Self-Reliance Critism

After reading Kateb's literary criticism of Ralph Waldo Emerson's vision of self-reliance I could more fully understand Emerson's writing. I felt like reading the essay written by Emerson and then reading a criticism by another author, Kateb, really opens up the meaning of the essay for me. I have my opinions that I formed after reading the essay, and then I read the criticism that gives me another well thought out analysis over what I had just read. When I read "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, I understood that he was telling us to be grateful for everything you have in your life and not take anything for granted. He wanted everyone to do their best in each thing they put their mind too. In Kateb's analysis he also agrees with Emerson in his ideals but not in the way Emerson comes across with his ideals. "His variety of declarations tempts us to say that he contradicts himself, but even if we resist the temptation, we are still not sure where he finally stands" (Kateb). The author believes that the way Emerson comes across is difficult and elusive. I can understand where Kateb is coming from because Emerson does talk like everything he says should be law. He really believes in everything that he says. I also think that this is not that bad of a character trait for Emerson to have. This is one of the reasons that Emerson is still so respected and well known is because he believed so much in his writings.  Kateb states that according to Emerson he does not necessarily want us to agree with his insights or judgments, or even to go on discussing all his subjects. He only wants us to feel delight with him in the spectacle of contrariety that the world offers and that he tries to capture in his work. His great lesson is that some large part of the interest or fascination in the world comes from the fact that meaning or beauty or truth can be found in conflicting or incompatible ideas, principles, forces, and practices. I had not previously thought of Emerson's writings this way. From what I had interpreted form Emerson's writings, I thought that he was telling that his ideals would be a correct way to live your life by, kind of like Benjamin Franklin's virtues. Kateb shows the other point of view, that Emerson just wants to show us what he thinks for the sole purpose for enlightening us. He wants to inform us of what he believes, but he does not want to force his beliefs upon anyone. I agree with much of what Emerson believes. I think he would have been a really cool, smart guy to meet when he was alive. Although Kateb's literary criticism disagrees with how Emerson portrays his information, I still like Emerson's writings. I think that students many many years in the future will still be reading and discussing  their interpretations of Ralph Waldo Emerson;s writings. 


Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance and the Life of the Mind." In Emerson's Transcendental Etudes. Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. 2003. Quoted as "Self-Reliance and the Life of the Mind" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Updated Edition, Bloom's Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= MCVRWE011&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 11, 2012).