[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

In the chapter Conclusion, one can see how Thoreau “found” himself at the Walden Farm. He says, “that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind,… and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings” (358-9). Thoreau pursued his dream of solitude and living on a farm, where he was his happiest. His experiment opened his eyes to the things that mattered in life. Once returning back to society, he started to see how people talked about aspects in their lives that didn’t necessarily have much meaning to them. When he was conversing with friends Thoreau says, “my neighbors tell me of their adventures with famous gentlemen and ladies, what notabilities they met at the dinner table; but I am no more interested in such things than in the contents of the Daily Times” (363). Thoreau has become of a separate mind of those in his society. The materialistic things in life are of no interest tho Thoreau. Being in solitude opened his eyes to what he found to be very important to himself. Thoreau found what he thought to be true and most satisfying, which separated him from society, just like how the Walden Farm was so separate from society. Thoreau and the concept of the Walden Farm are very similar. He was seeking for the truth, which he had found

After reading Walden, I have learned many things. I have noticed that a lot of his philosophies are being taught to me by my parents. I have learned that in order to become one with your thoughts, you must take time for yourself and be in solitude. The hustle and bustle of other people’s lives interfere with ones self reflection. The influence of others can change who we are as a person. Although some influence can be good, other influences can take one away from who they truly are. Thoreau shows how spending time to yourself and being with your thoughts can go a long way. Thoreau says “however mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not as bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest” (362). This part stuck out to me a lot, because of what Thoreau was trying to get across. No matter how hard life is, one must keep on going, because it will get better. Even when having a million things, one is still not happy. This ties back to his belief of not buying everything that one sees, just for the heck of it. That object can only supply one with so much happiness. Further explaining how Thoreau believed in this idea of not relying on materialistic objects he says, “Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends… Sell you clothes and keep your thoughts” (362). These sentences meant a lot to me, and I see it being done everyday. People choose friendships and clothes and spending too much time on social media than actually stopping and looking around for once. Thinking, being with their own thoughts. I am too guilty of committing this “crime”.

In my own life, I hope to successfully apply Thoreau’s philosophies. I try my hardest to let my phone go, but I always give in. Being connected is such a necessity nowadays, I wish it wasn’t. I want to try and spend at least one day a week totally disconnected from social media and texting, so I can be with my own thoughts and family. I want to actually go on a walk and experience it, not through my camera or having my head down texting people how pretty it is. Just like Walden, I want to spend time alone with the beauty of nature and take in all it has to offer, because life is too short to be wasting it with my head in my phone. Just like Thoreau said, “There is much more day to dawn” (366).

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

In this chapter, Thoreau brings up his idea of how some foods take away from a higher intellectual pursuits. He says, “beside, there is something essentially unclean about this diet and all flesh… when I had caught and cleaned and cooked and eaten me fish, they seemed not to have fed me essentially” (276). Thoreau didn’t enjoy eating fish, just because he didn’t feel it was necessary. Personally, I would have to disagree with Thoreau this time. Yes, there are many foods that are unhealthy and can cause many problems, if eaten excessively, but it’s life. People enjoy food so much, it’s a huge part of every culture. People crave these savory foods because it gives them a sense of happiness and even reminds them of better times. There have been too many instances where I’ve heard stories of the amazing foods they’ve had, and how they can still feel the taste, because it was that savory. Savory foods bring people together, and that’s not going to change. What would Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and family and friend gatherings be without food? Although bad food habits can lead to bad choices in life, it’s apart of everyone’s culture.

I completely agree with Ane. People eat food for nutrition, but also for enjoyment. It’s the individuals own decision, not anyone else’s.

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

This whole chapter of the book is based on the pond on Walden’s property. This pond symbolizes “depth and purity as to merit a particular description” (247). Although it can be hard to tell, the Walden pond means more to Thoreau than being in solitude. The pond is pure, it does nothing bad and harms no one. Thoreau believes in simplicity, to not be selfish and materialistic, but live to just live like as simply as possible. The Walden pond is the perfect example for that image that Thoreau is trying to create. Thoreau enjoys the pond so much because he feels like he has a certain connection with it, because they are both the same. The same in being pure and simple sense.

