From what I have read thus far in Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau would not be able to handle the world that we live in now. Thoreau wrote Walden in the mid-nineteenth century after spending over two years in the woods, away from civilization. He felt that everyone was too caught up in how everything looked and felt and did. Thoreau reiterates simplicity and practicality key. This book was written over 150 years ago, and it is more relevant than ever today.
In the beginning of Walden, Thoreau explains his deciding to remove himself from civilization. He wanted to become more in touch with himself, and get away from the nature of everyday life. He believed that most aspects of how we live are not necessary. We do not need clothing of the highest fashion that won't last us and houses that are too big and beautiful for our means. Thoreau cites that "none of the brute creation requires more than Food and Shelter". Every other aspect of our lives is frivolous he says. We aren't really living how we are, rather just moving from place to place, doing things to take up time. Walden serves as Thoreau's journal during his time in the woods. While he recounts his time spent there, he introspectively analyzes life in sort of a meaning of life type of way.
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| The 10x16 foot cabin on Walden Pond that Henry David Thoreau built by hand and lived in for over 2 years, that served as the inspiration for Walden. |
I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying this book. I have to admit that I have not been the biggest fan of classic literature after being forced to read one too many classic novelist in high school. However in this classic piece, I found myself agreeing with Thoreau and his ideals and reading on actually interested in what he has to say. Thoreau experienced the most massive growth that we have ever seen, living at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Walden seems like it is Thoreau's way of expressing his displeasure with the mindset of growth that we have.
As this class has progressed, I find myself getting more and more annoyed with how we live today and the amount of growth that we expect/need to work and thrive as a society. I feel like it shows just how greedy and selfish that we are. We always want bigger, and better, and more. And this is where we run into problems. The Earth can only handle this type of growth for so long before it stops allowing us to grow. I feel that the beginning stages of climate change are serving as its warning. We need to live differently. Below is one of the most popular quotes from Walden (it was underlined, starred, and circled in my book if that says anything), and I think it really points to the meaning of Walden and where Thoreau was go with this book.
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived".
Henry David Thoreau, Walden
A common theme for many of these books seems to ve that we have lost touch with nature. I have nothing against the simple life that thoreau advocates for, but i am sort of fond of civilization.i don't think we need to all go live in the woods. We could however learn to slow down a little and realize that every second of the day doesn't have to be filled with unnecissary work.
ReplyDeleteI read Thoreau's essays and I completely agree that he would not make it in the world today. If he was upset enough to write books and essays about how poorly people were behaving, he would be a thousand times more furious today. People were angels compared to the greed and selfishness in the world today. We need someone like Thoreau in today's world to possibly make us slow down and appreciate what we have and try sustain the great Earth we live on.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your statement about how as we learn more and more in this class, you get more annoyed with how everyone lives today. I've been a lot more conscious of what I do and don't need in my everyday life, and I find that a lot of the time I'm daydreaming about doing what Thoreau did himself and escaping off to nature. Now it's not just about personal development, but rather lessening our impact as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is spot on. Becoming more aware is not easy, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it all. Wouldn't it be so much easier to shut ourselves up in a cabin in the woods and leave the responsibility of the mess that we've made behind?
DeleteThis sounds like a great book. I totally agree that we all have way more than we need and should just take a step back. I don't think I'm quite ready to just go live in the wilderness for two years though.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think people need to stop and just look around for once and enjoy the beauties of nature. I see many students on campus on their phone all the time oblivious to their surroundings.
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