Use examples to explain what Thoreau means in the final clause of this quote.
" I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life, to see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived"
2006-12-03 06:27:17 · 4 answers · asked by melanie k 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Thoreau is saying that he wanted to live his life as thoroughly and leisurely [deliberately] as possible. He was willing to forfeit all the normal conventions and furnishings of life to be more in tune with himself and all that life really has to offer without determent. We place so much significance on material/superficial possessions that we never truly live our lives to the fullest or learn the many lessons that a life truly lived can teach us. He wanted the assurance that when he died, he had gotten out of life all that he possibly could have.
"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life..." Live life completely, without reservation or regret.
2006-12-03 06:49:56 · answer #1 · answered by xx_villainess_xx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He went to the woods to discover the bare essential truths of life and to figure out his purpose. When he became isolated and allowed himself to "die" figuratively by not being immersed in his own trivial concerns, he discovered that the life he knew before was not really living.
2006-12-03 06:57:35 · answer #2 · answered by Stacye S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wished to live as humans were originally living. Learning from the environment and going back to nature without using the conveniences of modern day society. He wanted to learn from nature and not regret anything that he had not experienced.
2006-12-03 06:36:56 · answer #3 · answered by ambr95012 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He went to find himself in the simplest and clearest sense without the trappings and constructs of ego or society and culture.
2006-12-03 06:34:54 · answer #4 · answered by namazanyc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