered a period of years. The earliest essay from 1832, the year he left the pulpit. Contributed to the Transcendentalists’ magazine, The Dial, serving as editor from 1842-1844. Known as a key figure in the “New England Renaissance” [helping American Literature find it’s place in world literature]. Gained recognition for his poetry [collected in 1846]. An inspiration for many writers, especially Henry Thoreau and Walt Whitman.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Main Points Map of Concord Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Main Points Self reliance can be defined as the bringing into the light one’s inner views on what is true and meaningful, and in the process enriching an entire community through diversity. “The power which resided in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he tries.” Emerson calls for greater self-reliance, “a new respect for the divinity in man,” bringing “revolutionary” change in all relations – religion and prayer, education and literature, pursuits, modes of living, property and views, and associations. In Emerson’s time, America still looked to Europe for its art, architecture, literature, instead of developing it’s own. He believed that by adopting the talent of another, one could only claim only half possession. He was critical of Americans for not using their God-given individuality to become more than mere imitators.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Main Points True happiness and fulfillment can only come through a recognition of one’s own uniqueness, talent and effort. Envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide. It’s only when a person puts his heart into his work and does his best that he is truly happy and at peace. Do not be ashamed to speak your unique thoughts, “divine idea[s]” rather than quoting the words of some former “saint or sage”. Roses do not make reference to former roses, but “exist [perfectly] with God today.” Actions should be genuine, honest and natural. Don’t be afraid of being inconsistent -- genuine action will explain itself over time, just as the zigzag path of a ship’s voyage seen over a distance straightens itself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Main Points Truth comes from within and lies beyond or “transcends” the knowledge we obtain from our senses. Trust in the truth, in your intuition. Accept your place in the world and do not cower in a corner, hemmed in by conformity. Be a nonconformist. An infant conforms to no one. The world conforms to it. Do not give to causes that you do not believe in, just because you feel society expects it. Trust yourself. There will be those who think they know your duty better than you do. Trust yourself. Do not be concerned about what others think. Trust that you have the innate wisdom from God within. Become intuitive and in touch with yourself. “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Main Points Emerson’s Birthplace Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Main Points Emerson advocates independence not only of thought but also of action. Society continually changes, do not let these changes encumber your virtue. When a man builds a coach, he loses the use of his feet. If one uses crutches, he loses muscle support. He wears a watch and forgets how to tell time by the sun. Emerson believed that reliance on property and the government to protect it was a lack in self-reliance. Men have looked away from themselves at things too long and now measure each other by what he has not by what he is. Emerson describes dependence on foreign goods as leading to a “slavish respect for numbers.” Emerson recognized men’s gamble with Fortune, gaining and losing all, but concludes that nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self- Reliance (1841) Historical Significance Self-Reliance [1841], had a great impact on Emerson’s society, becoming his most well-known essay. Self-Reliance, together with Nature, established Emerson as a writer and lecturer. He became regarded as the founder of the Transcendental movement, a distinctly American philosophy emphasizing optimism, individuality, and mysticism. He was one of the most influential literary figures of the nineteenth century. As a result of the new philosophy introduced in Self-Reliance, America developed literature and art uniquely different from any other country in the world and established for the first time America’s place in the world of art and literature. Emerson, through his writing of Self-Reliance, had an impact on future generations also. He became an inspiration to such writers as Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau. Today, portions of Self-Reliance have been so quoted that many are now cliché. The philosophy of individual independence has, to some extent, become the American way. Self-Reliance had a significant impact not only on American writers and artists, but also on Unitarians and the liberally religious opening them to science, Eastern religions and a naturalistic mysticism. In addition to group impact, Self-Reliance, had an impact on the individual American, inspiring him to listen to and heed the still, small voice of God within. The impact of Self-Reliance and the subsequent Transcendental movement was one of supreme importance extending a challenge to Americans to use their God-given talents for the betterment of the individual and thus the community. It proved to be a positive, lasting, truly American change.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Young American Born May 25, 1803 Boston, MA - Died April 27, 1882 Concord, MA. American essayist, philosopher, and leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the early 19th century. In October 1817, at fourteen, Emerson went to Harvard College and was appointed the Freshman's President. Tutored and taught during the winter vacation at his Uncle Ripley's school in Waltham, Massachusetts. Over the next several years, Emerson made his living as a schoolmaster, then went to Harvard Divinity School. Anonymously published his first essay, Nature, in September 1836. August 31, 1837, Emerson delivered his now-famous Phi Beta Kappa address, "The American Scholar". He was denounced as an atheist, and a poisoner of young men's minds for discounting Biblical miracles and proclaiming that, while Jesus was a great man, he was not God.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Young American Emerson on Slavery in 1844 His involvement with the antislavery movement grew as slavery escalated during the 1840s and early 1850s. Emerson’s fears concerning its expansion grew, and he acquired a deep admiration for the abolitionist movement. He delivered his first public antislavery address in 1844, a commemoration of the British emancipation of the slaves in the West Indies.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Young American Main Points 1. Railroad Iron is a magician’s rod, in its power to evoke the sleeping energies of land and water. “But I have abstained too long from speaking of that which led me to this topic,- [the railroad’s] importance in creating an American sentiment.” “..increased acquaintance it has given the American people..” “..reduced England to a third of its size..” “..in this country it has given a new celerity to time..” “There is no American citizen who has not been stimulated to reflection by the facilities now in progress of construction for travel and transportation of goods in the United States.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Young American Main Points (cont.) 2. The uprise and culmination of the new power of Commerce is of most significance to the American at this hour. “From Washington, ..’the city of magnificent distances,’ through all its cities, states, and territories, it is a country of beginnings, of projects, of designs, and expectations. It has no past: all has an onward and prospective look.” “We concoct eleemosynary systems, and it turns out that our charity increases pauperism. We inflate our paper currency, repair commerce with unlimited credit, and are presently visited with unlimited bankruptcy”.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Young American Main Points (cont.) “The History of commerce..is the record of this benficent tendency….Trade, a plant which grows wherever there is peace, as soon as there is peace, and as long as there is peace..” “It is a new agent in the world, and one of great function; it is a very intellectual force.” “Trade goes to make the governments insignificant, and to bring every kind of faculty of every individual that can in any manner serve any person, on sale… This is good and this the evil of trade, that it would put everything into market, talent, beauty, virtue, and man himself…” “Trade… We design it thus and thus; it turns out otherwise and far better.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Young American Main Points (cont.) “Gentlemen, the development of our American internal resources, the extension to the utmost of the commercial system, and the appearance of new moral causes which are to modify the state, are giving an aspect of greatness to the Future, which the imagination fears to open.”