When exploring American Mythology, many literary works and films share quite a few characteristics and expressions. However, with these characteristics, many contradictions surface about the true nature of America. American Mythology follows the frontier ideology where there are reluctant heroes and rebels in every story. This mythology combats the justice system and breaks away from the old world, presenting a variety of new beliefs. Many literature essays would coerce this concept of an individual with a history of exploring a new world. The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson demonstrated the importance of independence in modern society throughout his work. In his 1841 published essay, “Self-Reliance”, Waldo examines American culture and makes various statements proving that the only person you could rely on is yourself. This ideology influenced other works made in the future, such as William Faulkner’s “The Bear” and films similar to My Darling Clementine. Even though altruism was not the end goal for Emerson’s message, outside forces perceived his advice selfishly. Identically, the form of independence Emerson presents in his works allows people to change America’s values for more of a selfish reason.
“Self-Reliance '' has two significant themes of independence, contrasting with various forms of dependence. Emerson yearns for his readers to follow their will instead of obeying societal expectations in the essay. He begins with a line in Latin, foreshadowing the overlying message of “do not imitate”. Throughout his writing, he hits three critical points: the importance of self-reliance, individualism in self, and independence in society. Emerson hypothesized the effects of self-reliance as he reassures Americans to build themselves up from the comfort of their home. He claims in different sections that people should embrace their nonconformities even if that requires them to reject what most believe is morally good. There is a specific kind of righteousness that comes from self-reliance than the opinions of those who are respected. This characteristic of goodness comes from an individual’s intuition, not from society’s influence. In historical context, Emerson’s reasons for claiming this are related to exploring the new world and trusting yourself to make a stable life that breaks away from tradition.
Furthermore, living in this new world notion of good could seem uncomplicated and beneficial to an individual’s future. Still, someone who trusts themselves would live out their life following their idea of good. Aware that being non-conformist is easier said than done, Emerson warns his readers to be prepared for the backlash they may face from their peers. He states, “Let him not peep or steal, or skulk up and down with the air of a charity-boy, a bastard, or an interloper, in the world which exists for him”(140). Emerson is a firm believer in men and their impact on history, so he emphasizes the importance of assurance in self. He admires the country boy who goes after things he wants, not concerned about the failure that might lay ahead. The world exists for them to explore, and he believes that men should go to war against those who tried to oppress their sense of individuality. Even though Emerson made these points decades ago, his idea of individualism is still present in our society today. The American mythology of film utilizes his words to present heroes who aren’t contained by their community.
In the 1946 film My Darling Clementine, director John Ford examines how independence helps enact selfish acts. The film follows Wyatt Earp and his three brothers driving cattle west to California. Earp seeks a quick shave and drink in the town during their journey, leaving his youngest brother with the cattle. However, during Earp’s visit, he encounters a drunk Indian and takes him down because he is a nuisance. Offered a position as the town sheriff, Earp declines due to the business he wants to make in California. However, upon his arrival at his camp, he finds his little brother murdered and cattle gone. This inhumane action of murder caused a shift in Earp’s character as he selfishly becomes sheriff to pursue revenge.
As the film progresses, Wyatt Earp encounters various citizens that help build his character. Each of the citizens provides him a way to avenge his brother in the end, no matter what he loses. The film is a model of efficiency with no unnecessary scenes as the plot quickly progresses. Ford seemed to portray simple characters in simple situations. Even so, the lead characters he has created struggle with independence. This is demonstrated with Earp, who was the reluctant hero of the story. Throughout his time as sheriff, Wyatt Earp creates strained relationships with the town as he makes decisions. An example of this strained relationship would be his acclaimed friendship with Doc. Even though they had got off on the wrong foot, Doc and Earp found many similarities and differences in each other. While Doc was decisive due to his limited time, Earp was meticulous in finding information that helped him. These characteristics led to both of these men using each other for actions they believed were morally good. Similar to Emerson’s message, Earp and Doc were characters who were independent in their society despite their unfortunate past. At the beginning of Emerson’s essay, he declares, “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius”(132). Though many characters in My Darling Clementine seek validation from convention and tradition (Chihuahua and Clementine), Earp and Doc present genuine authenticity from making new rules and regulations. To Emerson, the failure to be original is also the bottom of moral failure. With this in mind, John Ford and many other directors began creating heroes who aren’t contained by their community, further spreading the words and messages of Emerson. Nonetheless, many art forms took Emerson’s meaning too seriously, showing how inhumane an individual could be.
