I Will Fight no More Forever

In the speech "I Will Fight No More forever" by Chief Joseph, Joseph's heart is saddened. He tells of the trials of his people (Chief Joseph). He tells of how many of them are dead, or dying, or freezing to death because they do not have blankets. He says that all of the old people have died and all of the children have died. It is only the young people left, but the ones who raised them up and taught them are all dead. Chief Joseph says that he is sick of fighting. He wants to find his children, but he thinks he may find them dead too. He says that he is tired and that his heart is sick and sad. He vows from that point forward to never fight again (Chief Joseph). Emerson once said "...the soul is raised over passion. It seeth identity and Eternal Causation. It is a perceiving what Truth and Right are. Hence it becomes Tranquility" (The Three Fund..). I think that has to do with what Chief Joseph is going through. Emerson says that the soul is raised over passion, and Chief Joseph is past the point of being passionate on the subject, but weary (Chief Joseph) ( The Three Fund...). Emerson says that the soul is seeking what is true and what is right (The Three Fund...). I believe that Chief Joseph has gotten to the point where he sees the injustice that is on his people, and it grieves him (Chief Joseph). He realizes how much his people are hurting. He knows that what has happened is not right, and his soul is is becoming tranquil and he realizes that he must change (Chief Joseph) (The Three Fund...). Emerson also says "The soul in man is not an organ, but animates and exercises all organs. It is not a function, like the power of memory, of calculation, of comparison, but uses these as hands and feet. It is not a faculty, but a light. It is not the intellect or the will, but the Maseter of the intellect and the will. It is the vast background in which they lie, an immensity not possessed and that cannot be possessed." (The Three Fund...). I think this ties quite well into Chief Joseph's speech. I think the things that have happened do not sit well with Chief Joseph's soul, therefore it guides the rest of his actions in his life, and he will follow that leading from his soul (Chief Joseph).

"Chief Joseph." Welcome to Georgia State University. Web. 02 Mar. 2012. .

"The Three Fundamental Concepts of Emerson's Philosophy (3 of 7)." WisdomWorld.org Web Site (Main Page). Web. 02 Mar. 2012.

"I Will Fight No More Forever - A Surrender Speech & Analysis." Santharia. Web. 02 Mar. 2012. .

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).