Fake People and Emerson/Eliot

[danielleg07]

A quote found in Emerson’s Self- Reliance directly relates with a line form the poem we previously read “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, by T.S. Eliot. In the essay Emerson lashes out against conformity stating, “We come to wear one cut face and figure and acquire by degrees the gentlest asinine expression…the forced smile which we put on in company where we do not feel at ease”(24). Emerson speaks of the faces that we convey to the world, masking our true cognitions and feelings. This speaks to the line in the poem when Eliot states that, “There will be time/ to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet”. Both men criticize the feigned expressions that are characteristics of all man and expose the loss of the authenticity of man as well. It’s just something I noticed.

[jillianb02]

What I find interesting in this comparison is that the result of Prufrock's conformity to society is exactly what Emerson warns against. Prufrock dares to question the social boundaries that exist, but, as we find out, ultimately looses the courage to do so. Instead he puts on the accepted mask of society, and in doing so fails to accomplish his goal. Emerson's disdain for the socially accepted "forced smile" has its roots in his contempt for conformity. When we put on an expression for the sole purpose of conforming, we lose our individuality. Emerson warns that this occurrence can be dangerous, but we see this actually occur in Prufrock's situation. His decision to adapt to the social standards resulted in his dream being lost. To carry it one step further, if Prufrock is individually harmed, then, according to Emerson, society itself is harmed. Consequentially it becomes of the utmost importance for us to steer clear of conformity, for its only outcome hurts the individual, and thus hurts society.

[catherinem07]

I agree with you Danielle; however, the similarities are no coincidence, but rather a direct consequence of the beliefs of the authors. While "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is in essence a fictitious piece, it demonstrates the alienation and disillusionment that was all too common among the lost generation (Eliot would later write "The Wasteland," proving himself a proponent of the Lost Generation’s ideals).

Both Eliot and Emerson found themselves skeptical of society as a whole, not only because of its demand for conformity, but Emerson also found fault in the denial of the “over-soul.” Emerson found people to be out of touch with their true and personal selves which he believed to be of the utmost importance to embrace. For this, Emerson censures society and calls for a return to nature in order to bring out man’s sixth sense and basic being.

[melissas2]

I think Emerson and many other artists who observe and comment on their times try to understand the relationship between the "self" and society. Both Emerson and Eliot criticize the fact that individuals within society are forced early on to learn to wear masks that retain certain qualities at different times in order to feel accepted, but also hide part of the person's identity. In psych we learned about the psychologist Carl Jung who developed a theory about personas and who believed that having personas was essential to having healthy interactions with others. Perhaps Emerson and Eliot were not necesarily saying that having personas is wrong or unhealthy, I think they felt that it becomes unhealthy when an individual loses sight of whats "self" and whats persona. Sometimes it is hard for an individual to resist conforming completely to external expectations rather than just using a superficial mask. Maybe thats why Emerson demanded for everyone to have a strong understanding of their true "self" and uninfluenced identity.

[michelleb07]

I found Jillian's post particularly enlightening. I think what you have to look at most in regards to her comment, which I completely agree with, is the time period in which each were written. Emerson's essays were written in 1841, a time period during which I personally feel America was still finding its identity. The tone of Emerson's essays seems to more of a preaching than an essay and I think he found it necessary to define for Americans what was right from wrong. On the other hand, you have Prufrock which was written in 1917- a time when Americans were unsure of war and unsure of themselves. I think that in comparing the two essays you can tell the mindset of Americans in the period (Emerson- optimism and a chance to improve ourselves; Eliot- self-doubt and pessisimism (sp?)).