Emerson’s argument in “The American Scholar” about American society still doesn’t hold true today because individuals are not just identified as their job, but by their other skills as well.
An individual may go into college and choose a career in something such as a lawyer. This individual may be a lawyer during the week but when the court session is closed, the lawyer doen't have to worry about the stress of a challenging case. On the weekend, this same lawyer could also be a handy man, and a father. Emerson is saying in “The American Scholar” that this is not possible. In our society, it is very common for an adult to work 2 jobs or hold a job as well as being a parent.
In Emerson’s time, teaching was less demanding. Anyone who had a certificate could teach a class. Today in modern times, an individual must have several different skills in order to be one teacher. “Just as the hand is divided into fingers, the better to answer its end.” This quote from "The American Scholar" tells us how we might think we are one job (the hand) but in order to do this job right we have to know several things (fingers). We must continue to find the balance to be able to work more then one job.
An individual may go into college and choose a career in something such as a lawyer. This individual may be a lawyer during the week but when the court session is closed, the lawyer doen't have to worry about the stress of a challenging case. On the weekend, this same lawyer could also be a handy man, and a father. Emerson is saying in “The American Scholar” that this is not possible. In our society, it is very common for an adult to work 2 jobs or hold a job as well as being a parent.
In Emerson’s time, teaching was less demanding. Anyone who had a certificate could teach a class. Today in modern times, an individual must have several different skills in order to be one teacher. “Just as the hand is divided into fingers, the better to answer its end.” This quote from "The American Scholar" tells us how we might think we are one job (the hand) but in order to do this job right we have to know several things (fingers). We must continue to find the balance to be able to work more then one job.
Good job! People are explorative in our society because they know how to do many things. Jobs mean a lot to people and knowing how to do many is a good thing.
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Nice job. You made some very good points. It was very convinving.
ReplyDeleteGood job explaining the fingers quote.
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