[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In “Conclusion”, Thoreau reflects on his time at Walden Pond, and what he has gained from it. Thoreau lived his life in solitude and isolation when at Walden Pond, where he found his true self. On his return to society, he takes what he’s gained from his simplistic life in the woods and will bring that into his life with society.  Thoreau still believes that there is more to learn from nature, and even in his five years of residing in Walden Pond has yet to reveal everything nature has in store.

Walden was not my favorite book that we’ve read so far, but I have learned many things from it. I’ve learned that having a simplistic lifestyle will be more beneficial for many people. People worry too much about what objects they have to impress other people. Thoreau taught me that a simplistic life is better than a materialistic life. I will try to incorporate simplicity into my life, and maybe turn my phone off for a week, to see what it’s like to not be trapped behind social media. I don’t think I’d be very good at it, I would most likely be tempted after a few hours, but I would probably get used to it after a while.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In “Brute Neighbors”, Thoreau talks about a battle between two red ants and one black ant. The ants, who live a very primitive and simple lifestyle, seem to be constantly battling with each other. As they fight for a chip, they are relentless, biting and chewing off the others limbs, just so they could win a source of food. This is also seen in early American history, when the Puritans first arrived in the new world, they were at constant battles with the Native Americans. The ants show many characteristics of the human species. I agree with Kelcie because she states that the human race is constantly battling for the sole reason of dominance. As seen between the three ants, they will fight to the death for their own kind, which connects to soldiers who would die protecting their country.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In Thoreau’s chapter “Higher Laws”, he speaks about sustaining a certain diet, and that gluttony of food will kill you. Thoreau, living his very plain and simplistic lifestyle in the woods, also eats very plainly, only eating fruits and vegetables, trying to avoid meats as much as possible. He speaks of fishing and how he “cannot fish without falling a little in self-respect” (paragraph 5), because he finds the whole process messy, and thinks potatoes and bread would’ve suited him just as fine. This reflects back on his simplistic lifestyle, and how preparing fish was too extravagant for his liking. I disagree with Thoreau because even though he lives this simplistic lifestyle and benefits from only eating bread, fruit and vegetables, he is losing nutritional values that also come from animal meat. As Ane said, one can eat as healthy or unhealthy as they please, for that is their choice.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In Thoreau’s chapter “The Ponds” he describes Walden pond as a sort of get away for him. Walden pond is a symbol for purity, because in Thoreau’s time, he finds many people corrupted by material objects. The clear waters comfort him and bring him happiness. As Muriel stated, this reflects back to “The Bean Fields” where he talks about when he’s a small child and growing up on the pond. This brings him back to a time of purity, when he was so young, almost young enough to not remember. The pond is also part of his living simple sort of lifestyle, he treats it with the utmost importance, and find’s tranquility with the nature.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In Thoreau’s chapter, “The Bean Field”, he speaks of tending to his bean field. His work on the field isn’t work at all to him, he considers it pleasure. He has no interest in the selling of the beans or making a profit out of them. Thoreau mentions his dislike of farmers in “Economy”, because they solely use the crops as a source of obtaining money. Kelcie makes a good point when she states that Thoreau only farms to gain personal experience. He didn’t use the farm for a profit, but wanted to learn from it, and learn how to live off of it. Also, as Alyssa had said, Thoreau isn’t tied down to the land like farmers are, he does it to help himself grow and learn. Thoreau also ended up connecting with his beans, he “used to hoe from five o’clock in the morning till noon” (235). He also admitted that selling the beans was the hardest thing he had to do. He created a bond with the beans that was completely different than the connection with a farmer and his beans.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In Solitude, Thoreau explains how solitude is important to everyone. Even though it is a difficult task, solitude can truly enlighten someone, but can come with loneliness. Thoreau has adapted to being alone because he became, “sensible of such sweet and beneficial society in nature…an infinite and unaccountable friendliness all at once like an atmosphere  sustaining me” (213 Thoreau). He finds solitude important because it doesn’t necessarily mean you are alone. Thoreau finds company with nature, but “the really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge College is as solitary as a dervis in the desert” (216 Thoreau). I agree with Kelcie when she states “solitude is important because it provides people time and silence to think”, because Thoreau has all the time he needs in the world to think when being in the woods for so long. But busybodies who are constantly active in society rarely get the solitude they need to take a break and think.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In the chapter Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, Thoreau describes a farm that he wanted and was very close to purchasing, but hadn’t. He talks about the house and its “complete retirement, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, and separated from the high way by a broad field” (176 Thoreau). He also describes the house as grey and ruinous, along with many of the trees being gnawed at by rabbits. For anyone else, this house is a mess and wouldn’t even consider buying it. But to Walden, it is an attractive home, because he is so far from civilization and can truly connect with nature.

I agree with Muriel when she states that Walden doesn’t worry about the look of his home, but only cared about being unnoticed. His true joy was found in nature, and engulfing himself in nature allowed him to concentrate on his own beliefs.

[Lily “Mango” Ferreira]

In Thoreau’s chapter Economy, he states that the three basic “necessaries” of life are fuel, shelter, and clothing. Fuel, that being food and water, is the most important of the three. Fuel is needed in order to function and work as a human being. It is very agreeable that fuel is a necessary to life, and once it is obtained, it creates a heat within the body that gives the body the ability to function and do daily tasks. Shelter is the second necessary. Shelter is used for protection, whether it be violent storms, wild animals, or other human beings. Shelter’s flaw is that it can be a source for materialistic tendencies. Once shelter is obtained, it is often remodeled over time in order to maintain what society views as acceptable. I agree with Shelby when she states that clothing is “more so deemed necessary by society”. Nudity, even now as it was back then, is viewed as a scandalous topic. I would disagree with Thoreau, clothing isn’t necessary for human life, but a way into a growing materialistic society. Thoreau even mentions that too much of these basic “necessaries” can lead to a life that’s “unnaturally hot; as I implied before, they are cooked, of a course a la mode” (122).

~Lily Ferreira

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