Emerson Essay On Heroism

During the 35 minutes the passengers spent attempting to get into the cockpit, they achieved a level of heroism like none other.

Though a great number of parallels exist between the essays—”Love” and “Friendship” are clearly companion pieces, and the thesis of “Self-Reliance” is a corollary of the thesis of “History”—there is no intended coherence in the volume as a whole.is an ecclectic gathering of a dozen essays in the following order: “History,” “Self-Reliance,” “Compensation,” “Spiritual Laws,” “Love,” “Friendship,” “Prudence,” “Heroism,” “The Over-Soul,” “Circles,” “Intellect,” and “Art.” Although there may be no significance to the order of all the essays, scholars since the mid-twentieth century have generally agreed that beginning the collection with “History” and “Self-Reliance” is significant.The notion that what is called “history” is not one immutable, objective reality, but something incarnated in the human individual, is the premise that leads not only to Emerson’s concept of over-soul but also to that of self-reliance.An intense desire for fame, or an intense desire to give kindness to others? ...nstead of one attempting to gain presence for his kindness.The logic speaks for itself, although in our time, we may turn quickly to Beowulf’s obvious desire for fame, instead of loving kindness, ... Again, examine apparent values of people during Beowulf’s time.This is further proof that Beowulf is indeed a hero.For if he were generous, people would not have thought of him as a hero, as is cited in so many places throughout Beowulf.It is seen throughout classical myths, and in Judeo-Christian thought (“as ye sow, so shall ye reap,” Galatians 6:7).However, Emerson goes beyond this concept of reciprocity to a very un-Western notion, the central moral tenet of the Bhagavad Gita, that from a divine vantage point, what appears evil to people may not be so.In a sense, we cannot compare the heroes on Flight 93 to Beowulf’s definition of heroism.Unlike many sane individuals in today’s culture, people, even heroes, don’t simply walk into danger, like Beowulf.