Emerson’s discussion of being a true scholar in “The American Scholar” really reminds me of a favorite passage of mine from his chapter “Prospects” in Nature, which states, “All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do. Adam called his house, heaven and earth; Caesar called his house, Rome; you perhaps call yours, a cobler's trade; a hundred acres of ploughed land; or a scholar's garret. Yet line for line and point for point, your dominion is as great as theirs, though without fine names. Build, therefore, your own world.” Emerson’s views of independence and ownership are not only thought provoking, but uplifting and inspirational. By referring to the great things of the past, he believes that mankind can make a great world for himself now and inevitably touch the future. His belief that mankind has the ability to do for himself as others have done is very hopeful. By taking knowledge from the past and looking to the future, man can refer to previous scholars for inspiration, but it is up to man to think for himself to be considered a true scholar.
Emerson states, “[Books] are nothing but to inspire,” and this statement struck me because I feel there is somewhat of a discord in his argument here. When I read books, I may be inspired, but I must admit that I do not always act upon my source of inspiration. Do I leave this up to others, and if so, am I completely wrong in doing so? Must I truly act upon every source of inspiration to be considered a true scholar? If Emerson believes that books are a thing of the past, and we are reading his works right now, does this mean that we are not using books as he wishes? Does his writing counteract itself in this light? Or, is he trying to instill in us a desire to go forth and change our world today by reading his pieces, such as the oration “The American Scholar,” which is from the 1800s? I apologize for so many questions, but these are what flooded my head while reading this piece. I hope we can discuss it to clarify my interpretation.
I also found it fascinating to consider Emerson's work through the lens with which he imagines all books. I think you're right, that he's "trying to instill in us a desire to go forth and change our world today by reading his pieces." It makes me wonder how Emerson would feel about a modern-day Emerson scholar.
ReplyDeleteYou also mentioned that this piece is from the 1800s, which reminded me of what Emerson says about the abstraction of time in good literature. "There is some awe mixed with the joy of our surprise, when this poet, who lived in some past world, two or three hundred years ago, says that which lies close to my own soul..." I think he'd be pleased to know his work is still read today, provided it is accompanied by inspiration, creative action, and a general lifting of spirits.
Hey, watch it there with the Emerson-scholar-jabs, Dubay.(kidding, of course).
DeleteA couple of things, Catherine. First of all, I'm so pleased that you found Emerson inspiring. I'm always hopeful that he'll have that effect on at least one person. I am always moved by reading Emerson, and frequently moved to think critically about the way I am living. I do think that Emerson wants us to act on our inspiration, but I also think he gives us a fairly broad sense of what that action may be: "Does he lack organ or medium to impart his truths? He can still fall back on this elemental force of living them. Let the grandeur of justice shine in his affairs. Let the beauty of affection cheer his home."
I have to say that I agree with Kristen very much here. Emerson tells us that "[Books] are nothing but to inspire," but I feel like that sense of inspiration can be taken in different ways. While it's true, you can read something so powerful that you then feel like you must go out and try to change the world, other people write simply to get a person thinking. I know when I read something that I consider inspirational, yes, I may think about how I can use those great words to change my life, or another person's life, and sometimes I act upon those thoughts, but other times all they are are thoughts. Sometimes the best thing to do is to just sit with the book and think about the author's message, and to really just take it all in in the quiet of your own room. At least, that's what I think.
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