[jaide wendt]

Throughout Thoreau’s 5-6 years at  Walden Pond, he is graced with the opportunity to learn and reflect on my different aspects of life. Walden says, “if one advantages 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.” (358) If you drive forward, confident in your future, and stay on the coarse that was planned, then you will eventually meet your goal of living the life you always dreamed of. “Love your life, poor as it is.” (363) Living life is the entirety of Walden. It explains how one must accept themselves and love themselves, no matter what the circumstances may be, there is always a brighter side.

Walden has taught me to except the simple things; to look closely at the matters that may be taken for granted; to live my life to the fullest, and to love my life wholeheartedly, no matter how bad things may seem during a moment.  After reading Walden it seems as if I have opened my eyes and have a better outlook on life in general. Now, throughout life, I will learn to accept, move past, linger on, and savor every moment in a simpler life.

[jaide wendt]

In “Higher Laws” Thoreau believes that the consumption of food should be merely for the sake of survival. In this time period, it would have been agreed upon considering the differences faced in today’s society based on what is considered “living.” Savoring a food is like saving a memory, and enjoying the little things, like a small taste of your favorite food, or possibly a simple memory could hold a lot of meaning. Though food may hold one back in a small degree, it is not to the point that Thoreau is exaggerating. If one does not savor each bite of food, then that person is not living the the full extent of life. Food is the link from one person to the other, and without it, then society has lost, yet another, bond. “‘one looks, and one does not see; one listens, and one does not hear; one eats and one does not know the savor of food.'” (279)

Elyse,

The way you states facts about the topic at hand, using background information and common knowledge tied your response together perfectly.

[jaide wendt]

In Thoreau’s, “The Ponds” he expresses how the pond is his comfort area, a safe haven of sorts. He makes friends because of the pond, and maintains them because of this landscape. To Thoreau, this lake is a sense of escape from his world, from society, and a place where he can reach back into his innocence and reestablish his youthful innocence. Thoreau also expresses how the pond is remarkable for his purity, along with every little thing that makes it up; from its color, its depth, and every imperfection. Based on the previous reading of Walden, Thoreau has an attractiveness and comfort with imperfect, unique things, which this Pond expresses greatly. This pond, according to Thoreau is what is the backbone, or “eye” of the forest considering that it is the most unique and wisely sculpted piece of art in the forest.

David,

I liked how you involved your personal opinion on the question, along with your remarks on Thoreau’s views while not steering away from your main idea.

 

[jaide wendt]

Thoreau previously states his great disliking for farmers, but in “The Bean Field” he becomes one himself. In this chapter, we are introduced with his idea of what a farmer is and what he is doing in the bean field. Thoreau states, “It was a whole rare amusement, which continued too long , might have become a dissipation.” (236)Not only does Thoreau plant beans to further his experience but he also becomes curious in a way as to why his crops, for the first summer were “wormeaten, or had lost their vitality,”(238) why the new generation in New England were going by traditional Indian approach to planting their beans, being so concerned with them and not looking past traditional, societal bonds and finding new ways to do things. “Why concern ourselves so much about our beans for seed, and not be concerned all about the new generation of men?” (238) Thoreau basically says that farming takes over lives, shoving aside the enjoyments of life. This experiment of his helped him become a better person, but also a hope for “truth, simplicity, faith innocence,”(237) along with discipline.

Emma,

In your response, you went right to the core, of the question, answering it simply, honestly, and in a straight-forward manner.

[jaide wendt]

David,

The way you compared this generation as a parallel, along with using technology as an example, considering that it will continue to grow.

