Question

Excerpt from "Self-Reliance," written by Ralph Waldo Emerson

1. There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is sui cide; that he must take himself for better, for words, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and non but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried….
2. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue most in request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion….
3. For nonconformity, the world whips you with its displeasure. And therefore a man must know how to estimate a sour face. The bystanders look askance on him in the public street or in the friend’s parlor. If this aversation had its origin in contempt and resistance like his own, he might well go home with a sad countenance; but the sour faces of the multitude, like their sweet faces, have no deep cause, but are put on and off as the wind blows and a newspaper directs.
Paragraph 2 of the passage above is a metaphor, in which society is compared to a joint-stock company. Read the entire paragraph carefully. Which of the following statements best explains Emerson’s intended meaning with this comparison?
A. Emerson is saying that the members of society tend to value their unique cultures and liberties above all else.
B. Emerson is saying that most members of society are ruthless and self-centered; therefore, leaders must step in and take liberties away.
C. Emerson is implying that members of society do not have the ability to think for themselves; all decisions are made for them.
D. Emerson is saying that most members of society are willing to surrender certain liberties in exchange for basic comforts and for the good of society.

Answer 1

Ralph Waldo Emerson's metaphor comparing society to a joint-stock company in "Self-Reliance" emphasizes the idea that people tend to sacrifice their personal freedoms in favor of societal support and security (Answer D).

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to an excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance." In paragraph 2, Emerson employs a metaphor comparing society to a joint-stock company to convey the idea that individuals often trade their personal freedoms and individuality for the safety and comfort provided by society.

Among the options provided for what this metaphor means, the one that best aligns with Emerson's intended meaning is: D. Emerson is saying that most members of society are willing to surrender certain liberties in exchange for basic comforts and the good of society.

Emerson was critical of societal conformity and championed the values of individuality and self-reliance. His works, such as "Self-Reliance" and "Nature," influenced the transcendentalist movement and encouraged people to seek spirituality in nature and to trust their own ideas and instincts rather than deferring to the collective consciousness of society.