ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs. Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness.

Detailed explanation-2: -Emerson says “The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion.” He is saying that society is based upon conformity and dislikes the idea of self-reliance. When people actually begin to think for themselves and break out of the cookie-cutter life, society finds this unacceptable.

Detailed explanation-3: -Of no surprise is his favoring the bucolic life. Emerson now focuses on four social arenas in which self-reliant individuals are needed: religion, which fears creativity; culture, which devalues individualism; the arts, which teach us only to imitate; and society, which falsely values so-called progress.

Detailed explanation-4: -The idea that one can rely on his or her own judgment, choices, and be free from these societal influences is to be self-reliant. As such, according to Transcendentalism and Emerson, it’s better to trust yourself. In some cases, if not most or all cases, to trust yourself over and above what others believe.