The point the Emerson was trying to get across in "The American Scholar" dosen't hold true today.
Emersons argument is shot down today with just one word. Parents. Parents do both their job( if they have one), care for their children, and care for their parents(If they need the care). Emerson says that " The priest becomes a form; the attorney astatue book; the mechanic a machine; the sailor the rope of the ship", this is not true today becasue in this terrible economy, people may hold more than one job, so their lives are ivolved in two things and not just consumed by a singular task. This is not what Emerson says because he says that the thinker can be only the thinker and not the farmer, but in todays world, the thinker may need to become the planter to make a bit more money to get by. This way the thinker is now not just the thinker, he is the thinker and the planter.
Even though people now a days are becoming more specialized in what they do, people arent entirley their job. People are also children, citizens, and maybe parents, in addition to their job. The priest now becomes a religious model as well as a priest, the sailor becomes an adventurer as well as a sailor, and the attorney(in some cases) may become a smoth talking slimeball as well as an attorney. This also adds to my point that even though Emerson was a great writter and respected by many, the way things see,ed back at the time he lived have changed into what occurs today.
The best in the class! I fully agree with you and it was well written. You took it from a unique perspective. Very commendable!
ReplyDeleteI like your creative title and how its something other then "The American Scholar." I also like ur strong opinion on the subject and it is written really well.
ReplyDeleteYou reaspond very well to articals. I agree with your point that man doesnt only do one thing in his life.
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