[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

In “Conclusion” Thoreau speaks of his reason for spending more than the past 2 years of his life at Walden pond. He reiterates many of his points mentioned throughout the novel and explains the importance of simplicity and individuality. He brings home the idea that it is human nature to want to acquire many materialistic objects or keep up with today’s trends, however, this only is a distraction from the true meaning of life. During his time at Walden he realizes that he doesn’t need other people or society in order to live a happy life. He learns that life is such a precious gift and each person should treasure it no matter what the circumstances. Thoreau tells people to “live your life, poor as it is” (Thoreau 362) meaning riches shouldn’t have an affect on the quality of someones life. He also encourages individuality and self pride saying that it is okay to be different and to “let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away” (Thoreau 360).

I had many realizations while reading Walden that didn’t completely click till the last chapter in “Conclusion”. This chapter for me personally really united all of my thoughts and gave me a clear understanding of Thoreau’s philosophy. While reading this chapter I noticed that i have a quote hanging in my room from this chapter; “one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined” (Thoreau 358). I wake up to this quote every single day and in the past it has given me inspiration to work hard towards my dreams and gave me hope that one day my hard work will pay off and I will live the life i have always imagined. After reading Walden,I now look at this quote differently and in a more meaningful way. I now think of individuality and living life to the fullest without the need of extra frivolous items when i look at this quote. It now gives me inspiration to live a simpler and happier life. Walden has influenced me to value life greater and to appreciate the little things in life. It has taught me to live a more simple lifestyle and spend more time on myself, since I am the only person who has the power to make something of myself. Lately I have been trying so often to please other people and this last chapter has really given me the inspiration to reflect and take care of myself first and foremost before anything else. Now every morning when I wake up and see this quote, i will think of Thoreau and all that he taught me in his writings about individuality and inspiration.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

I agree with Haley’s analysis on how Thoreau continually “humanizes” the ants in order to give them more human characteristics. By doing this he is connecting the ants with the common man and further tying them together. He is trying to prove that a human and the ant aren’t that different. They both share the same necessities of life and have the same drive for survival. Thoreau is trying to prove that these characteristics are all that a human needs in order to live. Simplicity and patriotism are what he believes in the most.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

During “Brute Neighbors” Thoreau describes a war between the red and black ants and compares them to society. He observes their willingness to fight for their necessities of life and their ambition to “conquer or die” (Thoreau 288). Thoreau compared this to the history of America and how  “patriotism and heroism are displayed” in the acts of men (Thoreau 288). The significance of these historical allusions was that Thoreau was trying to let the reader know that the ants way of living based solely off of the necessities of life have been shown throughout history and are pretty effective. With this being said, he believes that by following his philosophy society will become like the ants, simple and determined. If everyone lived as simply as Thoreau did, we would probably turn into living similar to the ants. However, it is impossible to completely get rid of human characteristics altogether. Therefore, although Thoreau’s theory may be prove to be true it is very unlikely that it would work on the human race.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

In “Higher Laws” Thoreau discusses the importance of eating only what is necessary to fulfill the needs of your body. He believes that the purity of food is the most important, with this being said he believes that “there is something essentially unclean about this diet of all flesh” (Thoreau 276) meaning meat or fish. He believes in the simplicity and cleanliness of food. According to Thoreau eating should not be enjoyable or lavish. It should only be sensible and enough to keep one alive. Eating is considered a responsibility to Thoreau and “every man is a builder of a temple, called his body…we are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh, blood,  and bones” (Thoreau 282). People should only be focused on their goals in life, food is merely a distraction.

Although I do agree with Thoreau’s idea that the individual is responsible for he or shes body and with this being said should take great care of it with cleanliness, some of his ideas are a bit extreme. As human beings, people should be allowed to enjoy their meal and be satisfied with the taste of their meal. Although eating excessively can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle, it is ultimately the individuals decision. Also animals serve as protein, so although Thoreau claims they are unclean they do provide nutrients and are important in a persons diet as previously mentioned by Noah.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

Throughout “The Ponds” by Thoreau and as mentioned previously above, the Walden Pond is considered a peaceful and relaxing space in his mind. By analyzing Thoreau’s detailed descriptions readers can assume that the pond symbolizes purity and cleanliness. Thoreau depicts the pond as “so transparent that the bottom can easily be discerned” as well as a visible “reflection” (Thoreau 248). The water is so clear and clean that one can reflect their own thoughts through it in order to become pure or holy again.

