Self Reliance
The transcendentalist tenet of self reliance can be described as a state of being where one's own thoughts, actions, and emotions are unaffected by outside influences like social pressure, society, and the media. By focusing on the well-being of oneself as a first priority, those who are considered to be self-reliant are generally responsible individuals capable of understanding and accepting their own person for what it is.
Self reliance is widely considered in modern culture to be an admirable trait, but often competes with people's desires for inter-dependent relationships. Although self reliance is an integral component of transcendentalism, it is perhaps one of the least-followed principles among the 6 tenets. People are often afraid to sever their strong ties to other people and materials for fear of learning that they are not capable of being truly self reliant, so topics relating to empathy and the principles of maintaining interrelationships are most commonly represented in the modern mediums of communication.
Maintaining an air of self-reliance and independence is key for true happiness and enlightenment, for a solid connection to one's uninterrupted self is necessary for any true recognition or acceptance of oneself to occur. The maintenance of a strong, independent psyche is therefore necessary to even fully comprehend the other tenets of transcendentalism, as they demand much inward thought and consideration for one's own perceptions.
Self reliance is widely considered in modern culture to be an admirable trait, but often competes with people's desires for inter-dependent relationships. Although self reliance is an integral component of transcendentalism, it is perhaps one of the least-followed principles among the 6 tenets. People are often afraid to sever their strong ties to other people and materials for fear of learning that they are not capable of being truly self reliant, so topics relating to empathy and the principles of maintaining interrelationships are most commonly represented in the modern mediums of communication.
Maintaining an air of self-reliance and independence is key for true happiness and enlightenment, for a solid connection to one's uninterrupted self is necessary for any true recognition or acceptance of oneself to occur. The maintenance of a strong, independent psyche is therefore necessary to even fully comprehend the other tenets of transcendentalism, as they demand much inward thought and consideration for one's own perceptions.
Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting, a film directed by Gus Van Sant in 1997, encircles the life of a young MIT janitor, Will Hunting. Upon solving an impossibly difficult math equation posted by one of the professors, Hunting reveals his genius in math. Hunting is pulled in two directions later on in the movie, as the world-renowned MIT professor who discovered him attempts to get Hunting a career in math while an unorthodox psychiatrist leads him to blaze his own trail and rely more upon his own desires. Hunting learns that following your heart and understanding what you want out of life is key to finding happiness, as opposed to depending on what responsibilities others decide to put upon you.
The decision to take hold of his own life reflected a new sense of maturity and satisfaction in Hunting, and proved to demonstrate the potential positive influence of the adoption of a self-reliant mindset. Hunting remained unhappy and afraid while he was assisting the professor with his studies, much in the same ways that people often feel alone and uncertain with themselves now. Once the desire to please others was lost within Hunting, he became fully self-reliant and reflected signs of true comfortability.
The decision to take hold of his own life reflected a new sense of maturity and satisfaction in Hunting, and proved to demonstrate the potential positive influence of the adoption of a self-reliant mindset. Hunting remained unhappy and afraid while he was assisting the professor with his studies, much in the same ways that people often feel alone and uncertain with themselves now. Once the desire to please others was lost within Hunting, he became fully self-reliant and reflected signs of true comfortability.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
"Independence is the only gauge of human virtue and value. What a man is and makes of himself; not what he has or hasn't done for others. There is no substitute for personal dignity."
Part 4, Chapter 18, pg. 681
The Fountainhead is a shining example of inner success leading from true, unadulterated individualism. Howard Roark, an architect from birth, is the egotistical and self-reliant protagonist of the story. His style of architecture is like none other, abiding only by what is the most efficient and rational methodology in a way that infuriates his competitors and antagonists. As the conforming and interdependent characters in the book prosper into economically successful businessmen themselves, Roark keeps a consistent air of disregard for others, even while being reduced to working in a granite mine. However, as the many businesses in The Fountainhead begin to fail and their proprietors fall into relative madness, insecurity, and regret for their compliant lifestyle, Roark inevitably emerges as successful, being the only one who is able to live with himself by the end of the novel.
Roark's unwavering self-confidence and professional standards reflected strong beliefs in a system of self-reliance, and especially benefited from such a mindset later on in the book when he remains as one of the only remaining successful architects. Roark's antagonist, Peter Keating, fell into insanity from his overwhelming instincts to comply with and depend on others, eventually losing himself completely.
There are many striking similarities between The Fountainhead and Emerson's "Self-Reliance", mainly in the eventual deep-seeded contentment that results from a life of self-respect and individuality. Such principles are paramount to the structure of transcendentalism.
Part 4, Chapter 18, pg. 681
The Fountainhead is a shining example of inner success leading from true, unadulterated individualism. Howard Roark, an architect from birth, is the egotistical and self-reliant protagonist of the story. His style of architecture is like none other, abiding only by what is the most efficient and rational methodology in a way that infuriates his competitors and antagonists. As the conforming and interdependent characters in the book prosper into economically successful businessmen themselves, Roark keeps a consistent air of disregard for others, even while being reduced to working in a granite mine. However, as the many businesses in The Fountainhead begin to fail and their proprietors fall into relative madness, insecurity, and regret for their compliant lifestyle, Roark inevitably emerges as successful, being the only one who is able to live with himself by the end of the novel.
Roark's unwavering self-confidence and professional standards reflected strong beliefs in a system of self-reliance, and especially benefited from such a mindset later on in the book when he remains as one of the only remaining successful architects. Roark's antagonist, Peter Keating, fell into insanity from his overwhelming instincts to comply with and depend on others, eventually losing himself completely.
There are many striking similarities between The Fountainhead and Emerson's "Self-Reliance", mainly in the eventual deep-seeded contentment that results from a life of self-respect and individuality. Such principles are paramount to the structure of transcendentalism.