Emerson, considered the father of the American Literary Renaissance, wrote many essays to ultimately change the societal values surrounding him. In "Self Reliance," Emerson conveys his philosophical idea that every individual has their own individual genius speaking universal truths. However this tends ... own genius. Whitman thinks more democratically while Dickinson values the private individual. Fredrick Douglass is proof of finding his own genius and universal truths and uses these concepts to help free himself and fellow slaves of the deprivation of universal humanity that all men deser...

• Word Count: 861
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate