According to Emerson, how should gifts be received?
When a person receives a gift they should not be too glad or sorry for a gift. They need to be selfless.
According to Emerson, how should gifts be given?
A gift should be given as a part of who you are. It should be something that represents the giver. Emerson thinks that it is "cold" and "lifeless" if you go buy a gift that doesn't represent yourself.
What social commentary if offered here?
Emerson thinks society has made giving and receiving gifts a competition. A person gives a gift then the receiver feels like he needs to give a better gift to the original giver. Society wants everything. We ask for nothing less. We also want to be "self-sustained". People tend to like the gift more than the person and the thought the giver put into the gift.
If I decided to become a gift-giver in Emerson's understanding my life would change to where I would make all the gifts I give. I would spend more time making gifts for everyone. I would probably give less gifts because I would have to limit who I gave gifts to.
Well one time I made a ceramic pot and lid for my mom. I spent time making it for her. I was part of me because I like making things like that, crafts that are hands on. It represented me because I enjoy making ceramics.
About Me
- Julia
- I like traveling and seeing new places. I have lived in SD my whole life.
2 comments:
Society has definitely become way too material, and this has made people compete using material things, including gifts. When we receive gifts, we feel obliged to return the giver with another material item, even if the giver only meant it in appreciation of something we did for them. I'm sure people also give gifts expecting something in return, which defeats the originial purpose of a gift.
I really liked this post since I thought that it captured the essence of what Emerson was saying. Society, as Michelle said, hads become far too material, so this is rare when you recieve a real gift, so you treasure it much more. That explains why I still have all of the watercolour birthday cards my grandma painted.
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