Thoreau’s General Attitude toward Society at Large

Posted: August 27th, 2021

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Essay Walden

Thoreau’s General Attitude toward Society at Large

Thoreau expresses his strong individualism towards the convention of society. Specifically, his attitude is full of rejection of society’s ideologies, which differ from his philosophical idealism. Therefore, he could not show any desire to meet an outside convention of life if he felt that his expectations were more way up than others.

The Purpose of Thoreau’s Experiment with Independent Living at Walden Pond

Thoreau’s purpose of the experiment was for Thoreau to objectively gain a better understanding of the social conventions vis-à-vis his cross-examination. While engrossed in nature’s needs, his goals wereaimed at leading self-sufficiency and ordinary life (Thoreau 1). Thus, he was inspired by both the transcendentalist philosophical view of the American Romantic era. 

Thoreau’s Attitudes towards Work, Materialism, Consumerism, and Material Possessions

Thoreau’s attitudes towards work, materialism, consumerism, and material possessions seem skewed in that he likened the act of working hard as devilish to attain unnecessary material wealth. Instead, he believed in the need to live a simple life, whose sense of purpose is considered higher than the need for material possessions. For example, he mentioned in the poem that “growth busters on voluntary simplicity” (Thoreau 1). Hence, this shows his diverse view on life.

Thoreau’s View on Self-Sufficiency

Although Thoreau’s viewpoint on Walden Pond’s exercise seemed untraditional, he felt that the whole idea demonstrated his self-reliance. As much as he did not express self-reliance regarding physical life, his personal philosophical life demonstrated self-reliance instances.

How Thoreau Use Historical and Literary References to Reinforce his Viewpoints

Thoreau’s failure to file poll tax is a historical and literary reference aimed at reinforcing the ideals of Resistance to Civil Government in that political views of society have exacerbated the slavery of one’s mind towards (Thoreau 1). Like in the contemporary world, people seem enslaved to work, thus do not have a sense of spiritual and intellectual awareness. 

Thoreau’s Intentions to Celebrate his Attained Economies viaSelf-Sufficiency

By living a simple life in the end, Thoreau attempts to insinuate how self-sufficiency revolves around the need to differentiate one’s outer man from the inner man. He underscores that the outer man is destined for the soil, whereas the inner man whose sense of purpose seems higher needs to undergo spiritual and intellectual cultivation. 

Thoreau Does Not Seem to Like Other People BUT has Little Use for them.

Thoreau does not seem to like other people; instead, he perceives his association with people as practical and emotional entanglement, which he can avoid altogether. In this regard, he has a little use for other people concerning his immense influence on other individuals’ lives.

How Thoreau’s Concerns Relate to the Current Interesting Issues of Our Generations

Thoreau’s concerns seem more relevant to contemporary time because his aspect of transcendentalism is prevalent today. Equally, I find the text corresponding perfectly well with the desperate demands of the capitalist nature, where society occasions all kinds of harm that destroy nature instead of protecting it.

Works Cited

Thoreau, Henry, D. “Walden and On the Duty to Civil Disobedience.” 1995, www.gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/205-h.htm#chap02. Accessed 11 November 2020.