"The Bear”, a short story by William Faulkner, uncovers the relationship between man and nature. With its complex narrative, the story recounts the annual hunting party to track down Old Ben, a sharp-witted bear who lives like a man. The story follows a young boy growing into manhood through learning the ancient ways of the hunter. He traverses through “unaxed woods,” similar to how men were exploring the new world. The young boy learns through watching others, becoming part of the wilderness before beginning the hunt. Through his journey, he encounters many forms of man through characters such as Sam and Boon. However, the search is exciting; the narrative shifts after the death of Sam. Faulkner focuses his writing on discussing the early history of this tradition. Throughout the rest of the story, the past and present co-exist, almost blurring the change line. Killing Old Ben stops being the ultimate goal as Faulkner explores what man is meant to be. Boon becomes this representation of the predations of the modern world as he severs his relationship with nature. Unlike Emerson, Faulkner believes that man’s challenges of unquestioning come from different types of morals created by science and technology. He connects these challenges to race since it is such an integral part of American history. "The Bear” could be interpreted as coming to terms with racial inequality that a tradition has helped construct. Faulkner believes that people of color endure the tribulations of what man has created. Instead of becoming an individual who rejects what society believes, Faulkner takes society’s sins and turns them into the conditions of a modern man.
As time passed with these essays and writings, modern-day films began to grasp onto certain ideologies from each author. The imagery portrayed in each message provides another demonstration of independence throughout films such as Die Hard. Director John McTiernan interprets men similar to Faulkner and Emerson in a story that follows a terrible husband, John McClane, on Christmas Eve. On his journey back to his wife, McClane not only is a stranger to Los Angeles, but it becomes apparent that he is out of his element when he is held hostage at his wife’s Christmas party by the Germans. Throughout the hostage situation, McClane reveals the skills he learned as a New York cop signifying his life in the old world. He doesn’t rely on his wife’s community as he begins to defeat the Germans, not caring if he is seen as inhumane. McClane utilizes his position as an outsider to his advantage, like a lone rider exploring a new land. This depiction connects with Emerson’s statement of “He cumbers himself, never about consequences, about interests; he gives an independent, genuine verdict”(134). During the film, McClane has one goal in mind, and that is to save his wife. He doesn’t care about the other hostages or the consequences that could come from him defying his morality. Although his verdicts were reliable for most of the film, McClane has to depend on an outside source, Al, to mentally be there for him as his life is severely threatened. Independence in American mythology was justifiable with the frontier and Emerson because no one you could trust. Still, as time has passed, you may need to form connections with those from this new world and analyze how they operate as a community. Faulkner saw America through a lens of racial nationalism and believed that the advancement of a modern man was a chance for opportunity. Al was McClane’s opportunity throughout the film to connect with the present new world and find a way out of his situation. Faulkner illustrated the modern world willfully destroying itself through the character Boon as he sits in the middle of the forest waiting for it to be destroyed. In like manner, Al becomes this representation of how the new world is abandoning the country’s ideology as his coworkers continuously doubt McClane’s actions. This film forms a connection of Emerson’s and Faulkner’s beliefs to construct what independence should be for a man. It takes the importance of staying true to oneself while adjusting to the requirements of modern man to correct their own life.
Today, America has begun to abandon the value of being independent in society. Films and literature value a sense of community after the country’s struggle with racism, wars, and overall grief. Robert Ray claims, “The western’s importance derived from the national ideology’s eagerness to assert an American exceptionalism as the basis for avoiding difficult choices”. Despite the country feeling comfort in the western ideology of independence and exploration, there were various problems hidden in our values. People began to question and take Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words for more selfish reasons to express their values in America, whether it was to claim more power or obtain a better image. Nonetheless, some great people out there utilize Emerson’s work to show the importance of his words even if they disagree with them. Emerson was the gateway for many vital moments in American history, with “Self-Reliance” being a lesson for most.