Question

what central idea does Emerson establish through the analogies in the first two paragraphs? what images does he contrast to convey this idea?

Answer 1

Emerson talks about 'Self-Reliance' and his perspective towards achieving it in different situations. When he states about techniques and gives references for the ideology that he believes in, he also uses imagery for us to understand the agenda of his explanation.

Explanation:

Emerson's point of view about self-reliance is creative. He compares it with 'individualism', where a person, who starts to be unique, creative and develops his own way of life, deals with circumstance in a different and more approachable way rather than following the same old format or an already developed format, is a person who can be 'self-reliant'.

His reference to Moses, Plato, Milton is what we can learn from in these paragraphs. Their unique thoughts on dealing with life and finding new strategies over improving a condition, their techniques transformed into actions and put forth to people is what made them 'indivialistic', truthful and unique.

To trust our intuitions more than the history or knowledge that was already developed is what Emerson wants us to understand in this text.