Himself Meaning
Himself Definition & Usage
Used to refer to the subject of the sentence, emphasizing that the action of the verb is directed back upon the subject.
Examples
- "He hurt himself while playing soccer."
- "She looked at herself in the mirror for a long time."
- "John always talks about himself in the third person."
- "You should treat yourself with kindness."
- "The cat cleaned itself, licking its fur with precision."
Used for emphasis to indicate that the subject is performing the action independently or without help.
Examples
- "He did it all by himself."
- "She managed to fix the car herself."
- "The child carried the box by himself."
- "I built this chair myself, from scratch."
- "He solved the problem all on his own, without anyone’s help."
Cultural Context
'Himself' is a reflexive pronoun derived from Old English, where it was initially used in ways similar to how we use it today. Its main function is to reflect the action of the subject onto itself, but it also serves an emphatic role to underline a subject's independent action or effort. Over time, this pronoun has also come to symbolize both personal autonomy and self-sufficiency in various contexts.
The Self-Made Man
Story
The Self-Made Man
In a small town nestled in the mountains, lived a man named Arthur, who was known for his quiet determination and resourcefulness. He had always been someone who prided himself on being self-sufficient, whether it was repairing the roof of his house, building furniture, or fixing his car. There was something uniquely admirable about the way he approached life—always on his own, always relying on his skills and ingenuity. One cold winter evening, as a heavy snowstorm began to blanket the town, Arthur sat by his fireplace, a cup of tea in hand. He thought about the past few months, how he had repaired his kitchen sink by himself after a pipe burst, and how he had recently fixed the leaking window in his study. It was a sense of accomplishment that brought him peace. "I did all of it by myself," he thought, smiling with pride. The next day, a neighbor named Molly stopped by to ask for help. Her husband was away on business, and a pipe had burst in their basement. Arthur, despite his usual reluctance to ask for help, agreed to assist. As he worked, he couldn’t help but notice Molly’s expression as he fixed the leak quickly and efficiently. "I don't know what we’d do without you, Arthur," she said. He simply shrugged and replied, "It’s nothing. I’ve done it all by myself before, so it’s no trouble." His voice held a note of quiet humility, but also, perhaps, a hint of pride at his ability to solve the problem so effortlessly. Later that evening, as the snow continued to fall, Arthur’s mind wandered back to the early days of his life, when he was young and eager to prove himself. He had always been determined not to rely on anyone else, not because he thought he was better, but because he wanted to prove to himself that he could handle anything life threw his way. "I’ve done everything myself, without asking anyone for help," he thought again, sipping his tea. And in that moment, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that, despite the challenges, he had always managed to figure things out by himself.
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