Individualism in American Romanticism
We've all heard this stereotype about Americans: they're individualistic, they're all wrapped up in themselves, they're all about me, me, me (and cheeseburgers). This can be a good or a bad thing, of course (we mean individualism—cheeseburgers are always a good thing).
Being all wrapped up in ourselves can mean we're selfish and egotistical. True facts.
But being all wrapped up in ourselves can also be a good thing: it can mean being true to our identity and essential nature. The American Romantics valued this second sense of individualism. These writers hated the "herd mentality." They believed that we should listen really hard to our deep, inner selves, and be true to them. Everyone's going off to get jobs on Wall Street? And we want to paint pictures instead? Go for painting pictures. Everyone's settling down with their spouses and kids in the suburbs, and we want to travel around the world? Go for traveling around the world.
In other words, the American Romantics were non-conformists. And in fact, the American love of individualism can be traced back to them. Their writing dwells on, and deals with, individuals who go against the grain, who think for themselves, and who stay true to themselves.
Chew On This
In his essay "Self-Reliance," Ralph Waldo Emerson challenges us to stay true to ourselves.
Why does Ishmael, the narrator of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, admire whales so much? Because they can be great examples for us humans on how to maintain our individuality and independence.