Introduction
Embracing solitude and remaining an individual are not ways to isolate oneself from the world but rather to navigate and relate to it. The philosophies and perspectives of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, as well as their serene works on the topics of “Self-Reliance” and “Solitude,” serve as principles for attaining individualistic ideals and exploring the effects that freedom from societal constraints has on the spirit, mind, and soul. Emerson believes that conformity within society can cause dullness, stripping life of its “colorful fabrics” by removing self-reflection and independence.
Self-reflection is a method of uncovering one’s inner self and pursuing one’s life’s path. These skills emerge from isolation but are also applicable to the congregation and society. According to Thoreau, individualism is a path of self-reliance, and being exclusive helps recognize potential and ability rather than conforming to societal expectations. Both authors share the need to comprehend that individuals are a small part of a larger whole, with both freedom and individuality.
Personal Freedom
Emerson’s Views
Emerson and David Thoreau use their literature to convey comparable notions about liberty. Emerson is a proponent of freedom for all people, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic background. He describes how society corrupts an individual in comparison to solitude and nonconformity. “I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions” (Emerson 84). Based on the statement, he believes that people hinder one’s ability to evaluate their potential.
When people meet without direction, they tend to sacrifice elements of themselves to relate to others, without distancing themselves from societal stimuli and other people’s thoughts. In Emerson’s works, freedom is often associated with seclusion and nonconformity. He explains that since an individual is isolated from everyone, problems, rules, and labor, solitude promotes freedom. Having solitude in life allows one to do anything and build a universe based on the circumstances one chooses.
In Emerson’s writings, the independence and ability to build one’s universe stem not only from solitude but also from being self-sufficient. Self-reliance means relying on oneself rather than on others. Self-sufficiency creates freedom since it allows an individual to accomplish whatever they want without difficulty. Emerson writes, “What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think,” which emphasizes how freedom permits one to construct one’s laws, worship, thoughts, and actions (Emerson 86). Emerson uses liberty as an underlying concept to urge people to follow their own instincts rather than what others think.
Thoreau’s Views
In Thoreau’s opinion, owning things that necessitate the commitment of time and effort to maintain erodes freedom. A farm is an example of this, as labor must be accomplished to maintain it, leaving little time to enjoy it. Thoreau states, “I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone.” He championed freedom by discussing his excursions to explore life and learn more about what it has to offer (Thoreau). He emphasizes that people need to experience nature or something comparable that enables them to be free from society and its conflicts. However, this does not determine their happiness; instead, it should be from within oneself.
Thoreau advised readers to visit various places and gain fresh life experiences that allow them to live by their own set of norms and practices. When Thoreau decides to leave Walden Pond, he says, “What company has that lonely lake, I pray? And yet it has not the blue devils, but the blue angels in it, in the azure tint of its waters” (Thoreau). He appreciates that there is peace in Walden Pond, although the place is silent and lonely. According to him, having dreams requires the freedom to develop them. Thoreau encapsulates the idea that having freedom facilitates self-realization and that one can live freely without self-reflection.
Social Constraints and Individual Liberty
Emerson’s Views
Similar to Thoreau’s perspective, where he excludes himself from others for the sake of peace and self-reliance, Emerson wrote about how the community can distract from self-growth through friendly visits and family demands. He encourages spending more time reflecting on oneself, which can also occur in society through self-assurance. This would help the participant remain true to their ideals in social gatherings. “But the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude,” Emerson emphasizes how liberty is found through self-dependence (Emerson 86). The concept of truth being found within oneself is a frequent theme in Emerson’s context. Emerson contends that reliance on institutionalized religion impedes an individual’s potential to evolve mentally.
To avoid being overwhelmed by the group, individuals have always been expected to work hard. If one tries it, one will often feel frightened and alone. However, there is no price too steep to pay for the right to own oneself. Emerson’s thoughts and perspectives on how society negatively affects human progress are contained in “Self-Reliance.” He argues vehemently that self-trust, self-reliance, and individualism, among other things, are effective strategies for resisting conformity. In addition, he contends that people routinely impose fear on themselves. The highest type of happiness, according to Emerson, is obtained when a person learns and adapts an individualized lifestyle based on their beliefs. In his context, individualism is indeed a common concept throughout “Self-Reliance,” and being exclusive is a way in which people recognize their potential and ability, rather than what society dictates.
Thoreau’s Views
In a distinct journey to establish a utopia within nature, Thoreau retreats into the wilderness to isolate himself from civilization and cultivate a deeper sense of truth within himself by living simply and ethically. Walden is an exercise in self-sufficiency, as well as an examination of the simplicity of all things in nature and the individualism that follows. He believes that society has come to institutionalize life and absorb the individual. He states that to connect with one’s meaning of life, one must live simply and reject the hindrances that come with the various luxuries that man believes are important.
Conclusion
“Solitude” and “Self-Reliance” suggest that people do what they believe and rely on themselves. Both of these transcendentalist fables argue that people should pursue their passions, do what they love, and not conform to societal expectations. The distinction between the arguments is that believing what one desires and having self-reliance are two different things. Trusting oneself promotes courage, whereas self-reliance promotes independence. The arguments on being honest with oneself and the value of simplicity both demonstrate the importance of being honest and free with oneself. The difference is that being honest would not help one live; however, being free will help one wonder and learn how to survive even during hardships.
Works Cited
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self-Reliance.” Essays, edited by Curtis A. Weyant, Sankar Viswanathan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, 2022.
Thoreau, Henry David. “Solitude.” Walden and on The Duty of Civil Disobedience, edited by Judith Boss, and David Widger, 2021.