[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

In “Conclusions” Thoreau learned that one doesn’t have to go around the world in search of adventure. He figures out that one is as complex and mysterious as any adventure and one can discover themselves through thought and maintain his/her attitude by obedience of the law, “It is not worth the while to go round the world… if he should chance to meet with such” (358-9). Thoreau realizes that he left Walden because he felt like he had more lives to live. Thoreau also concludes that humans think the only thing we can change is our clothes, ” There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world… we think that we can change our clothes only” (365).

Reading Walden has caused me a great deal of disgruntlement yet interested me enough to work through it. Walden has enhanced my ability to “read under the lily pad” and gave me a further understanding of transcendentalism, being that Thoreau is the first transcendentalist I have read. Thoreau taught me that it is unnecessary to travel the world to try and understand myself when I can do it through thought. He also taught me that the universe is far greater than what society’s eyes are able to see. He left me with the knowledge that we do not know where we stand in life and, besides, we are asleep half of our life. I will try to incorporate Thoreau’s ideas about not being preoccupied by wealth and social standing, although, I will not be willing to give up all superfluities because it would not work in our society.

[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

In “Brute Neighbors” Thoreau sees ants fighting and compares it to many great wars that have occurred, “internecine war; the red republicans on the one hand, and the black imperialists on the other” (287). If we all experienced living as simplistically as Thoreau and the ants we would end up like them. This is true because it has occurred before in our history when the colonists were living in a much simpler time (I.e. the American Revolution, Although, the ants were fighting over a chip and the Americans independence). The ants were not only fighting over a chip but it was a battle between two different kinds of ants. The black ants seemed far more superior as it was a, “war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and frequently two red ones to one black” (287). The ants were fighting for dominance. The historical illusions incorporate the past to help the reader connect with the story of the ants. Although our wars may seem far from an ant fight, Thoreau is trying to get the reader to understand that every species struggles with dominance and every war, even that of small ants, is as savage as the rest, “… when I looked again the black soldier had severed the heads of his foes from their bodies, and the still living heads were hanging on either side of him like ghastly trophies at his saddle-bow…” (289).

I agree with Taylor’s response because, although Thoreau compares the war of the ants to other vicious wars, the ant war symbolizes the American Revolution. This is evident when he mentions the colonists trying to get rid of the British taxes. I also agree that if we lived like the ants or Thoreau we would become like the ants.

[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

In “Higher Laws” Thoreau states that savoring the deliciousness of food is just a distraction from higher intellectual pursuits. His thoughts on the subject are not as easily applied to today’s society. This is evident because humans use eating as a way to connect different cultures and it helps us stay healthy. Thoreau believes that man will soon confine himself to a more innocent and wholesome diet, “I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals, as surely as the savage tribes have left off eating each other when they came in contact with the more civilized” (277). Thoreau’s idea about eating meat is inconclusive because humans need meat to remain healthy. It is an essential part of our diet that, although we eat a lot of, maintains our health which builds up our immune system and gives the body protein.

I agree with Julia’s thoughts concerning the topic. She makes a valid point that, especially in Thoreau’s position, he should not decide that meat is a bad thing because it is vital to human health. Thoreau will require more meat for protein when he spends the day working in his bean field otherwise he will be weak and his body will not be getting the nutrition it deserves.

[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

In “The Ponds” Thoreau explains Walden pond as an eye of the world, “It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature” (255). The reflective surface of the pond makes the beholder able to measure the depth of his own nature. Thoreau is so enthralled with Walden because it is isolated (like himself) and it is unchanging, “Though the woodchoppers have laid bare first this shore and then that, and the Irish have built their sties by it, and the railroad has infringed on its border, and the icemen have skimmed it once, it is itself unchanged, the same water which my youthful eyes fell on; all the change is in me” (260). Walden is a safe haven for Thoreau because he is able to remember his youth and, as a philosopher, able to reflect upon himself(the reflectiveness of the water).  Also, Walden is a mystery to Thoreau because there is no explanation to how the rocks formed around it or the pond itself. Thoreau is fascinated with how unique Walden is because he feels like he is as unique.

I agree with Taylor’s interpretation of the water being of innocence and purity. A good deal of Thoreau’s symbolism of Walden deals with the pond representing innocence. It also involves how Walden remains unchanged since he was a child (despite trees being removed from around it and talk about it being connected to a plumbing system).

[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

In “The Bean Field,” Thoreau explains that the work he is doing is not an obligation because he is enjoying it. He is using his work in the bean field to gain experience and discipline. Thoreau goes on to say that the bean field represents the work humans do everyday and how it has been the same since our forefathers, “This generation is sure to plant corn and beans each new year precisely as the Indians did centuries ago and taught the first settlers to do, as if there were a fate in it” (238). Thoreau also states that obligated work is work that looses its virtues because it is done with haste “… if there were present the kernel of worth and friendliness. We should not meet thus in haste” (238). Overall, Thoreau explains that his bean field work (the way he is living) is enjoyable and not an obligation (e.g. people living in society).

I agree with Kelcie’s interpretation of “The Bean Field.” The work in “Economy” is an obligation unlike the work in “The Bean Field.” Also, Thoreau is using the work in the bean field as an opportunity to gain self discipline, even though he believes farming to be a waste of time.

[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

In “Sounds” Thoreau uses personification to cope with his solitude. It helps Thoreau become one with nature and helps him fell like he is apart of a new society of innocence and encouragement. He makes nature a friend to him and personification makes it seem more realistic. He uses it to escape his thought just like his reasoning for the farmer in “Solitude.” The human characteristics that Thoreau gives to the animals also symbolizes the exclusion of the forest from society, “It is a sound admirably suited to swamps and twilight woods which no day illustrates, suggesting a vast and undeveloped nature which men have not recognized” (208-209). Thoreau only gives human characteristics to wild animals. This also symbolizes Thoreau’s want to exclude himself from society.

Taylor, I agree with your conclusion that Thoreau uses nature in place of friends and that it took his mind away from his own thought. I disagree with your reasoning that the realization of the difficulty of being without human contact is in Thoreau’s thoughts. “Sounds” is all about him coming into a friendship with nature. His friendship with nature is explained in “Solitude” when he believes that nature is helping him even when most people think it to be a burden. Also, Thoreau uses personification with the animals to interact with nature on a personal level.

[Jennifer “Grapes” Woehl]

Solitude is important to Thoreau at Walden because it gives him the opportunity to escape from civilization. Thoreau believes that it is important to live in solitude because it is the most innocent and encouraging society, even for the a misanthrope like himself. Thoreau explains that, in solitude, “Nothing can rightly compel a simple and brave man to vulgar sadness” (213). He also explains that the seasons are not as much of a burden but his friend. Thoreau states that society does not have time to acquire value for one another, “I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers” (216).

Max, I agree with your thoughts on Thoreau’s words about how the Earth is a spec in space and that we overemphasize the need for companionship. As Thoreau states more than once, we use companionship to escape our own thoughts, “The farmer can work alone in the field or the woods all day, hoeing or chopping, and not feel lonesome, because he is employed; but when he comes home at night he cannot sit down in a room alone, at the mercy of his thoughts…” (216). Thoreau also explains that society has to agree on etiquette and politeness in order to tolerate frequent meetings with other members.

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