Final answer:
Ralph Waldo Emerson's purpose in 'Self-Reliance' is to encourage individuals to think for themselves and reject societal conformity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson's purpose in his essay 'Self-Reliance' is to encourage readers to think for themselves and reject societal conformity. He emphasizes the importance of individuality, freedom, and self-trust. Emerson views society as imposing limitations on individuals and believes that true fulfillment can only be achieved by embracing one's own unique ideas and perspectives.
Emerson's viewpoint can be seen as a reaction against the mass conformity and mediocrity he perceived in American society during his time. He urges readers to trust their own instincts and to be nonconformists, emphasizing the idea that individuals need to be true to themselves in order to live a fulfilling and authentic life.