Question

In “self-reliance”, how does Emerson justify that man is and must be Devine

Answer 1

Answer choices:

A. The beauty of the sunset reveals it.

B. Logically speaking, God would not ask an inferior and evil being to do His work.

C. In the Great Chain of Being, man is just below the angels.

D. None of the above are/is correct.

My answer would be B.

Tip: If you don't understand or know the answer, guess C. Don't guess C for every question though. Trust me, it has and would have saved my education

Answer 2

Emerson evokes the existence of God to prove our divinity. The second paragraph of the essay introduces the idea. He states that we each get our "plot of land" and must till it if we are to grow anything to feed ourselves. This is to say that you can't be anyone else, you only get to live and grow as you, and that is an intentional deed by God, and thus you are the result of a divine act, and divine in yourself. Therefore we should trust this divinity and let our own hearts guide us, rather than the pressures and expectations of others. We must be divine.

It's an incredible essay and definitely worth a close reading.