From Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

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Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “From Self-Reliance” and “From Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau both use rhetorical devices to portray the significant transcendental idea that one must not conform to society and others judgment but to grow strong in one’s faith and trust self-perceptions. Emerson and Thoreau convey that following after another without one’s beliefs leads to losing one’s identity and one’s meaning through the use of metaphors. Being special and having opinions is critical, as Emerson expressed that attempting to “imitate” another person is committing “suicide” when one loses their identity and chooses to kill the original individual. An individual’s mind will then result in “ignorance” as one fails to trust what they truly believe deep down in their heart when being “env[ious]” of others (Emerson 364). …show more content…
To be innovative creates value in a person, grows independence, and avoids getting neglected. Thoreau had a similar assumption that when a person doesn't have their perspective but blindly follows whatever their direct power demands them to do, then they are to be “horses” and “dogs.” These terms were metaphoric of men who have no moral sense of themselves and being under the control of a commander. Emerson referred to men who conform to society as “wood” and “stones,” being easily carved and shaped as what is needed, not being unique but systematically “manufactured” as all can be carved in the same way. One without self-concept fundamentally has the “same sort of worth” as “a lump of dirt” (Thoreau 372). Thoreau encourages all to exercise their own moral senses, bringing about value as an individual. Paradox is being used by Emerson and Thoreau, serving as reminders for people to stand out and showcase one’s uniqueness instead of conforming to a set of rules without truly believing in
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