Reaction to Self Reliance

This blog deals with the writing “Self Reliance” by Emerson and is a reaction to the analysis by George Kateb.

 I thought this analysis from George Kateb was interesting The analysis was very in depth and detailed from the expert, “Self Reliance”. It was clearly meant to expand the ideas from Emerson as well as add details and thoughts. Although the article was a little long I thought it cleared up some of the confusing parts in “Self Reliance”.  It should be able to clear it up because it was thirty-five pages. The length was so long because Kateb had many ideas and reactions from the original words from Emerson. Kateb most likely looked up to Emersons writing. Otherwise why would he want to write a long reaction on this.  Kateb writes, "Every sentence seems a declaration of faith. He seems to stand behind every utterance with his whole being, and risk his being by the completeness of his candor.” (Kateb). This shows the understanding of the work and the seriousness Kateb felt when writing this reaction. I find it a little odd that he was so into an essay. Throughout the essay the reader can see Kateb believes in Emerson’s writing and wants to live by it. Personally I would not call this writing something to base life off of but everyone is different.

After seeing this article I think Emerson and Kateb seemed like a pretty classy guys.  He says, "An almost exasperated Walt Whitman can therefore say of Emerson: 'He does not see or take one side, one presentation only or mainly, (as all the poets, or most of the fine writers anyhow,)—he sees all sides. His final influence is to make his students cease to worship anything—almost cease to believe in anything, outside of themselves'" (Kateb). He shows he believes in other ideas and people, not just himself. This shows a lot of class because most writers would say there ideas are the only good ones and the right ideas.

I think Kateb wanted to interpret “Self Reliance” in a way where everyone can relate. I personally relate when Kateb says "One relies on oneself”(Kateb). With some recent experiences in my life I have realized that if you want things done you can not rely on others. You sometimes have to do it yourself; even if it means following a different path. This was the point of the reading, for a person to relate to it and maybe get some little thing out of it.  

Overall this writing was pretty good. I think it could have been a lot better if it was not a book. Like I said before thirty-five pages is a little much.  I think he showed Emersons writing in a different and a creative way. I think it was not a waste of time to read this and was a relatable article. Kateb got his ideas across and I respect him for that. “Self Reliance” is a well written paper and I can understand why it was written about and is still read today.

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.