Stepping Out Of The Social Order

How Does Emerson idea of social order relate to Eli, the Fanatic?

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, Self Reliance, Emerson’s argues for forming our own opinions and standing up for our own beliefs. “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,--that is genius (Emerson, Self Reliance).” Emerson would respond to the story of Eli, the Fanatic by agreeing with the actions of Eli. Eli is doing what he feels is right and not conforming to the opinions of others. As the story progresses, Eli has a goal of finding peace between the two sides. “The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried (Emerson, Self Reliance).” Eli doesn’t know what the outcome of his final actions will be, but knows he must try to understand what it really means to be “greenie” in a society that doesn’t accept him. Eli was willing to go outside the norm and try something different. Emerson’s essay, Self Reliance, would say that Eli had become a “nonconformist” and by lessoning to the voices in when hi is alone, he is truly an individual.

By condoning Eli’s actions, he would say the towns’ people are in the wrong. “Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members (Emerson, Self Reliance).” The town as a whole was stopping Eli from being who he really wanted to be. Throughout Eli’s life he tried to break out of what society told him he should be and when he did they said he was having a breakdown. When Eli steps outside of the social order, he reveals to society what is wrong with it and society as a whole is unable to accept their shortcoming. So instead of their flaws, societies cover them up and don’t even bother facing them. That meant Eli had to be removed from society until he could re-conform to American ideals. “The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs (Emerson, Self Reliance).” Eli reverted to his old customs and ignored the realities that have been forced upon him. The story of Eli, the Fanatic is an excellent look at Emerson’s theory of self reliance and shows how society glorifies conformity when the individual should be more significant.