[Jadie Desmarais]

Towards the end of his experiment at Walden, Thoreau learns that life will become easier as he simplifies his life. Personally, I have always known that nature is calm and that the more we pay attention to it, the more we ourselves can adapt and learn for the better. However, after reading Walden and Other Writings, I’ve taken into consideration of reducing what I use, how much I consume, and how not to take advantage of what I do have. I want to be able to experience his experiment for myself. Maybe not in such away that I cut myself off from civilization, but in a manner where I use things that will actually better myself. I want to transpire with a pond or the woods. Most importantly, I want to be able to work for the better, I want to help who I work with, and I really want to cut back on things that I “need”. Personally, I’ve learned the difference between a necessity and a desire.

[Jadie Desmarais]

If we all lived simply like Thoreau, we would not become ants. Ants stand for two sides that are “fiercely contending one another” (Thoreau 287). The ants were “[struggling] and [wrestling] and [rolling] on the chips incessantly” (Thoreau 287). Fighting over food, the ants refused to give up. ” It was evident that their battle-cry was Conquer or die” (Thoreau 288).

Personally, I feel as if the historical allusion was pulled into this chapter to signify how long citizens have been fighting. It shows how big political parties, the black  and red ants, are fighting over something so small in our eyes but extremely vital in theirs, the chip. I also agree with Julia’s comment. It seems that something so simple is so hard to achieve. Let alone the fact that everyone has been fighting for so long, so it seems difficult to downgrade and resort to simplicity.

[Jadie Desmarais]

In “Higher Laws”, Thoreau states that savoring food and enjoying your meal is wrong. He believes also that you should only eat enough to fill your body of nutrients.  He believes the simple foods are more important and should be eaten vs. big meals. Personally, I love eating big meals with my family. I feel having a big meal with my family keeps us closer together for a longer amount of time rather than a small, simple meal. I also feel like eating a big meal supplies more joy and satisfaction than eating a small simple one.

 

I agree with Cassie and Isabella. We should be able to enjoy and consume the food we want to when we want to as long as it makes us happy.

[Jadie Desmarais]

In “Economy”, Thoreau talks about HAVING to work to get something done. However, in “Bean Field” he willingly wants to work. You can clearly see this when he doesn’t ask for help or use the cattle when he doesn’t need to, and he loved the sound of his hoe hitting the ground. The fact that Thoreau did not complain working means he was glad to be there.

 

Zac, I agree with you and Kelcie. And I love how you pointed out he was learning self-discipline and self-value.

[Jadie Desmarais]

In Walden, Thoreau perceives the pond as a safe haven. He looks at it as a place where he can escape.  Writing about the pond being “.. so remarkable for its … purity.” (247), Thoreau idolizes the pond and gives it credit for being so clean and pure. Personally, I think Thoreau mentions the pond to show another way of how we take things for granted. “The water of our river is black or very dark brown to one looking down on it … but this water is of such crystalline purity…” (

I like how Bourque compares the pond to hope. Personally, I think it symbolizes the tranquility of nature. The fact that Thoreau describes the pond as pure and that he goes to the pond to loose himself and uses it to escape means the pond is so gentle and he believes it is a place he can easily transcend.

[Jadie Desmarais]

In “Where I lived and What I lived for”, Thoreau declares how people are greedy . Thoreau wants us to “reduce other things in proportion” and get a sample of what life would be like if we stopped taking things for granted (182).

The preference for material IS still current. Now a days, teenagers refuse to, for example, go camping if it means their cell service will not be available. With the years progressing, technology is becoming more and more advanced. As technology advances, our attention is more set into what the technology can do and how we can use it rather than focusing on the old traditions. When the preference for material is more important than spiritual reality, people get greedy and will start to do anything to get what they want. Hence why Thoreau left society for a period of time.

[Jadie Desmarais]

When Thoreau describes the land on the Hollowell Farm in “Where I lived, and What I lived For”, he discusses how detached from society the land is. Considering how much people rely on society’s qualities, (fast food, stores, entertainment, etc.) most retail estate buyers would never want to sell this piece of land. The land is completely segregated from human interaction and is not able to obtain “necessities” and desires easily.

Thoreau’s preference towards the land shows he does not have the same priorities as many. He prefers to be alone and would rather rely on what the land has to offer vs. someone who is constantly craving easily obtained objects that they don’t really need.

Noah,

I like how you noted the fact that the land was so segregated as an inconvenience. The connection that you also made with Thoreau preferring simplicity was also brilliant.

 

Alexa,

I love how you said “his priority seems to be himself”. Your point was valid because he doesn’t act as most people do. Like I said before, most people prefer to live where their needs and desires surround them easily, however, Thoreau does not. He prefers using only what he needs and enjoying what nature really has to offer.

[Jadie Desmarais]

After reading “Economy”, I realize Thoreau was explaining the necessities of life. The “necessities” of clothing, fuel, shelter, and food are the basic needs. However, I feel like he was explaining how necessities can quickly turn into greed and with greed comes jealousy. For instance,  the more we have the more we want. And after we have such nice things, not only do we want to be proud about what we have but we also want to show it off. It happens every day. Personally, I always admire and get jealous over what some people have whether it’s clothing or jewelery or even just hair accessories.

I agree with Taylor and Muriel. With present standards, what we think a necessity and what we actually need is given a whole new meaning in civilization. Especially with Teenagers. Now a days, most teenagers throw hissy fits over not getting what they want because they think they “need” it.  Then, when we see what other people have that we don’t, it creates jealousy and anger.

[Author]

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