Reaction to Kateb's Analysis of Self Reliance

After reading "Self Reliance" and Kateb's reaction to Emersons writing, the meaning of the passage can be better understood.  Kateb breaks down the writings of Emerson and it helps the reader learn of Emerson's point of views and opinions from this passage.  

"Emerson thinks that every important value, principle, idea (or derivative practice or institution) is permanently indispensable for life, even though any may be at odds with any other."(Kateb paragraph 7).

I agree with Kateb in this quote because that is a great point on Emerson's point on writing this essay.  He wanted to show that he values many virtues and believes each is important to life.  His opinions on important values or ideas show that he thinks they are valuable to life.  Kateb also says that he has important romanticism values and styles when writing.  Kateb shoes a very good understanding of Emersons points and can analyze it in a way to where readers can understand as well.   It is important to read this analysis by Kateb because it helps one to understand Emerson's writings.  

"Infancy conforms to nobody: all conform to it, so that one babe commonly makes four or five out of the adults who prattle and play to it. "(Emerson paragraph 5).

This is a quote from Emerson and it shows a romanticism quality of non-conformity. This is such a good quality to point out when looking at a romanticism writing because that is a value of these romanticism writers.  Emerson values that nobody conforms and that infancy does not last because you grow as a person.    Self reliance is important because it will encourage you to be more of your own person rather than conform to how others want you to be.  He also takes a look at virtues.

"Virtues are, in the popular estimate, rather the exception than the rule. There is the man and his virtues. Men do what is called a good action, as some piece of courage or charity, much as they would pay a fine in expiation of daily non-appearance on parade. Their works are done as an apology or extenuation of their living in the world, — as invalids and the insane pay a high board. Their virtues are penances. I do not wish to expiate, but to live. My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. "(Emerson).

This quote from Emerson also shows romanticism values.  Also, it shows that he has virtues, but lives his life in his own way.  He would rather not just have virtues to just have penances.  He values life and he thinks that it changes day to day and he needs to change in order to live and not expiate his life.  His life is for itself, and not for a spectacle.  This means that he is not living just for someone else's entertainment.  He is living for himself and will embrace and enjoy himself.  Self - reliance shines through in this aspect because he is making his life great in his own way.  He is self relying on making his life a great life for him and nobody else.