[Hannah Bellagamba]

During the time period that Thoreau lived at Walden Pond, he displays how he cultured the value of nature significantly in his last chapter “Conclusion”. Thoreau took himself away from society and searched for his true identity through tranquility. Thoreau’s outcome of living in solitude strongly impacted his comprehension of life and his view of the world that surrounds it. Thoreau isolated himself from civilization for a reason, to find self-discipline and to attain an unpretentious lifestyle. He believed “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”, which Thoreau accomplished (358). By breaking the “particular route” (358) Thoreau was able to transcend and comprise himself by living in solitude, which resulted in a successful lifestyle.

Although Walden was a troubling read at times, in the end it really inspired me to live a more simple life. Thoreau taught me to focus on the “necessities” of life rather than the material goods that are no use. Though I will never fully seclude myself from society, Thoreau really trained me to be open-minded and use nature as an escape. Every so often it is necessary to put the technology away and take a step back to listen to my own feelings. I believe by living more purely as Thoreau did, it will make me more optimistic and create an appreciative individual.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

In Thoreau’s chapter “Brute Neighbors”, he discusses his observation of the relationship between the red ants and the black ants. He observes an “internecine war” between the two races of ants which are destroying each other to pieces (287). To Thoreau, the ants signified the raging inner struggles that a man has to face. Much like all wars, it was one versus the other, which represented the red ants versus the black ants. The constant battle among the ants display how throughout history humans have been separated. The detachment between the two ant’s races illustrates the division of society. War would be pursuing if all humans lived as simply as Thoreau and they would not live life like the ants. War between humans “was evident that their battle-cry was Conquer or die” (288).

If the majority of humans were to have the simple lifestyle that Thoreau acquired, their lives would not be realistic. Due to the human diversity, fights would not be simply resolved. Julia R makes a good point of how Thoreau living in solitude is not as simple as it appears. The outburst of war would contradict the idea of living with nature.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

In Thoreau’s “Higher Laws” he establishes many thorough points that consuming food is only necessary when needed and surplus ingestion is irrational. He strongly expresses that savoring the deliciousness of food is only a distraction from higher intellectual pursuits and that people should only eat to sustain their animal existence. Thoreau’s diet, which mostly consists of the basics such as fruits and veggies, reflects upon his bare and simple way of life in the woods. He focuses on such a strict, simple and clean diet that it takes away from nourishment that he requires. “I could sometimes eat a fried rat with a good relish, if it were necessary” (278). In this case I do not agree with Thoreau’s beliefs. Food is meant to nurture the human body and without certain nutrients, such as animal meat, it cannot accomplish that. All food is necessary and should be savored.

Ane makes a valid statement of how we human beings should be allowed to enjoy our meal and be satisfied with the taste of the meal. We should have our own decisions on the food we consume and not have to worry about others influencing our eating habits.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

In Thoreau’s section, “Ponds”, he indicates that Walden Pond acts as a place of solitude to him. He refers to the pond as his escape and “earth’s eye” (Walden 255). Thoreau is extremely charmed by Walden Pond due to its seclusion and invariable features. Thoreau claims that “it is itself unchanged; the same water my youthful eyes fell on; all the change is in me” (Walden 260) referring to the pond. He resembles the Pond to himself and his youth. The reflection upon the water signified Thoreau’s reflection upon himself.

I really like how Julia compared Walden’s Pond to the human face. It was very creative how she stated “the focus is the unique beauty of the eyes” which is referenced to Walden’s Pond.  The Pond is pure and holds a substantial meaning to Thoreau. He doesn’t see it as just a pond, Thoreau looks past it and notices all the natural beauty and what it has to offer to him.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

Thoreau deliberates how work is obligatory to some people in comparison to work that is voluntary to others in his chapter, “The Bean Field”.  Some may think Thoreau sounds stereotypical due to his exclamations he made about farmers in his chapter “Economy” however, Thoreau worked voluntarily. He gained pleasure out of his work and was learning self-discipline, he wasn’t working to earn profit like others. Thoreau desires “planting and hoeing, and harvesting, and threshing, and picking over, and selling” (Thoreau 235) his bean fields. Other people might’ve thought that was too  much work and would’ve found a way to take the easy way out. Thoreau had self determination and benefitted greatly from working what was which differentiated him from the majority of others.

