Question

In Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self Reliance", "no man yet knows what it is" What is the antecedent for the pronoun "it"? Adopted talent, that which each can do best, every moment, half possession, his Maker

Answer 1

In Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance," the antecedent for the pronoun "it" is "his Maker." The complete thought suggests that no man yet knows what it truly means to rely on his own self and potential as intended by their Creator. Emerson emphasizes the importance of individuality and self-trust, which ties back to understanding one's own unique capabilities as bestowed by "his Maker."