Emerson sees society as the enemy of individuality because society takes away a person’s identity in the name of civilization. With society comes the need to fit in, to not rock the boat. As Emerson points out, “We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other.” He also says, “Our housekeeping is mendicant, our arts, our occupations, out marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us.” He makes it clear here that conforming to societal rules and roles takes away one’s individuality. Society, according to Emerson, is where individuals surrender their liberty and culture, with the concurrence of other members in order to ensure that all members of society get their fair share of goods and services. Emerson proclaims that the individual must cast off the common motives of humanity and be true to himself. He also claims that someone who tries many different things on his own is worth a hundred men who fail in their first attempt and give up. But society makes it ok for the individual to give up after failure, as long as they accept the role society gives them.
What is the role of nonconformity? What did that word mean to Emerson?
The role of nonconformity is to speak the truth always, regardless of how rude it may seem. To be a nonconformist is to live from within, in other words, to be true to oneself. To Emerson, in order to be a man, one has to be a nonconformist.
References
Emerson, R. W. "Self Reliance." 2001. Ralph Waldo Emerson - Texts. Online. 12 March 2016. <http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm>.
