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Ralph Waldo Emerson lived between 1803-1875. He was known for his Poems, Books, Speeches, and Lectures that tackle many societal issues. He was the leader of a movement know as the Transcendentalism, a theory that emphasizes the unity between Nature and Humanity. Than towards the end of his life around the 1860's he became a outspoken opponent of slavery .

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Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writings support the American dream as shown by his support of Manifesting your own destiny, abolishing slavery, and democratic culture.

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Emerson is first shown for his passion for the American dream through his emphasis on manifesting one’s own destiny. Emerson Says in Self Reliance “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private life is true for all men,--that is genius” (175) Self Reliance. This quote says to trust your gut and that your own thoughts are always right for you. This is what the American Dream is about. Trusting one's own thoughts to go achieve whatever they want.  This is all evidence of Emerson first supporting the American dream as he wants people to be self-reliant and trust their own thoughts.

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Ralph Waldo Emerson Next is seen in support of the American Dream through his fight to abolish slavery.  Emerson Says in one his journels  "The horrors of the middle passage are the wens & ulcers that admonish us that a violation of nature has preceded” (Journals 5: 382). In this quote Emerson is talking about the Horrors of Slave trade. He Clearly Condones it showing that he is in support of the American dream of people having equal opportunities. Emerson also takes action against slavery later in his life speaking out against it publicy at Boston, Concord, and other places. He overall is in clear support of the equal rights aspect of the American Dream as he showed support for abolition of Slavey.

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Lastly, Emerson's support of democratic culture is in support of the American Dream. Emerson wrote a lecture called “American Scholar” that he gave to Harvard students. This was raved about by people across America and called by some people “ The New Declaration of Independence the intellectual independence” (221) Adventures in American Literature. One of the strong points he makes supports democratic culture can lead to individual success. Emerson says “Only a truly democratic culture, he knew, could foster the full development of every individual that was the ultimate promise of American society” American Scholar. This is quote supports the idea of the American Dream. He says that only a true democracy could foster the full potential of each individual person. That is one of the main goals of the American Dream; It's that Anyone can reach their full potential if they are given equal opportunities. Overall Emerson is in support of this American Dream as in this lecture he believes every individual can succeed under a democratic culture.

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Kevorkian, Martin. "A PULPIT OF ENVY: GIRARDIAN ELEMENTS IN EMERSON'S LAST 'SUPPER'." Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature, vol. 52, no. 1, fall 1999, p. 89. Gale OneFile: High School Edition, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A59585400/STOM?u=clar33415&sid=bookmark-STOM&xid=1b968799. Accessed 21 Feb. 2022.

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A PULPIT OF ENVY: GIRARDIAN ELEMENTS IN EMERSON’S LAST “SUPPER”. - Free Online Library

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Free Online Library: A PULPIT OF ENVY: GIRARDIAN ELEMENTS IN EMERSON’S LAST “SUPPER”.(Ralph Waldo Emerson, Critical Essay) by “Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature”; Literature, writing, book reviews American literature 19th century AD Christian literature Criticism and interpretation Christi…

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Izaguirre, John, "The American dream and literature: how the themes of self-reliance and individualism in American literature are relevant in preserving both the aesthetics and the ideals of the American dream" (2014). College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 164.

https://via.library.depaul.edu/etd/164

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Department/Program Conferring Degree

Liberal Studies

Keywords

American dream, the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Emerson's Self-Reliance, Gatsby

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine how selected works in the American literary canon contribute to defining, constructing, and sustaining the basic principles of the American dream, in which each individual has the unlimited opportunities to achieve personal freedom and prosperity. Through the examination and analysis of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance," Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby the paper will demonstrate how these works are sacred texts because they are rooted in the themes of self-actualization and individualism, and because they provide examples of all the possibilities the American dream offers when given the opportunity to pursue it. By weaving and tracing the values that constitute the American dream through their works the paper will demonstrate why their pieces are still relevant in the modern American culture.

Recommended Citation

Izaguirre, John, "The American dream and literature: how the themes of self-reliance and individualism in American literature are relevant in preserving both the aesthetics and the ideals of the American dream" (2014). College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 164.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/etd/164

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The American dream and literature: how the themes of self-reliance and individualism in American literature are relevant in preserving both the aesthetics and the ideals of the American dream

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The aim of this paper is to examine how selected works in the American literary canon contribute to defining, constructing, and sustaining the basic principles of the American dream, in which each individual has the unlimited opportunities to achieve personal freedom and prosperity.

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Hodgins, F., & Silverman, K. (1980). Adventures in American literature. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

(Hodgins & Silverman, 1980)

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"Ralph Waldo Emerson." EXPLORING Poetry, Gale, 2003. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ2114101637/MSIC?u=clar63782&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=92a6e22c. Accessed 14 Feb. 2022.

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About Gale In Context: Middle School

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About Gale In Context: Middle School Explore the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, history, literature, and more. Don't know how to login? Depending on this location's preferences, the log-in process could include your library card number, a student or user ID, or another provided password.

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Earhart, Amy E. "Representative Men, Slave Revolt, and Emerson's 'Conversion' to Abolitionism." ATQ: 19th century American literature and culture, vol. 13, no. 

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Representative Men, Slave Revolt, and Emerson's "Conversion" to Abolitionism

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Representative Men, Slave Revolt, and Emerson's "Conversion" to Abolitionism

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About Gale OneFile: High School Edition Search magazines, journals, newspapers, and reference on a range of topics. Best for middle- and high-school students. Don't know how to login? Depending on this location's preferences, the log-in process could include your library card number, a student or user ID, or another provided password.