"Everywhere I am hindered of meeting God in my brother, because he has shut his own temple doors, and recites fables merely of his brother's, or his brother's brother's God. Every new mind is a new classification."--Emerson's "Self-Reliance", page 106
First of all, thank you, Emerson! Throughout most of AP Comp, I have felt irritated with the writers (I'm looking at you Smith, Edwards) so it was nice to actually read something I not only like, but largely agreed with for once. Yay!
Anyway, I chose this passage because of how Emerson immerses his writing in things that would make the average Pope protest, like Pantheism. What I get out of this passage is that we all have our own reality, our own morals and credos, but that we shut away our truths for someone else’s truth—be it by your parents or pastor or whatever. This is sad. We are all different; let’s not conform at the peril of our selves. Share your ideas, sure, but don't shut them away.
I’m odd, I know, but I honestly believe that realities differ from person to person. Perhaps not significantly, but enough that we tend to mold matters for ourselves. It’s interesting to think and write about, at least. Thanks again, Emerson!
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I never really considered this point of view from Emerson's essay, but it was very enlightening! It's all about being original and true to yourself, which is exactly what Ralph Waldo Emerson does. I really respect him for that!
ReplyDeleteSomewhere, Waldo is reading this post and smiling...
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, Stefanie (well several good points, actually, but I'll talk about one): this essay is categorically different from the stuff we've read before (I'm looking at you Smith, Edwards). This is intentional, I think. Emerson was operating under a different spiritual framework than those guys, and he was consciously trying to do something original.
I'm glad you got something out of it!