In "Self-Reliance," Ralph Waldo Emerson's tone and rhetoric greatly contribute to conveying his transcendental views.
Emerson's tone helps his argument for his transcendental way of life. His zealous passion for the "self reliant" ideals expressed in his persuasive essay convinces the reader of its truth. Emerson conveys the "foolish[ness]" of "consistency" and conformity in his essay. Emerson believes transcendental ideas to be sound, even if one is "misunderstood." He goes even further and says "to be great is to be misunderstood."

Emerson's extensive use of rhetoric questions adds to his argument as much as his zeal. "Who so would be a man" is one such example of Emerson's rhetoric style of writing, making the reader question if they are any more than a child, trying to grasp at the meaning of life. When Emerson mocks the skeptic, asking, "so you shall be. misunderstood"" He shows the foolishness...