I agree with Tim’s analysis and how he pointed out that during or after every activity Thoreau completed he always came back to the pond to refresh himself and clean himself from any negative thoughts. The pond cleansed his soul and acted as a purifier. Overall, the pond is a place of peacefulness and serenity and was a place where Thoreau could escape from society and enjoy nature.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

In Thoreau’s “The Bean Field” Thoreau goes into extreme detail about his bean garden and how it was his “daily work” to hoe and care for the bean crops (Thoreau 232). This daily work served almost as therapy to Thoreau and where many other farmers may plant crops for the economic gain they receive from it, Thoreau did it solely for his own satisfaction. This contrasts to the obligations in life that he had earlier described in “Economy”. This necessities of life discussed in “Economy” were more essential and required in order to live whereas the obligations of work described in “The Bean Fields” act more as a personal achievement or fulfillment. Thoreau believes that “labor of the hands, even when pursued to the verge of drudgery, is perhaps the worst form of idleness” ; with this being said he became very “intimate” with his beans and considers his time spent tending the beans to be the most valuable (Thoreau 232). Because of this, Thoreau does not consider this work obligatory but rather therapeutic.

Haley made an excellent point when she mentioned that when “Thoreau is working because he has to instead of for personal gain he does not get anything more than material from his work and cannot be provided with the personal values of bean farming”. This experiment of his is only for his own enjoyment and does not rely on wealth or materialistic objects. Thoreau’s bean field acts as a sanctuary where working hard can clear his mind and give him gratification.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

Elise,

I find your point on how Thoreau originally doubted himself to be very interesting. When writing my previous response I didn’t think of how Thoreau started out not as confident as he ended. Elise’s thoughts on how solitude isnt the easiest thigg to accomplish is very true. Although Thoreau mentions many advantages that comes with solitude, it is still a hard state of mind to reach.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

Throughout Solitude Thoreau is describing how he enjoys living secluded from society and actually thinks it to be more efficient and better for you. He mentions the people who doubt him and ask him how he can live so far away from society with no communication with others; he states that these people do not understand that “the whole earth in which we inhabit is but a space” (Thoreau 214). Thoreau also made a point that loneliness does not depend on people who surround you, but the busyness of your mind. For example a person who is constantly busy with work and interacting with people can possibly be more lonely inside than a person who has no communication with individuals yet maintains a content state of mind with the use of knowledge. Therefore solitude is not a matter of space but a matter of knowledge and thoughts.

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

In the beginning of “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” Thoreau discusses his appeal towards the Hollowell House and why he was so close to buying the land. He begins by daydreaming about his love of land and how much opportunity it contains. However, he viewed the space a lot differently than normal people would. For example, Thoreau thoroughly enjoyed its seclusion from humanity and it’s “complete retirement” (Thoreau 175). He went on to describe the bad characteristics of the house in such a positive way saying that the “gray color” and “dilapidated fences” where considered “advancements” and “improvements” in his eyes (Thoreau 176). He further explains his reason for enjoying the house by stating that he does not intend to buy “greedily” but rather “go round and round it as long as I live, an be buried in it first, that it may please me the more at last” (Thoreau 176). This proves that in Thoreau’s mindset the idea, space, and opportunity of an area is more important than in quality or physical appeal. This proves to be a very different mindset from the outlook of an estate buyer.

I agree with Noah’s connection of the importance of “simplicity” over all else within the chapter. Minimalism is a key value in Thoreau’s life and plays an important role in how he views land and the benefits of it. This also ties back to “Economy” and the necessities of life where luxuries and materialistic objects are not as important. These values directly correlate into why Thoreau felt that the Hollowell House, although not ideal to the common man today, was a perfect space to live.

-Ane Arrieta

[Ane “Orange” Arrieta]

In “Economy” Thoreau declares that the necessities of life, as mentioned above from my fellow class mates, is “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel”. All four of these categories are considered the most basic and vital principles needed to survive according to Thoreau. Throughout this section Thoreau discusses how warmth is related to the necessities of life. For example, Thoreau states that every human has a desire to stay warm within their internal body. This directly connects with the four core ideas; “fuel keeps the fire within us-and fuel serves only to prepare that Food or to increase the warmth of our bodies…-Shelter and Clothing also serve only to retain the heat thus generated and absorbed”. Although warmth is essential in a persons life as Thoreau explained, luxuries and further, unimportant items are what causes a persons body to become “over heated”. Because of this, once people are warm they feel a need to continually become warm. This mindset which many people struggle with is what causes corruption in society according to Thoreau.

Sammy’s point on materialism and how this want-need lifestyle is still very common in the modern world is very interesting. Because of the pressure on today’s society people feel the need to keep up with the newest trends. People begin to make an emotional attachment with “frivolous” objects. When this occurs the main values Thoreau had established are thrown out the window and all of the sudden the basics of life are not met and society becomes unorganized and chaotic. Thoreau knows this, and in “Economy” he attempts to open the minds of people to realize how simple life should truly be.

-Ane Arrieta

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