Response to “The American Scholar” Essay

Post- Reading Response In Ralph Waldo Emersons 1837 address to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard, called The the Statesn Scholar, he makes clear his thoughts and ideas on the European cultural and cerebral influence on the States. Emerson wanted to get across that American scholars needed to create their accept independent American literature and academic world, separate from European history. Emerson uses belief and style to further convey his ideas to the public.The tone that seems constant throughout Emersons entire address is a confrontational one. Emerson is confronting the nation on its continuous grip on England and European routes. He is leaving little manner for difference of opinion, instead challenging American citizens to do what they have feared almost for so many years and let go of their English ties. I believe that the style used in Emersons speech is in general persuasive. The entire address Emerson is attempting to persuade his audience to agree with his o utlook.I hypothesize that his ultimate aspiration was not only to clearly state his ideas but also to help the public come to their own reasoning and opinions on the matter. Emersons confrontational and persuasive techniques used in his speech helped impel the nation that a crucial and valuable change had to be made. Fast-forwarding 173 years, America has successfully detached itself from Europe and we have distinguished ourselves as braggy philosophical and intellectual scholars.But is my generation threatening to reverse the quantify and set us back 173 years? Our education in America has sky rocketed since 1837 but recently there has been a tremendous gloam in academic and post-academic success. In an article called Putting Our Brains on Hold, give chase Herbert makes it clear that it is my generation to blame for this decline. According to him Americas schoolgirlish people are moving in exactly the wrong direction, and that our lodge is more interested in hip-hop and La dy Gaga than educating its young. another(prenominal) article we read in class was called Were No. 1(1) by Thomas L. Friedman. Id have to say that I do agree with Friedmans argument much more than Herberts. Both of these writers were at long last hitting at the same line of reasoning but the way each approached it varied significantly.