Walden

Essay

Lim 2 Table of Contents Henry David Thoreau Beginnings ......................................................................................................... 4 Thoreaus Childhood................................................................................................................................... 5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

Lim 3 Outline I. Introduction II. Characteristic Studies A. Word Choice B. Implications C. Lifestyle III. Conclusion

Lim 4 Helen Lim Mr. Dixon American Literature 25 January 2011 Walden Essay Henry David Thoreau proposes key elements of his transcendentalist views in Walden-including shortage, simplicity, and distinctiveness. Accepting poverty as not necessarily implying hardship is a fascinating and appealing idea, while simplicity and reduction of detail seem to not only be too broad, allowing the person to interpret lifes essentials as he wishes, but also contradictory to his idea that we mustnt fall into a pattern. Lastly, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining ones individuality, a common value even in todays society. Henry David Thoreau Beginnings Though at first the idea of cultivating poverty like a garden herb, like sage (pg. 413) might seem like a shocking idea, the fundamentals of the view seem to be quite rational. Thoreau proposes that poverty doesnt necessarily equal destitution, but rather that it simply implies having fewer possessions. Fewer possessions mean that one only needs to be concerned with he core things of life. He said if you are restricted in your range by poverty...you are confined to the most significant and vital experiences; you are compelled to deal with the material which yields the most sugar (pg. 413). By having less, one can eliminate the accessory areas of life. Thoreau implies that the simpler, the better, when he writes that it is life near the bone where it is sweetest (pg. 413). By having less, a person has fewer choices, and nothing to lose. He or she may gain satisfaction from the possession of just the fundamentals of life. Wealth on the other
student 8/12/11 7:48 PM Deleted: [ student 8/12/11 7:48 PM Deleted: ] student 8/12/11 7:48 PM Deleted: povarty student 8/12/11 2:41 PM Comment: It might be better if you explain why this is an appealing idea

Lim 5 hand, does not equal freedom or independence, as Thoreau points out. Having more creates a greed for wanting moresuperfluous wealth can buy superfluities only (pg. 413). Wealth provides only supplementary things in life, and causes the individual to take the essentials for granted, offering no sense of self-satisfaction to the individual. Thoreaus Childhood Henry David Thoreau went into the woods to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life (pg. 410). By stating so, he implied that fronting only the essentials is not achievable in society. Though his motive was sincere, by saying essentials, Thoreau referred to a personal list that not everybody could agree upon. Companionship, I feel, is an essential of life. Communication among people, and relationships with friends and family are both things that are meant to be part of a persons life. Had man been created to live with nature in solitude, one man wouldve been created, and one man only. In addition to posing this idea, Thoreau conveys in Walden that details in life are unnecessary. He expresses this by saying on page 410, that our life is frittered away by detail. Not only is this something that doesnt seem true, but its also rather self-contradicting. Details dont necessarily waste away our lives. At times, details only emphasize the essentials of life. Also, details are the source of variance in our everyday lives. Thoreau says that he left the woods because hed realized the pattern he had formed and realized how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves (pg. 411). By living with only the bare essentials of life, or the simplified life, its unavoidable that Thoreau would fall into a routinedetails are what make every thing for every day different. Details, thus, do not fritter away our lives. Individuality, a commonly accepted concept even in the modern world today, is another key factor that Thoreau stresses in Walden. Using lines such as do not seek
student 8/12/11 7:49 PM Deleted: between student 8/12/11 7:47 PM Comment: Maybe add a few brief examples of things that do offer self- satisfaction

Lim 6 so anxiously to be developed, to subject yourself to many influences to be played on, (pg. 413) he expresses that one should try to avoid conforming to others views, and following society; he communicates that the individual should ignore influences of society and maintain his or her own personality. This is supported for by how he says, if a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer (pg. 412). Man was created all differentlythere are no two people on the entire planet that share the same likes and dislikes. Everybody is a separate identity. Every person responds to different situations with different reactions and at different times-thats how man was meant to be. No one person should have to conform to the speed of life or way of life of another. Thus, Thoreau continues the previous quote with let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away, (pg. 412) to emphasize that a person should follow his or her own path. When he says, if the condition of things which we were made for is not yet, what were any reality which we can substitute? (pg. 412), Thoreau tries to tell his audience that the path or anything thats meant for a specific individual cannot be replaced by another path or whatnot. Conclusion Conclusively, although Henry David Thoreaus ideas all seem essentially correct, there are points that I agree with strongly, and others that I disagree with. Cultivating poverty seems like a rational idea since being poor doesnt necessitate less happiness or less satisfaction. Simplicity and aversion to details are incomprehensive since Thoreau goes against routine, yet details are what provide variance to avoid routines. Finally, individuality is a popular yet idealistic view that many people strive to achieve in their thoughts and actions.

Lim 7 References Jordan, Carol. "'No Evidence' Duggan Fired on Police in Incident That Sparked Riots - CNN.com." CNN.com International - Breaking, World, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News. 10 Aug. 2011. Web. 09 Aug. 2011. <http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/09/uk.riots/index.html?hpt =hp_t1>.