 

[jaide wendt]

Thoreau constantly refers to how people are continuously living these complex lives, but simplicity is the way to truly live. People are so concerned with materials; money, cloths, nice houses and cars. They rush to get things, to constantly receive, when they should slow things down, reduce the events in ones life and live in the best way possible: paced, simple, and in the moment. Thoreau says that “life is frittered away by detail.” (182)This means that we constantly try to compact every possible thing into a life, when in reality, it should only have a few moments, not a million, but in those few moments, make them unforgettable, unregrettable, and consequencal. Man is constantly asking for more and more, when everything they already have is all that they need in order to live an outstanding life. “We are determined to be starved before we are already hungry.” (183)One rushes past life, not noticing the fine details that are going on around them. Thoreau suggests to spend time in the present moment, for that one moment could be better than the ones someone would rush to get to.

In 2014, spirituality is gone. Morals, gone. Preservation, Gone. Meaning, gone. There is nothing in this generation that could compare to Thoreau. There are a few select souls who will thankfully strive to greatness, but everyone else has simply given up. Material is all they have to offer to this world. Money, cars, houses, it is all a facade, a “make-pretend life.” They go through life in a pattern; a pattern everyone is involved in. Taking the same steps in life, over and over, every generation. No one has broken this chain of constancy which is what makes 2014 a bigger “stump” the the progression of the world. People wish for spiritual values, some think they have it, but they’re wrong. Not everyone has reached the spiritual and innovated ways of others, some people have a long way to go. What this generation has yet to understand, is the fact that materials will only get you so far, but along the way they will cause more problems and obstacles in a life that should be simple, unforgettable, unregrettable, and consequential.

[jaide wendt]

Character, history, unique quality, privacy, and basic needs is what the Hollowell Farm shows in Thoreau’s, “Where I Lived, and What I lived for.” These traits showed to be attractive to Thoreau because he knows that, not only will this farm contribute to his yearned seclusion, but it also goes beyond this times idea of “good living.” He wants only to have a place to stay, with no worries or ridiculous obligations. Thoreau said, “The real attractions of the Hollowell Farm, to me, were; its complete retirement, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, and separated from the highway by a broad field; its bounding river;the grey color and ruinous state of the house and barn , and the duplicate fences; the hollow and lichen-covered apple trees; [nature]; but above all, the recollection I had of it from my earliest voyages up the river…” (176) Not only does this show that Thoreau enjoyed nature, remoteness, and silence, but it also shows how he will “enjoy these advantages” and how he will strive upon them. Most people want a flashy place in the city, or a well furnished house in a close standing neighborhood, not only because they feel the need, and the urge, to surround themselves with people, which, overtime has transformed into a common comfort, but they also feel the need to be apart of a community. Thoreau is the opposite, completely, which is what makes this house perfect for a simple, non-picky, and wise man.

Haley,

When you said, “He doesn’t mind the fact that the property is beat down because he only values life’s essentials, which doesn’t include the luxury of one’s house as long as it provides the essential ‘need’ shelter,” you really show understanding of the overall text along with stating the main point, apposed to dragging one thing on and on.

[jaide wendt]

In “Economy,” Thoreau states that the necessities of life are “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel,” which in turn, are all aspects of heat, considered to be the greatest necessity. Continuing on in this passage, Thoreau then elaborates on each of these necessities by explaining why each is important, and how each can be looked upon and manipulated into an unnecessary.  For example, it is labored that, depending on location, do these four simple necessities come into play. “The summer, in some climates, makes possible to man a sort of Elysian life. Fuel, except to cook his food, is then unnecessary…Clothing and Shelter are wholly or half unnecessary.” (121)

To amplify the idea of the core necessities, Thoreau voices how, after people have reached the point of obtaining life’s necessities, there is an “alternative than to obtain the superfluities,” (The superfluities being a better house, finer clothing, hotter fires, etc.) which “to adventure on life now, his vacation from humbler toil having commenced.” (123)

Alexa’s ending is what left the greatest impact  and understanding throughout her response. The wording and overall view is intelligible and unique. She said, “Once a man has maintained these necessaries, it is time that he, as a human, maintains a strong foundation and is the best he can be.” Thoreau didn’t deliberately come out and say these words, he merely interpreted and masked this message. Alexa revealed this hidden truth, and wisdom, in his words with a simple sentence.

[Author]

Posts