Examples Of Transcendentalism In Self Reliance

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In “Self-Reliance” Emerson states and proves that without God you are nothing through various examples and concepts. Transcendentalism is present throughout the whole excerpt and can be found very easily. In “Self-Reliance” Emerson acts disgusted in the way people act when they do not fully express themselves fully since they are afraid of the opinions that will be developed by other people. “We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents.” (Self- Reliance Page 369) Emerson is saying that each of us is divine in our own way to the Lord, but then again we are too ashamed and embarrassed to display it in a public place. Furthermore, Emerson believes that everyone is created equally and exceptional in the image of God. In the end of the first paragraph of the excerpt Emerson states that- “God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best: but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which is not…show more content…
In this cruel and hateful world you only have God and yourself to rely on. If you deny the Lord on earth in front of your friends he will deny you at the entrance to heaven. He will not have his will and work done by people that are afraid of other people’s opinion of them. “Self- reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.” (Self- Reliance Page 369) Society isn’t going to accept who you fully are, but God always will, for the reason that, that is how he admirably created you. Further along in the excerpt Emerson states “Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world.” (Self-Reliance Page 370) This means if you are free from guilt within yourself and society won’t be able to pull you down in the negativity and cruelness that it

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