Taylor made a good point of how Thoreau was looking to gain self discipline through manual labor. He was not looking to obtain any proceeds from his working, he strongly cherished his working experience in the Bean Fields.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

The message that Thoreau displays continuously throughout “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” is that people of modern day society take too much for granted and are not focused on the basic necessities declared in “Economy”. Thoreau proves that Americans would rather base their lives around materialism in comparison to practicing spiritual reality.  In particular Thoreau “did not wish to live what was not life” (Thoreau 182) meaning material goods have replaced a natural society and have taken an advanced significance over the essential necessities of life.

The preference for material rather than spiritual reality is still in effect in 2014. Amanda made a great point how “one sees that people care less about nature and the bare necessities and more about the accessories in life”. Cell phones, for example, are the reason that our society is so deteriorated. This accessory of life has caused addiction over these generations that is inevitable to most.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

In Thoreau’s “Where I Lived, And What I Lived For”, he thoroughly describes Hollowell Farm and its monotonous qualities which appealed nicely to Thoreau. The focal feature that entices Thoreau’s attention is its solitude from society. Topographies such as “being about two miles from the village, half a mile from its nearest neighbor, and separated from the highway by a broad field” ( Thoreau 175-176) are what drove Thoreau into showing affectionate emotions towards the environment of the farm. These preferences are what would allow Thoreau to triumph the state of simplicity and gain the close relation with nature he strived for. However, these were the partialities that differentiated Thoreau from the rest of the people in the community. Although Thoreau desired the “gray color and ruinous state of the house and barn” (Thoreau 176), the majority of others would highly oppose.

Julia Rutledge states a good point how Thoreau wants and requires the core necessities of life by connecting this back to “Economy”. I agree by which that separates him from the “average man”. Thoreau was looking to accomplish his essential of simplicity as well as residing near to nature.

[Hannah Bellagamba]

<span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;”>In Thoreau’s chapter “Where I Lived, And What I Lived For”, he thoroughly describes Hollowell Farm and its monotonous qualities which appealed nicely to Thoreau. The focal feature that entices Thoreau’s attention is its solitude from society. Topographies such as “being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, and separated from the highway by a broad field” (Thoreau 175-176) are what drove Thoreau into showing affectionate emotions towards the environment of the farm. These preferences are what would allow Thoreau to triumph the state of simplicity and gain the close relation with nature he strived for. However, these were the preferences that differentiated Thoreau from the rest of the people in the community. Although Thoreau desired the “gray color and ruinous state of the house and barn” (Thoreau 176), the majority of others would oppose. </span>

<span style=”color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;”>Julia Rutledge states a good point how Thoreau only wants and requires the core necessities of life by connecting this back to “Economy”. I agree by which that separates him from the “average man”. Thoreau was looking to accomplish his essential of simplicity as well as residing near to nature. </span>

 

[Hannah Bellagamba]

Through his experiment at Walden Pond, Thoreau aims to prove that a simpler lifestyle is the key to happiness. Thoreau believes that in people often work harder than what is necessary in order to survive. By forfeiting luxuries which people have come to rely on and focusing on only what is necessary, a happier life can be achieved. When building his home he records his materials and states, “I give the details because very few are able to tell exactly what their houses cost”(Thoreau 149). Thoreau wanted to live off only what was necessary and he displays this desire by accounting for each material used in the construction of his home. He records the items which he used in order to display the low cost required to live as he chose to. In “Economy” Thoreau states that there are four necessities: shelter, food, clothing, and fuel. All of these necessities can be obtained through the resources which nature offers. After one obtains these resources they can use their excess time to do whatever they may choose. The next step after obtaining these necessities is personal growth.

I agree with Conner’s point about society’s materialistic views interfering with our perspective on necessities. Society often becomes too used to having an item available when in actuality it is only a luxury. Consumers often feel as though they need the latest technology despite the fact that it holds little value. A lot of income earned is not spent on food, fuel, clothing, and shelter. The time spent earning money for these luxuries could be spent on personal growth as Thoreau suggests.

-Hannah Bellagamba

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