what are your thoughts about it? would you say that you agree or disagree with some of his thoughts? you're rwelcome to say anything you want about it. :)
2006-09-24 07:27:59 · 5 answers · asked by Simply Me 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Civil disobedience is a good thing if the person doing it can submit to the consequences imposed by the authorities and society in general. Thoreau did and was able to reflect on so many things by being away from the mainstream of life.
2006-09-24 07:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by crowbird_52 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the misconceptions about "Walden" is that Thoreau was living as a hermit far off in the woods. Actually his cabin was walking distance from the center of his town, he often had visitors and often walked into town, and while he was there they built a railroad right along the edge of the pond.
The woods of Concord were already in his day, very much altered from their primeval condition. He complains about that in his journals and says that it too bad that he can never see nature as it was before the colonists came.
Walden is not, strictly speaking, a book about isolation and wilderness. It is about how to live in the world, without being overwhelmed by it, and how to establish your own life on your own terms.
Walden is a nice place to visit. It is a state park and you can go there for a walk, or to swim in the summer. There is a replica of his cabin, and there is a cairn at the place where his real cabin was - when you come to visit, bring a little stone from your own back yard to put on the cairn. :)
ps "Civil Disobedience" is a separate essay that was written at a different time.
2006-09-24 15:48:08 · answer #2 · answered by matt 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have always felt at home in the woods, I have done alot of solo camping. Thoreau had the right idea. He really understood Eastern religions and put them into practice. He was very much at ease with himself. His theories, after all this was an experiment, have worked with the "Hoods In The Woods" programs. Anyone can benefit from this book.
2006-09-24 14:45:14 · answer #3 · answered by doggiebike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think anyone can reach that sort of tranquility and deep thought in the woods if you still have your basic needs being met by others - I mean he still had people washing his clothes and cooking his meals.
2006-09-24 14:38:30 · answer #4 · answered by rrmorris45 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the greatest simple "American" philosophical works of all times ... present-day politicians should pay more attention to the thoughts behind this work.
2006-09-24 14:58:02 · answer #5 · answered by jlbackstop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