I will Fight No More

This was a speech made by Chief Joseph. His tribe was forced to leave their home and move to a new land because of European settlers. So Chief Joseph's tribe, the Nez Perce, set on an expedition to Canada to get away from the Europeans. The whole way there the Nez Perce had to battle the American troops. The tribe ended up being trapped by the troops right outside the border of Canada. They got into a five day fight when finally Chief Joseph delivered this speech and surrendering to the American troops. His tribe was sick and freezing. All the old wise leaders had been killed and children were freezing to death. Chief Joseph was tired of fighting and seeing his people die. He told the people he was done with the fighting. "Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."(Joseph)

I believe that Chief Joseph reflects those same ideas as Emerson does. In Emerson's Self Reliance he states, "The individual is the supreme strength of group thinking, not the other way around."(Emerson) Chief Joseph uses his own knowledge in deciding that the war had to stop. He let it be known that he was against the fighting and he would not take it anymore. Later on Emerson goes and talks about peace and that peace will only come through self-reliance. The Native Americans want nothing more than just to have peace but they must first self-respect and self-satisfaction. I don't believe they have this because they are giving up they feel they are not worth it. I think because they gave up they will not see peace based on what Emerson is trying to say. In a way I think that this speech goes against both Emerson and Thoreau because both of these men have firm beliefs. When they set their minds to something they do not give up and will keep going until they get what they want. But, Chief Joseph, gives up and does not completely stand up for what he believes in like those men would.

Brugman, Patricia. "Individual and Society in 'Self-Reliance'." McClinton-Temple, Jennifer ed.

Encyclopedia of Themes in Literature. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2011. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc

Chief Joseph. "I Will Fight No More." Surrender Speech of Chief Joseph. Web. 2 Mar. 2012.