American Literature

There are lots of things in common about the two great writers that this essay will attempt to examine. We are referring to the writings of Jonathan Edwards, known to be a pastor, theologian, and an essayist and by Ralph Waldo Emerson who is known for his philosophical thoughts. Their works that we are going to examine are parts of Edwards Freedom of the Will which was published in 1845 and Emersons On Self-Reliance, which was published in 1841.
Though they are moving in a different plane and possess different line of thoughts, it is amazing that their works are quite similar both in tone and message Man should trust his instinct and act upon his own will.
In part I of his legendary book about the Will, Edwards have given the functional definition of the Will as That by which the mind chooses any thing. He furthered that, The faculty of the will, is that power, or principle of mind, by which it is capable of choosing an act of the will is the same as an act of choosing or choice.
This means that the Will is the power of man to decide for himself, without any reliance to outside forces or other peoples opinion or desires. Emerson, on the other hand, has given his own functional definition of the Will, which seems to be parallel with the concept of Edwards
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world
As we can see, Emerson is urging the people to trust his own heart and mind, in order to do great things. Interestingly, the abovementioned passage is seemed to be supported by the following passages from the book, Freedom of the Will
The Will is perfectly distinguished from desire which in the very same action may have quite contrary tendency from that which our wills sets us upon. A man says he, whom I cannot deny, may oblige me to use persuasions to another, which, at the same time I am speaking, I may wish not prevail on him. In this case, it is plain the Will and Desire run counter. Differing desire from will, Edwards bring the message to his reader that the Will of Man can be an apparent good. Desire, on one hand, is considered a contradicting force against the Will. Amazingly, same rhetoric is used by Emerson in the following passages, from his essay On Self-Reliance
But these impulses (Will) maybe from below not from above They do not seem to me to be such but if I am the Devils child, I will live then from the Devil .
Emerson is telling his readers that the Will is guided by a good force, just like what Edwards believe.
As we examine the two writers, their way of addressing their readers is the same. The essays are presented in the deductive manner, which is from the general to specific or vice-versa. The only difference is that, Emerson is talking in a way that transcendentalists talk while Edwards are talking from the viewpoint of a theologian.
In conclusion, both writers are both effective in using rhetoric to convince their readers that they are saying the truth.