Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that an individual must focus and care solely about what he or she feels is right, and not be manipulated or persuaded by society. Emerson’s essay on “Self Reliance” focuses on how the individual should confidently believe in his own ideas and should disregard anything that society might think. The fact that a person is able to stand up for himself is what Emerson considers that essential. Several of Emerson’…showed first 75 words of 1316 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1316 total…does not allow for the influence of society and is merely concerned with personal opinions and not what others around him think. Unfortunately, as the reader observes, the result of being an individual ends in death. As a strong, yet fairly simple character, Bartleby shows the tremendous power of the individual. Bartleby exemplifies the qualities of the Emersonian ideal, yet the consequences of only being concerned with one’s own thoughts are isolation and death.