I'm writing a literary analysis on Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson and my thesis is...
History shows that society often rejects those with great ideas because those ideas are different.
2007-03-28 14:30:52 · 5 answers · asked by bluebird_chica 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
That's an OK statement, however I dont see what it has to do with self reliance. And I dont think the word "often" is accurate. I think its more like "sometimes". We accept many people with great ideas that are different. Also I dont think society rejected Emerson, I think Emerson rejected society. Pax - C.
2007-03-28 14:44:12 · answer #1 · answered by Persiphone_Hellecat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. Since you're doing a literary analysis of the piece, you probably want to tie your thesis more into the actual text, rather than try to make a generalization about history in general--the more specific your thesis, the easier your paper will be to write.
Emerson has already proven in Self-Reliance that historically, society rejects those with great ideas. Can you gear your thesis more towards a conclusion you can draw from that statement? Has society changed since then? Does Emerson's idea have merit? What would happen to society if those with great ideas were immediately accepted? Is the rejection of those with great ideas necessary to societal stability?
These are questions that would be more appropriate for an analysis, because the thesis statement you have at the moment is guiding you more towards a summary and a repetition of Emerson's argument, rather than an analysis where you draw your own conclusions about his argument.
Kudos to you for taking on Emerson--I never could stand any of the Transcendentalists. They were always way too stuffy for me!
2007-03-28 22:01:58 · answer #2 · answered by Carr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, it is a good thesis statement but I think you might need to tie it in more with self reliance. Good luck!
2007-03-28 21:45:23 · answer #3 · answered by Marissa H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably society rejects those great ideas because
1) it may upset current ideas of great and revered people in the past?
2) majority(in society) don't agree with the idea?
2007-03-28 21:42:30 · answer #4 · answered by Kuji K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds good to me. i hate coming up with a thesis. is this for a paper for school?
2007-03-28 21:40:06 · answer #5 · answered by bnvfairydust289 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