Slideshow and Citation

Thoreau, Henry D. Walden and Civil Disobedience. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2005. Print.

Simplicity

Thoreau advocated a simple lifestyle. He believed that there were four necessaries of life for man. They were food, shelter, clothing, and fuel. The picture illustrates each of these these things and shows Thoreau's minimalistic beliefs. “ In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness (253)."

Civil Disobedience

        Thoreau believed that the human conscience was sometimes to outweigh the law. In The Village, he writes about how he spent a night in jail for refusing to “pay taxes to, or recognize the authority of, the state which buys and sells men.” He then goes on to say that, “it is true, I might have resisted forcibly, with more or less effect, might have run “amok” against society; but I preferred that society should run “amok” against me, it being the desperate party.” Thoreau, and Transcendentalism itself, suggested that the limitations of civil government could sometimes inhibit a person’s greater, moral freedom. Civil disobedience is a refusal to obey certain laws of a government or power, also known as nonviolent resistance. Many people believe that with nonviolent resistance, the voices of the smaller fish in the “pond of government” may be heard and make a difference (137).

The Importance of Nature

Thoreau, as a transcendentalists, emphasized the importance of nature. He viewed nature in a very spiritual way and also found companionship in it. The picture illustrates Thoreau at Walden Pond, among the animals and trees, enjoying their company.

“Such kindredship is Nature (127)."

Questioning Progress

Thoreau questioned if technological advancement was really progress. He saw many of these improvements as things that were unfulfilling and even restricting to man. The picture shows the contrast between what Thoreau saw as progress and what the rest of society saw as progress. “Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind (16)."

Self-Reliance

Thoreau highly valued self-reliance. While he was living at Walden Pond, Thoreau was able to provide for his physical, as well as financial needs. This picture illustrates aspects of Thoreau’s life that aided in his self sufficiency. These things include fishing, the bean field, and the trees. These things provided him with food, income, and wood, all of which were vital for his survival.
“...I cultivated with beans, what with planting, and hoeing, and harvesting, and threshing, and picking over, and selling them...I might add eating...(128)."

Individualism

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau lived by the idea of individualism and stated that the common man’s mainstream pursuit of happiness was not going to get him anywhere. He believed in the value of solitude in nature, finding that it gave him greater pleasure. Thoreau thought that other than being surrounded by the business of “regular” life, a person would reach greater potential by being in solitude (11). In the picture the contentedness of Thoreau living in solitude is contrasted with the other members of society who are among each other’s company.