As many have said before me, throughout “Economy” Thoreau expresses four subjects that are considered necessities; food, shelter, clothing, and fuel. In this beginning section of Walden, Thoreau explains to the reader that he is living almost a hermit type lifestyle to explore his thoughts about what the true bare necessities of life are. After one has received these four basic necessities, someone may move on to obtaining more built off of the basic essentials, such as clothes. Thoreau mentions that anyone would be happy with what they are wearing on their backs, but the wealthier people, or more elaborate living people get their clothes tailored and don’t leave them the way they are bought originally. This is considered a luxury as Sammy pointed out as above.
Also, I think Max makes a good point about how the basic essentials to life are directly linked to being civilized, and how the people with more luxuries have lower esteem and forget about the bare necessites of life.
