A Comparative Study of Iqbal Lahori and Ralf Waldo Emerson Based on the Concept of Self-reliance

There is a strange similarity between Iqbal and R.W. Emerson, one from the Middle East, Muslim and totally familiar with western culture; the other from America, a pious minister under the influence of eastern philosophy. The concept of self-reliance is something that these two figures concentrate on and talk about as a source of light within every single human being that sheds light on human’s latent aptitudes and shows them the truth. Besides, both of them talk about solitude as a vehicle by which people can explore, detect and understand this inner self (ego) and the thing that helps people avoid imitation. This analysis is done to delineate the common attributes of Iqbal and Emerson and to clarify the importance of self-reliance in their literary works: “The Secrets of ego” by the former and “On self-reliance” by the latter.