Ralph Waldo Emerson: An Annotated Bibliography on Self-Reliance

Richardson, Robert D. Jr. Emerson: The Mind on Fire. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1995

Self-reliance constitutes the focus on one’s resources and powers to achieve independence. In this article, Robert presents Emerson as a man characterized by an abiding genius for friendship, an affectionate father, a grief-stricken widower, and a young suitor. Whereas initial moments witnessed Emerson emerge as a great spokesman for self-reliance and individualism, this work portrays the new character as a loyal brother, an activist citizen, and a good neighbor. Overall, the work suggests that Emerson transformed into a great intellectual adventurer, a self-reliant character, self-doubting, and one who knew how to laugh. The emerging theme is that Robert depicts Emerson as an individual whose timeliness is striking and persistent, and emphasizes the interconnectivity between cultures of science and literature, emphasizing respect for nature and the worth of every individual.

Whicher, Stephen Emerson. Freedom and Fate: An Inner Life of Ralph Waldo Emerson. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1953

This work acknowledges that Emerson enjoyed his relationship with nature. In particular, it is emphasized that Emerson was keen to follow the advice of poets whose central theme was nature. Overall, it is concluded that the word of the mind dictates the health of man’s relation with nature, with self-reliance playing a moderating role.

Porte, Joel, and Saundra Morris. The Cambridge Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Cambridge University Press, 1999

This work focuses on Emerson as a poet and pastor who was keen on the conduct of life and its correlation with nature. Based on Emerson's stance, the authors affirm that nature is the Supreme Court, the final word, and the law. As such, the role of nature in shaping life's fundamental context requires humans to advocate for conservation measures, with the outcome of this trend projected to realize a self-reliant society.

Cayton, Mary Kupiec. Emerson's Emergence: Self and Society in the Transformation of New England, 1800-1845. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1989

This work acknowledges that 19th-century New England was dominated by commercial capitalism. As such, people's ideas were altered in relation to the manner in which they related with others, the nature of their work, and how the world functioned. Hence, Cayton concluded that Emerson's career and work sensitized audiences regarding society's intellectuals' role in conserving nature. In turn, the work infers that this trend, as advocated by Emerson, yields a self-reliant society.

Essay

Interest in Emerson and his associated work has been informed by the philosopher's crucial role in shaping areas such as nature, the earth, or the environment, the cultural context, and even the social context via religious views that have been avowed to be insightful. At the personal level, interest in the subject of self-reliance versus nature (and how some scholarly studies have documented Emerson’s contribution) has been motivated by the changing nature of the physical environment (or the earth) and the need for early interventions. It is also worth noting that interest in the subject has been motivated by the need to determine specific causative agents responsible for the increasing tension between man and nature, upon which context-specific and targeted solutions could be designed, adopted, and implemented.

From the research of some of the past scholarly studies focusing on Emerson and his ideology of self-reliance (and how it correlates with nature), my initial expectation was that the selected articles would document Emerson's focus on the definition of self-reliance, some of the factors affecting or contributing to self-reliance benefits accruing from self-reliance, and the implications for future generations. However, an analysis of the scholarly studies has led to a new discovery. Particularly, the research has led to my understanding that the majority of the articles focusing on Emerson and the subject of self-reliance stretch beyond surface ideas such as those mentioned above (including causes, effects, factors, and trends in self-reliance) to account for the role of the human mind in steering the practice. Specifically, findings suggest that the manner in which man perceives nature determines the degree of willingness to change it. Upon succeeding in changing the nature, I have realized that most of these studies concur that man is likely to be self-reliant, having ensured that the immediate surrounding environment in which he lives can sustain life by providing some of the resources that could assure desirable well-being.

I have also discovered that the documentation on literature and nature acknowledged a mutual and direct relationship between science and literary cultures. Whereas literature constitutes scholarly opinions about subjects in science, science reveals nature’s issues or events requiring alteration; with scholarly contributors (in literature) using literary analyses and messages to sensitize societal members about possible adversities that threaten the existence of the earth. A specific example is a case in which the selected scholarly works, based on Emerson's ideologies about self-reliance and its contribution to nature, document man's role in harming the environment and, in turn, compromise efforts towards realizing the spirit of self-reliance. Hence, science ends up prompting literary analysts about the need to expound on opinions such as those spearheaded by Emerson and ensure that messages reach as many audiences as possible.

I have also discovered that the benefit that literature offers to the culture of science (by sensitizing society to the need for environmental friendliness and steering self-reliance) does not end on this unidirectional path. Instead, science reciprocates by ensuring that it offers vast subjects or topics through which literary analysts prepare additional works. At the personal level, I have discovered that the subject of literature and nature, as revealed by Emerson and scholarly works that seek to expound his opinions, requires interested persons to stretch beyond a surface focus and narrow down to the intellectual aspect that plays a predictive role in determining the success of the change. For example, I have discovered that Emerson and other scholars with similar views strived to advocate for self-reliance, individualism, and the conservation of nature by focusing on the perception of a man about nature, the earth, or the environment; rather than point out the mistakes of man without translating theory into practice.

Overall, I have gained insight into some of the past scholarly studies' analyses of Emerson's opinions about self-reliance and its secondary effect on nature. The central theme that emerges is that literature plays a crucial role in ensuring that some of the challenges faced by science culture are addressed accordingly. Based on Emerson's opinions, the positive effect is indirect. In particular, literary works are seen to sensitize target populations or audiences about the beneficial role of achieving a self-reliant society. Hence, the analyses end up targeting human perception, with the alterations projected to yield self-reliance. As Emerson's opinions end up transforming the society's attitude towards nature (by advocating for the need for self-reliance and reap the benefits that arise from this aspect), the eventual outcome is that the society strives to conserve the earth, hence an indirect relationship or positive contribution to science. On the other hand, I have discovered that science plays a crucial role in literature because elements such as climate change and other attributes of nature form subjects of literary analyses, upon which knowledge is expanded. In summary, it is evident that self-reliance, as advocated by Emerson, is dependent on the change of man’s perception of nature; with literary analyses playing a supportive role in sensitizing society to the need to be self-reliant via nature’s conservation, eventually reaping the benefits associated with a self-reliant society.