Emerson’s Self-Reliance is often read as a manifesto for individualism; critically analyze how it simultaneously critiques and reinforces the cultural conditions of 19th-century American society. Which of the following best reflects this duality?
1
It dismisses societal institutions entirely while ignoring their role in shaping identity
2
It advocates self-trust but presupposes a foundational cultural milieu that enables individual expression
3
It unconditionally praises capitalism as the highest form of self-expression
4
It rejects all forms of social interaction as corrupting influences