Rich Lion English 11

Rich Lion

English 11

12/1/08

Period 2

“Self Reliance” is the American Soul Since the early days of America, the country has been seeking an identity. What is the American Soul? The text “From Nature,” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, strongly expresses what the American Soul is, its identity. “From Nature” can sum up the American Soul with three words. First, a word that can describe the American soul would be hardworking. Secondly, inspirational is also a word that can be expressed in “From Nature.” Lastly, unique would describe this country. In the text “From Nature,” Emerson speaks about this country and describes it how people must be hardworking. This is shown by Emerson when he says in his first sentence, “ to go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.” The point that Emerson is trying to get across to the readers is how we must work before we retire. To retire from society you must retire from one’s bedroom and go work to achieve such a task. Emerson also claims in his last paragraph that “it is certain that the power to produce this delight, does not reside in nature, but in man.”By delight Emerson is talking about the relationship between man and the vegetable. Emerson is saying that man must labor for such delight. When reading the text you can see how inspired Mr. Emerson is. When he speaks of nature and of the landscape he shows inspiration. He says “but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to there influence.” What Emerson is saying in the text is that natural objects can inspire the mind. “There is a property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet.” This is saying that the poet is inspired by the American horizon, the landscape that only he can put together. The American soul is being inspired over your country and its landscape. When reading the text one can see Emerson as being unique in himself.