Emersonian Person Essay, Research Paper

The most Emersonian person that I have ever known would be with out a doubt be

Frederick Jones. I spent two summers working with this man on the Linville River

for the Kawana fishing club. In ТSelf RelianceУ Emerson writes

ТYour genuine action will explain itself and will explain your other

genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothingУ. This is clearly a call

for individuality in men. Though Frederick has probably never read or even heard

of Ralph Waldo Emerson, his way of life is very much in line with what Emerson

claims will be the only true way to inner peace. Frederick is very much a

mystery to the people of Linville, and except for those who know him best, he is

not very well liked. He quit school after the eight grade, yet he is one of the

most intelligent people I have ever known. Like Emerson, Frederick believes that

all he needs to know and understand is with in himself. He claims to have no

regret for quitting school. His argument is that once he learned to read and

write, what he did with those skills should be at his discretion. Frederick is a

wealthy man, but very few people know to what extent. His beat up Ford truck and

old work cloths suggest nothing more that a simple working man. In fact this is

exactly what he is. Frederick has a reputation for having little to say except

for when the issue concerns him, but he is also know for speaking his mind and

standing up for himself regardless of the consequence. Like most people he

loathes taxes, but it is not so much the money that bothers him as it is what he

sees to be criminal waste of his money. His feelings on giving money to the poor

are much the same as EmersonХs: Т… do not tell as a good man did

today of my obligation to put all good men into good situations. Are they my

poor?У(553) If it were up to Frederick, there would not be a dime of him

money spent on welfare. I used to wonder why a man in his financial situation

would subject himself to such a life of labor. I finally asked him on one of the

hottest days of the summer while were chain sawing a trail through a

Rhododendrem jungle. All he said was Тit keeps me aliveУ. It was

only then that I began to see what that river means to him. Having lost his

family to a car accident, that seven mile stretch of river is his only source

peace. Later in that summer while we were walking down the river bank he said

ТOut here things are real. These trout, these mountains, this river-there

is no bull *censored*, and that is one thing I hate-bull *censored*У.

Frederick is a man who depends on no one, and expects nothing. He says what he

feels, and he makes no apology when he offends. Emerson states Тmy life is

not an apology, but a lifeУ (553) This is precisely how Frederick lives,

and it is for this reason that he is not loved by the masses. In his defense,

Frederick is genuine. He is a man that can be taken at face value, and people

always know where they stand with him. It is not that Frederick trys to hurt or

belittle people, but he has a reputation for calling situations as he sees them.

He once told me Тthe truth is often a lot more painful than a lie, but

life is to short for liesУ. Most would agree that tact is not his strong

point, but having spent time with him all I can honestly say it is not his

strong point because it is not important to him. For Frederick integrity is the

most important thing a man can have. In the time that I spent with him I never

heard him do or say anything to suggest that he is not perfectly content with

himself. Emerson writes Тevery great man is uniqueУ(565) With

consistency that I have seen from no other man, Frederick believes in himself,

and that truly is unique. He is not a man that judges otherХs opinions as

wrong, simply different. EmersonХs position that ТNo law can be

sacred to me but that of my natureУ(552) is exactly the way Frederick

lives his life. He is known for holding on to his principles regardless of

outside opinion. Because of the life he has made for himself, he answers to no

man and there are few people who do not respect him for that. This goes right

along with the Emerson’s belief that ТIt is only as a man puts off from

himself all external support, and stands alone, that I see him to be strong and

to prevail.У If I have ever known a man that stands alone, it is Frederick

Jones. According to Emerson: He who knows that the power is in the soul, that he

is weak only because he has looked for good out of him and elsewhere, and so

perceiving, throws himself unhesitatingly on his thought, instantly rights

himself, stands in the erect position, commands his limbs, works miracles, just

as a man who stands on his feet is stronger than a man who stands on his head.

(567) When I think of Frederick Jones, I think of a man with a great deal of

self confidence, and an untarnished sense of self-satisfaction. He is a man who

knows who he is and what he stands for. His way of life is what Emerson claims

to be the only way to inner peace. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself,

nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.(567) Whether he knows

it or not, Frederick JonesХ life more resembles Emerson’s philosophy more

than other man that I have ever known.