[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

As Thoreau reflects on his experiences at Walden Pond, he affirms his belief that more can be learned and taught in nature than can be learned from more social environments and human interaction. For Thoreau, he found ultimate truth at the pond “and learned this, at least, by my experiment: 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…” (5). His trip has shown him that man can be strong if they work for it and believe, which supports his claim in “Economy” about work being necessary for men to be successful. He has also found the importance of simplicity in his journey, and the importance of solitude.

In today’s modern era, there is a shortage of people who would voluntarily be as disconnected as Thoreau was because everyone is so used to technology and being connected 24 hours of the day. I admire and respect Thoreau’s philosophies and ability to live so far away from people. I like to think that I have found a new found importance for nature after reading this story, and remember that it is healthy to go walking around in nature once in a while. I am going to try to actively incorporate more time away from people and technology and more time alone in nature so that I can at least find some clarity if I can’t begin to recall the truths of the universe.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

In ‘Higher Laws” Thoreau further exerts his belief that man should not indulge himself, and that they should only concentrate on just being able to sustain themselves in regard to food and drink; “it is neither the quality nor the quantity, but the devotion to sensual savors; when that which is eaten is not a viand to sustain our animal…” (9). Thoreau does not believe that ones needs to eat a lot of food, or even good, quality food to survive, and that the food is only as good as one makes it out to be.

I do not believe that indulging in more food and drink than needed would distract men from other intellectual callings, and that adding extra parts to a meal is not to “poison” oneself, but to making eating more pleasurable. If a person only drinks and eats the minimum amount to survive, it is possible that they will grow weaker and not be able to do the labor that Thoreau finds so important in a man’s life. Nutrition fuels and drives a person and allows them to perform everyday tasks, and when deprived of this sustenance, this is what will truly ‘distract’ a person.

Noah’s connection to modern ideas about food is very relevant and further emphasizes the point that nutrition is critical in any person’s life.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

In Thoreau’s Brute Neighbors, he describes a vicious battle between a set of red and black ants. These two races are incessantly biting and tearing away at each other, with nothing on their mind other than killing and conquering. The ants represent the inner struggles that man has. When a person lives as simply as Thoreau does, man is not burdened by societal or material problems; they have time to be introspective and look into themselves, and this is when they must address those inner struggles. Thoreau felt “excited and harrowed by witnessing the struggle, the ferocity and carnage, of a human battle before my door,” (13). The ants battle is not all that different from the war waging inside the human psyche.

Thoreau makes many references to historical figures in this excerpt, and he compares the wars and fights of historical figures to the ants, and how everything connects back to the ants and their fights will remain relevant throughout time. This is similar to what Haley said about ‘humanizing’ the actions of the ants, I agree that it was a tool to try and make more connections with the ants and human actions.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

Lily,

I liked your connection to Thoreau’s despise of material objects that he has discussed in past sections to the pond, I never thought about that. The pond can be a way for any person to redeem themselves.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

Thoreau does not necessarily admire Walden pond for it’s beauty. Although “It is a clear and deep green well, half a mile long and a mile and three quarters in circumference…(4)” and is very pleasant to look at, Thoreau does not see this as it’s most important characteristic. The pond is a symbol of purity and cleanliness, the water is so clear and perfect that it can be seen as holy and untainted and “a lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature,” (17). The pond is a place that is so serene and peaceful that is a place to be retrospective and truly delve into one’s own thoughts. This can allow a person to become pure again.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

‘The Bean Field’ is all about Thoreau’s experience yielding the beans that he grows, and the work and effort that is put into it. He describes his efforts and work that he put into cultivating those crops, how the hardest part was selling them. Thoreau believes that the most important part of this harvesting process is the actual physical labor that goes into it, such as hoeing, planting, watering, etc.  Growing the beans “was a singular experience that long acquaintance which I cultivated with beans, what with planting, and hoeing, and harvesting, and threshing, and picking over, and selling <span class=”do-not-break”>them,—</span>the last was the hardest of <span class=”do-not-break”>all…” (10). While other farmers simply grow the beans to sustain themselves and make money off of the crop, he is not doing this for the profit, but for the benefits such as self-discipline as Zac said. Zac’s statement about becoming a better man through hard work is exactly what Thoreau was looking to do, and I agree with it. </span>

In Economy, Thoreau states his belief that work is an obligation for all men and that they must work in order to live. However, in this chapter he takes a great dislike to farmers who work for a living, and prefers to work just because he can.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

Ane,

I like the emphasis you put on space and how you took the time to describe it. I didn’t really think of that when answering the prompt, and gave me a new perspective when I went back and re read it. I agree that most of a person’s feelings rely on their current state of mind and adding to what you already said, despite the interactions happening around them and that one can be completely lonely

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

In Thoreau’s “Solitude,” he claims that solitude provides man with more happiness and that “there can be no black melancholy to him who lives in the midst of Nature and has his senses still,” (212). Nature can be more comforting than man, and human companionship can cause people to feel this ‘black melancholy,’ but the beauty of nature does not allow people to feel this way. Even if a person is around other people, they can still feel lonely. Solitude is really not about being alone, but rather being within oneself and finding happiness there. Solitude is important in a person’s life because it enables them to do this and find happiness more easily than if they lived in a bustling social center. The mind is more at ease and able to concentrate better when in solitude.

However, living in solitude is not always easy, it is something that one needs to get accustomed to. Thoreau recounts when he doubted himself and thought that maybe complete Solitude could not lead to serenity and that “to be alone was something unpleasant,” (213). But once he embraced and recognized the beauty that nature had to offer him, he found it hard to feel uncomfortable and depressed; he was calm and happy now.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

In the excerpt, “Where I Lived and What I Lived For,” Thoreau comes so close to buying the Hollowell land because of it’s seclusion and the abundance of nature surrounding the house. The house itself is dilapidated and run-down, it has a “gray color” and is in a “ruinous state,” as described by Thoreau (176). The house is far away from any kind of civilization, and is centralized in between many trees, fields, rivers, and other natural barriers.

Noah and Brona, you both had good points about Thoreau valuing simplicity, which goes along with his warning against unnecessary luxuries he made in ‘Economy.’ This value explains why he admires the property so much. The Hollowell farm would provide Thoreau with fuel and shelter, and he has clothing, so he has no reason to complain or want for anything more, since he has all that he needs to survive. The Holowell land is perfect for him in this way, because it only provides the bare essentials. Others who buy houses would probably look for their home to provide them with a little more luxury since they will spend the majority of their time there, but Thoreau does not see it that way.

[Elise “Lemon” Rosenthal]

Thoreau believes that the three essential things that are needed to survive are shelter, fuel (food), and clothing. Once man has obtained all of these things then they can live comfortably, and as Muriel said, they start to become greedy and crave more. It is similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, “One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs.” (McLeod). Once these needs are satisfied, people can start to want other, non-essential things, which can cause men to hunger for more and more. This greediness involves a lust for unnecessary luxuries, which don’t help increase a person’s quality of living, it can actually hinder it according to Thoreau. He puts a lot of emphasis on living a simple life, and maintains that “the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor,” (122). This may even imply that the rich are at a disadvantage, they have more of an unlimited access to these luxuries, or at least an easier access than the poor. It may be harder to resist their temptation than if they could not afford them.

I also agree with Shelby about her ranking of the necessities that fuel and shelter are crucial to human survival, but clothing is really only a socially acceptable form of keeping warm. There are other ways for humans to retain this vital heat and warmth that Thoreau discusses.

Source:

McLeod, Sam. “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” <i>Simply Psychology</i>.  2007. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

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