Self Reliance Assignment by KYLE KELSEY

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 19:42:56 UTC

My Way by Frank Sinatra:

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 19:44:15 UTC

While the lyrics maybe very straight forward in expressing Sinatra's belief that his actions were uninhibited by societal pressures, their impact hits all the same.

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 19:52:34 UTC

* Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way

Connection:

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 19:53:26 UTC

As mentioned the lyrics are very straight forward in their approach, but similar to Chris McCandless's story it has a profound moving affect on the listener about the joys of living life unabridged by the control of society. One of the most moving lyrics of the song are Sinatra's admittance of his short comings, but also his dedication to stay true to his desires and not be brought down by the idea of failure or limitations set by others*. This very closely reflects Chris McCandless's story who intentionally left his life of ease to explore the North American continent without any assistance or real destination. In the end they both refused the expectations of society and decided to do thing their way.
Sinatra's declaration to do things his way mirrors Emerson's statement that "a man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best" as both men have an absolute resolution that they are fulfilled when they let themselves be unhindered by an external expectations.

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 20:05:17 UTC

Jean Valjean: Les Miserable

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 20:05:30 UTC

Born into a poor family of many children, at a young age Jean Valjean was forced into a life of crime and was eventually caught. After serving his time, and through the help of a kind Bishop he gained great wealth, helped many others in his former situation, and obtained a family he never knew he needed.

Connection:

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 20:08:03 UTC

Jean Valjean is very much a man who refused to let himself be defined by society and acted accordingly to his own morals and beliefs of right and wrong rather than a societal notion of justice. Emerson calls for people to "accept the place the divine providence gas found for you; the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events", and Jean Valjean very much expresses these ideas, he accepted his life as a poor man so he acted like a poor criminal. He followed wherever life took hum believing that everything had been planned, he accepted the impermanence of his situation and sought the betterment of others before himself. He became a man of mystery that had become misunderstood by the likes of Javert who whole-heartedly accepted the construct of society.

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 20:17:27 UTC

Connection: Beethoven

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 20:17:33 UTC

Beethoven's music may now be considered classical and successful music, but that wasn't always the case. His unique arraignment of instruments was often ridiculed by his contemporaries for the oddness of his compositions. This oddness was most likely furthered by his worsening deafness and temperament, however these difference may have very well attributed to his now renounced and world famous music that is near instantaneously recognizable.

kkelsey5162 — 2020-01-24 20:22:54 UTC