Henry David Thoreau Philosophy

What is the overall message of Thoreau's "Solitude"? Consider the term epiphany, which is a moment of clarity and understanding. Is there such a moment in this essay? If so, what triggers it?

In Henry Thoreau 's Walden Thoreau spent two years away from society living in a cabin in the woods with only the necessities. He was surrounded by farmers and would occasionally go into town. Thoreau was a transcendentalist that tried to find answers to life’s questions through nature. He challenged the regular way society would live and found that his way was a rewarding way of living.He compared the way that the farmers around him to how he was able to live and compared the difference of the two ways to live. Thoreau valued freethought, importance of nature, and self-reliance, Henry David Thoreau lived as an individual who did not need materialism.

Henry David Thoreau, born in 1817, is the author of Civil Disobedience, an essay the highlights the importance of individualism and maintaining autonomy within a society that strongly favor majority rule. In 2017, especially within the past election, this is of major significance. In his essay, Thoreau focusses on many ideas, some of the most prevalent being, standing up for what one believes is wrong, no matter the consequences, along with the idea that with the right leaders government can work.

An American Author, Transcendentalist and tax resister, Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord Massachusetts, and lived there most of his life.  He was opposed to many of the things that went on in our society and debated many issues in his life. Two of these major issues are , the Mexican American War and the implement of Slavery in our society. This was the reason for many of his writings include “Slavery in Massachusetts” and “Civil Disobedience” where he wrote about his principles and views against the U.S government and their involvement in the Mexican American War and the evil of Slavery. Thoreau opposed to these because they promote unjust government practices which he was strongly against.

Although his actions were admirable and act as evidence to integrity, the writings of Henry David Thoreau and Emerson reveal a haughty and pretentious individual. Thoreau's courage was noble. He was quick to immerse himself in his beliefs

Thoreau did not only suffer from unfounded superiority, he was also an extreme hypocrite who failed to live up to the expectations he set for the rest of man. For instance, one of Thoreau’s fundamental ideologies included his belief that in order to live a good life people needed live in nature, freeing themselves of everything except the necessities. This fundamental transcendental idea, one that was discussed extensively by Ralph Waldo Emerson and

By the year 1840 the concept of Independence had been forever embedded in American tradition and American government. The value of freedom had yet to be accepted nor granted peacefully. The Revolution released America from the grasp of Britain and it would take yet another war to release the black man from the shackles of slavery. America was still in its infancy; the West was not yet settled, the South was still a confederacy and unity was just a dream. The country was torn by slavery. And some men began to question the integrity of their government. Henry David Thoreau was one such man.

First, in Walden Thoreau passionately expresses his beliefs about life as a whole. He clearly states that life is too complicated and that one needs to focus on more important matters. Instead of consistently conceding to everyone else’s will, one should live how he likes. One should not attempt to over complicate his life. An individual needs to figure out what is important to him and strive for it. Thoreau went into the woods to find out what he truly desired, as well as, to bolt from public opinion.

Today, many people often consume themselves in the lives of others rather than focusing on their own paths. People are quick to settle for other’s opinions or beliefs, however Henry David Thoreau is someone who extensively advocated for the power of one’s own thoughts. Within the last chapter of his book Walden Thoreau states, “If a man does not keep pace with his companion, perhaps it is because hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” This quote highlights how people should take pride in their own values rather than molding to those surrounding us. Like Henry David Thoreau once believed, it is important that people should listen to their own thoughts and goals rather than conforming

On May 8,1945, the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces was signed by Field Marshal Kietel in Berlin, ending World War II for Germany. The German people were confronted with a situation that they had never before experienced: foreign armies occupied the entire German territory. The total breakdown of civil administration throughout the country required immediate measures to ensure the rebuilding of civil authority. After disposing of Hitler's successor as head of state and his government, the Allies issued a unilateral declaration on June 5, 1945, which proclaimed their supreme authority over German territory. The allies would govern Germany through four occupation zones, one for each of the four powers- the

Civil Disobedience is defined as the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest. To several governments and even some citizens, civil disobedience can be seen as a bad way of handling situations. To others, it is just a way of expressing how they feel about decisions the government make and it makes them feel as though they have a voice in how the decisions are mad. In the essay, “Civil Disobedience,” by Henry David Thoreau, there are several connections made to how the people should react to the government “controlling” them and what should be done about it. “Civil Disobedience” also makes connections to the article, Faced With a Fracking Giant, This Small Town Legalized Civil Disobedience. In both of these forms of writing, they discuss the main idea of civil disobedience and the impacts it may have on the government and the people as a whole.

He believes that many people are laboring under a false belief of “necessity” that makes [T]he mass of men … [lead] lives of quiet desperation” (984), because people think they must work to keep up an image and have certain luxuries. However, Thoreau believes that such things are unimportant when compared to a man’s opinion of himself, as he states “See how he … fears, not being immortal nor divine, but the slave and prisoner of his own opinion of himself, a fame won by his deeds. Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion … [W]hich determines … [our] fate”

As an example, he feels as if soldiers have been influenced by the government and community. They go against their opinion by taking the government to a point that is too far. Therefore the soldiers’ individualism is being taken away. Thoreau believes in the importance of one’s self and that the government takes the individuality away from people. Another thought he has is that, material items make one’s life have a lower quality and weakening their character. A person needs to build up their inner self; soul and mind. To build up their inner soul they need to; be solitary, reflect of their thoughts, and immerse themselves in nature. The government and society take away from a person from being who they are by influential actions.

I agree with Henry Thoreau’s statement, ‘“The price of anything is the amount of time you exchange for it.”’ If a person really wants something they will put time into it, nothing put in it gets a person nowhere, and if you use the time wisely you will gain alot.

Without Emerson and Thoreau’s beliefs in the individual, our country would not have the rights and equalities that make it America. America was founded on individualism. The need to create a government catering to individual needs sparked a revolution against the biggest world power of the time. It is fitting that the only true American literary movement, transcendentalism, is built upon individualism. The first transcendentalist writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, advocated for individuality in his works. Subsequently, Henry David Thoreau, Emerson’s protégée, took Emerson’s ideas to the next level, urging his readers to break free of conformity and live to the fullest. Thoreau also explored how to achieve the coveted individualism that Emerson reveres. The need for activism in individualism is realized in a work written about Thoreau, The Night Thoreau Went to Jail. Individualism is paramount for the transcendentalist lifestyle and sculpts the way these two men lead their lives. The essays “Self Reliance,” “Civil Disobedience,” and “Walden” delve further into these ideals.