Henry_David_Thoreau

THOREAU In his many works, Thoreau showed his relationship with himself, his society, and the natural world several different ways. Some of these ways are present in Civil Disobedience, Walden, and A Slight Sound at Evening, by E.B. White. In the book Walden, Thoreau looked on nature as much more than he source of leisure or beautiful scenery: it was the phenomenal medium through which divinity and truth were communicated to man. Thoreau thought that society was overthrown by detail and should be based on simplicity. He went to the woods to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life and see if he could not learn what nature had to teach. In doing this, he formed relationships and found what he thought to be the most important principles of life. Thoreau has a self-reliant relationship with himself, a confrontational relationship with society, and a harmonious relationship with nature. The relationship Henry David Thoreau has a self-reliant relationship with himself. An example that supports this description is when he says that “for more than five years, I maintained myself thus solely by the labor of my hands. ” Thoreau expresses how he doesn’t need unnecessary luxuries to live his life. The work of his own hands provides him with more than enough. He also demonstrates his self-reliance when he says that “I could fare hard and yet succeed well, I did not wish to spend my time in earning rich carpets or other fine furniture. ” Thoreau makes clear that he lives successfully, but he would rather receive the rewards of his work in a non-material way. He also goes on to say “that man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest,” which shows that he finds satisfaction in things that are not necessarily substantial. Henry David Thoreau shows how he is very self-reliant which is apparent in his relationship with himself. Confrontational describes Henry David Thoreau’s relationship with society. This can be proven when he states that “there will never be a free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power. ” Here Thoreau is talking about how there is no way a state can be open-minded until it recognizes that slavery is immoral. He directly addresses society which is not only confrontational, but it challenges the foundation of the system of government in America. He talks about how in American culture, “[a man’s] goodness must not be a partial and transitory act, but a constant superfluity, which costs him nothing and of which he is unconscious. ” Henry David Thoreau describes this as natural philanthropy; effortless kindness. Every man in society should naturally acquire this trait. Thoreau constantly confronts society’s norms in his many works. Henry David Thoreau has a harmonious relationship with nature. “I am a monarch of all I survey,” he said, “My right there is none to dispute. ” Thoreau was naturally a “surveyor” of the land, and attempted to break down the lines drawn by him as well society. He wanted to experience nature in one euphoric gulp of air. However, this was only achieved because he was in harmony with nature. Another example of how Thoreau lived harmoniously with nature is how he noted that “[he] believe[s] that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ” This quote describes how Henry David Thoreau found that nature had a natural “pull.” This force will draw anyone in who takes the time to listen to its harmonious melodies. The word harmonious describes Henry David Thoreau’s relationship with the natural world. Thoreau has a self-reliant relationship with himself, a confrontational relationship with society, and a harmonious relationship with nature. All of these relationships are key themes in Walden. Along with Walden, they are apparent in A Slight Sound at Evening, as E.B. White persuades reluctant readers to read or reconsider Henry David Thoreau’s brilliant morals in Walden. Self-reliance, confrontational, and harmonious are all words that accurately describe Thoreau’s relationship with himself, society, and the natural world.