Individualism in the Eyes of Thoreau and Emerson

Literary works and philosophical ideologies in the early 19th century is characteristically individualistic, where belief in humanity's natural freedom (that is, affinity with nature) was given importance. The ideology of individualism is evident in the works of Henry Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century philosophers and literary writers who composed the works Walden and Self-reliance, respectively. These works from both philosophers advocate the need for an individual to assert his/her identity in a society intolerant of differences and changes. In Walden, Thoreau narrates and documents his attempt in establishing a new life in the woods, primarily to deviate from the comforts that he and the society has learned to depend on. In his discourse, Thoreau states that, "many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind... To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust." In this assertion the author expresses how modern life has made humanity's existence inutile, met without any kind of challenges that make living exciting and more meaningful. Similarly, Emerson's subsistence to individualism as synonymous with self-reliance is reflected in his essay, aptly titled, Self-reliance. In this essay, Emerson contends, "... reliance on Property... is the want of self-reliance... They measure their esteem of each other by what each has, and not by what each is. But a cultivated man becomes ashamed of his property, ashamed of what he has, out of new respect for his being." This passage shows parallelism between Thoreau's and Emerson's beliefs -- that is, individualism necessitates deviating from the norms of society and asserting one's identity and natural right to live according to his/her preference and need.