Julia, I really enjoyed your analysis on the chapter. Looking at the pond like it’s eye; the center of focus and can see the whole world. This idea has given me another look on the chapter, which is very interesting.

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

Although Thoreau seemed to not like the idea of farming, he started to grow found of it when he started the bean fields. Thoreau actually enjoyed tending his bean field, it kept him busy and happy. He explains how he became “much more intimate with [his] beans than usual,” because he was doing everything on his own, not relying on workers or cattle. Thoreau does make a profit off of the beans, but he doesn’t become too greedy about it. There is no one forcing him to do the work, Thoreau is doing it because it is what he likes to do. IN doing so, he is teaching himself self-discipline.

Kheldhe, I like how you explained how being forced to do work makes it a lot harder and less enjoyable. That is true, they aren’t learning how to value what they are doing in their work, except for hatred and frustration.

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

In this chapter, Thoreau expresses how much he values solitude. He compares it to how enormous the universe is. Thoreau says, “Why should I feel lonely? is our planet not the milky way?” (214). The universe is so vast, that Earth is just a mere speck in its greatness. Thoreau also says that even when one is with their friends, they’re still lonely. This is also why he chooses solitude over being with people. Thoreau explains that “to be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating” (216). HE argues that even though one is in the company of people, they’re still alone with their thoughts.

Ryan, I really like your response. The way you went into depth and analyzed what he was saying was really well though out. It further helped me to understand the point that Thoreau is trying to make. I like how you talked about how Thoreau believes that being alone can cause him no troubles, which is true.

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

Noah, I understand what you’re saying, and seeing it from your point of view I agree. Thoreau wasn’t looking for sentiment, only something very simple, which is what the Hollowell Farm gave him.

Haley, I like how you elaborated on the reasons why Thoreau wanted this house. You used good textual support and it helped me to understand the prompt more

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

It was a dream of Thoreau’s to buy a farm and live on it. He talks about how “in imagination, I have bought all the farms in succession” (174). At one point, he almost get to live on a farm. He described it as in “complete retirement…; the gray color and ruinous state of the house and barn, and the dilapidated fences,…; the hollow and lichen-covered trees, gnawed by rabbits” (176). Thoreau found how secluded and run down the farm was to be very attractive. He continues to describe it to be “fit to entertain a travelling god, and where a goddess might trail her garments” (177). Thoreau thought very highly of this barn, even though it was very old and falling apart.

Thoreau’s preference for these qualities make him very different from most people. When a person or a couple buy a property that’s run down, it’s mostly to fix it up and make it look nice, not to keep it that way. Thoreau’s priorities do not consist of making things look perfect, he likes the simplicity of life. Thoreau cares more about the sentimental value. He says that “…I shall not buy greedily, but go round and round it as long as I live, and be buried in it first, that it may please me more the last” (176). Paine didn’t buy the house out of greed, so he could fix it up and make it magnificent. Thoreau wants to try and avoid all the unneeded things in life, until he can’t avoid it any more, abut still be happy.

[Brona “Alpaca” Campbell]

Thoreau says that the necessities of life are “food, shelter, clothing, and fuel.” Thoreau believes that all of these things relate to being, and as simple as it sounds, warm. The food that one eats keeps one warm, just like having a roof over ones head. Then there’s clothes, which is used to stay warm, and fuel, He then goes on to explain that once everyone has these necessities of life, that they start to want more. Thoreau’s perpespective on life is to live life simply, and not to let the materialistic things get to you. He expresses this by talking about many great philosophers were able to live simply and still be the most intelligent people. Thoreau tries to justify his outlook on life by giving the examples of the most intelligent philosophers. People who try too hard to obtain these unneeded necessities lose sight of what’s really important.

In response to Rachel, I agree with what you are saying about how Thoreau sees men decorate their house but can’t even hold it down. It helped me to understand more of the idea that he was trying to put across, that for one to successfully obtain these “necessities” of life, that one must first get food, clothing, fuel and shelter

As for Taylor, I’m a little bit confused on your idea of Thoreau saying living like a savage is easier. I don’t really think that that’s what he’s trying to say necessarily.

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