Transcendentalist: Self-Reliance

The theme of Self-reliance is strictly formatted after the essay’s title. Emerson speaks vividly about the maturity that one gains over time and the senses that it sharpens. With strong implications towards the idea that one only deserves that which he makes on his own. In this particular essay he refers to corn, or food in general and how it is only ideal to eat corn you grew on you own land, which reflects transcendentalist’s strong ideals about providing for one’s self and not depending on society’s means of providing for its inhabitants. Providing for one’s self is not the only similarities between transcendentalist and their God. Filling their life with the things that make them happy and by doing it themselves have more control over their own lives than say puritans.

The idea that humans and god are nearly one in some way is shown in Emerson’s writing and can be reflected on as an encouragement towards finding one’s personal use and fulfillment in life. The idea that characteristics similar to God could be found in a human is one of the core philosophies behind transcendentalist believes. It encourages people to live their life in a prospective way and to fill it with meaning and self-reflection. Transcendentalists believe that society operates more like a company that sells stock and only those who have a lot of stock may thrive in it. In this sense, transcendentalist want little to do with society, instead they seek more of a personal fulfillment.

"Trust Thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string" I think this is a firm statement of transcendentalist origin. The idea of trusting one’s self had come from the rational time period and had developed even more with the transcendentalist. The trust they place in themselves is similar to the type of trust puritans had to put into God. The main aspect that would imply this writing to be of transcendentalist thought is the aspect of suggesting that God’s influence can be felt in all individuals and that it can inspire them to take their own path, and not that of society.