The idea of self-reliance is an American idea. Self-reliance is a way of life when one is reliant on one’s own capabilities, judgment, and resources. When someone is self-reliant they are completely Independent. Many American authors have used examples of this idea, self-reliance, in a lot of their writing. For example, in a Progress to the Mines by Byrd examples of self-reliance are present. In the beginning of the story Byrd writes about a character who rode eight miles together over a stony road, in order to get to a house.
This shows self-reliance because riding eight miles, all by himself, is a hard task to accomplish. Especially back then when the story took place because there werent very many people around to help one if one got into trouble. Byrd shows another example of self-reliance when he was describing one of the main characters who ran an iron mill. He described him as … so great a master in the mystery of making Iron, where in he had led the way and was the tubal-cain of Virginia. This shows self-reliance because Byrd shows that this character is the best iron maker around and that heOs self-reliant in doing it.
Byrd shows self-reliance once again while describing this same character. He said OHe was… first in North America who ad erected a regular furnace. O This shows self-reliance because he set up this iron mill and furnace in the middle of nowhere with no help from anyone else. All three of these examples show that Byrd has examples of self-reliance in his writing. Another American writer who has examples of self-reliance in his writing is Franklin. In FranklinOs Poor RichardOs Almanac he shows many examples of self-reliance.
Franklin says that OGod helps them that help themselves. O This greatly advocates self-reliance. Franklin is saying that you should help yourself, i. e. be self-reliant, before looking to God, or anyone else, for help. Franklin shows self-reliance again when he says OKeep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee. O Franklin is saying that if you work hard at something like keeping a shop you will be supported by that hard work and that you will be self-reliant. Franklin shows self-reliance once again by saying, OAt the working manOs house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
In this quote Franklin is saying that if you work hard youOll never be hungry, youOll never have to depend on someone else for food, and that youOll be self-reliant. These three examples show that Franklin has examples of self-reliance in his book Poor RichardOs Almanac. In an other piece of writing by Franklin, The Auto-Biography, examples of self-reliance are also present. In this book Franklin writes about his childhood. He writes about when he wrote anonymous articles for his brotherOs paper. He writes O… I contrived to disguise my hand, and writing an anonymous paper…
This shows that he is self-reliant because he writes the articles for his brotherOs paper with no one else’s help. Franklin continues talking about his childhood and writes about when he gains his freedom from his brother. He writes O… I took upon me to assert my freedom… O In this quote Franklin is standing up, ll by himself, and is asserting his freedom from his brother. This shows self-reliance because his is doing this all on his own with no ones help. This also shows self-reliance because once he became free he didnOt have his brother to depend on for work anymore and he had to go out on his own.
The book goes on to say that ODuring the next several years Franklin becomes a successful printer and businessman. O This shows self-reliance because Franklin starts out with nothing and with no help from anyone yet he becomes successful. These examples show that Franklin has examples of self-reliance in The Auto-Biography. An other American author that uses examples of self-reliance in his writing is Thoreau. In Walden, Thoreau uses many examples of self-reliance.
For example in the first opening paragraphs Thoreau describes where he is living. He writes I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself… O This shows self-reliance in many different ways. First, he writes that he was living alone, without the help of anyone, meaning that he must have been self-reliant, in order to survive. The second way it shows self-reliance is that he built his house by himself. Without help from anyone else his would be very difficult task for someone who wasnOt self-reliant. Thoreau shows self-reliance again when he writes that he O… earned [his] living by [his] own hands only.
This shows self-reliance because he relied on work that he did with his own hands, not anyone elseOs. Another way Thoreau showed self-reliance was when he wrote, OIn most books, the I or first person is omitted; in this it will be retained; that in respect to egotism, is the main difference. O This shows self-reliance because Thoreau is advocating the self. HeOs write his book in the first person in order to show respect to egotism. By advocating this he as making his own judgments about life and is hence showing self-reliance upon his own ideas.
All of these examples show that Thoreau showed examples of self-reliance in his writing. All of the examples above show that American authors do use examples of self-reliance in their writing. From Franklin to Thoreau ideas of self-reliance have been an intricate part of American writing and culture. This country was founded on ideas of independence, freedom, and self-reliance. Without self-reliance this great nation of ours wouldnOt be as great as it is. Hopefully, ideas of self-reliance we be around for years to come.