[Matthew Brozusky]

In “Conclusion” Thoreau writes his final thoughts on what he learned from his multiple years of solitude near Walden Pond. He said, “I learned this at least… that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams… he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours” (358). Thoreau says that once you’re on the path to your dream you will begin to live a simpler life. Then you “will live with the license of a higher order of beings” (359).

In reading Walden I learned to be grateful for everything I have. Thoreau lived a very simple life for many years and it makes you appreciate what you have. I also learned to become less of a greedy person. In the book, Thoreau talks about how people work just so that they can buy more and more extravagant items and it made me realize how silly that is. You should enjoy what you have and make work not something you do just so you can buy more stuff but an activity that you enjoy doing.

[Matthew Brozusky]

In “Brute Neighbors” Thoreau describes two colonies of ants attacking each other. If people still lived very simply then we would still be like the ants. Thoreau makes a direct connection to this when he says, “I had my feelings excited and harrowed by witnessing the struggle, the ferocity and carnage, of a human battle before my door” (289). He says that the ants were fighting for a principle like when the colonists fought the British for freedom. Thoreau relating the ants to the colonist, who lived very simply, shows how people lived like ants once. Thoreau also states that one of the ants “was some Achilles, who had nourished his wrath apart, and had now come to rescue or avenge his Patroclus” (288). All of these connections to history are important in understanding exactly what Thoreau thought these ants were fighting for.

[Matthew Brozusky]

In “Higher Laws” Thoreau thinks that having food that tastes good is a waste of time. He says, “It is not worth the while to live by rich cookery” (277). Thoreau prefers to eat things with little taste that don’t take much work to get.  He deems it unnecessary to do lots of work just for good tasting food. Although I agree with many of Thoreau’s ideas, I personally disagree with this one. Food is one of the most important parts of life and you literally can’t live without it. Good tasting food can change you entire mood, and make you a happier person in general. That is why I believe it is important to find enjoyment out of it.

I agree with what Noah says about how Thoreau’s ideas about food are essentially useless in today’s world. We don’t have to do any extra work to get good tasting food versus bland food. In the modern age its all easy to acquire and we don’t waste time obtaining it.

[Matthew Brozusky]

In “The Ponds”, Thoreau uses the pond as a symbolic tool to explain what society is like. Thoreau states that the pond “is clear and deep green,” (247) and this statement contradicts himself. He explains it further when he says, “Viewed from a hill-top it reflects the color of the sky, but near at hand it is of yellowish tint next the shore where you can see the sand, then a light green” (247). From a grand point of view society looks great and beautiful, however when you look closely you can begin to see the flaws it has. This symbolism is significant in the fact that Thoreau knows society for its true colors however he wants to try and live separately from that and become pure once again.

I find Jennifer’s idea about the pond to be interesting. Thoreau enjoys the Walden pond so much because he can relate to it in many ways and it allows him to think about all aspects of life clearly.

[Matthew Brozusky]

In “The Bean Field,” Thoreau begins by stating that he “came to love my rows, my beans” (230). He use to consider working in the fields as difficult work. However, Thoreau learned to appreciate what he was doing he no longer thought of working as a chore. Thoreau says, “that husbandry was once a sacred art; but it is pursued with irreverent haste and heedlessness by us” (239). He wants people to gain a respect for work that people use to have, because it will make them enjoy doing the work rather than hate doing it.

I agree with what Taylor said about how Thoreau does his work to become a better person while most other people do it to gain money or power. It supports the quote I used where Thoreau states how farming was once done for only good reason but now people do it just for personal gain.

[Matthew Brozusky]

In “Solitude”, Thoreau says, “I love to be alone” (216). Thoreau’s reason for enjoying solitude is because he feels, “We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers” (216). Thoreau thinks he still has, “a great deal of company in my house; especially in the morning when nobody calls” (217).  He also believes that the more time you spend with people the less it means to be with them. This is why Thoreau feels that solitude is important for everyone, because without it, the times when you are with the people you love are less special.

Taylor, I agree with you saying that Thoreau thinks of nature as a human being. Because of this thinking he is able to live in solitude over great periods of time and not feel lonely like most people would. This detail combined with the fact that he thinks people are more lonely in the company of other people makes me believe that Thoreau is naturally introverted, so some of his ideas may be swayed because of that.

[Matthew Brozusky]

In Sounds Thoreau personifies many non-human objects and animals. He does this to make the sounds he is describing seem more alive. It becomes much easier to relate to something if it has human traits. When Thoreau says, “I was also serenaded by a hooting owl… and make permanent in her choir the dying moans of a human being,” (208) you get a much greater sense of how the hooting of the owl makes Thoreau feel. The entire story is about Thoreau attempting to share his thoughts and experiences, so when he makes them easier to relate to, then the reader can easily grasp what Thoreau is conveying.

Jennifer makes a good point by stating how Thoreau makes nature seem like a friend to him. The personification that he uses does help him accomplish this. The reason it works is  because of what I stated about how giving human traits to something makes it easier to relate to it.

[Matthew Brozusky]

Thoreau states in “Economy” that in a rough climate the only necessities for a man to live are “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel.” All of these necessities are used for “The grand necessity… to keep the vital heat in us” (121). After the basic necessities are met, people can begin to develop civilizations that can create different cultures and societies. These civilized people develop luxuries and they try to obtain as much of these luxuries as they can. Thoreau emphasizes how clothing, one of the basic necessities, has become a luxury. People use it to fit in with society. Thoreau says, “The head monkey at Paris puts on a traveller’s cap, and all the monkeys in America do the same” (130). As Thoreau elaborates, he says that people today no longer appreciate the basic necessities because of the numerous luxuries they already have and most people are born already having their needs met, so all they have to worry about are luxurious items. “Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances of life” (122). In order to truly appreciate the luxuries of life, a person must first live with without having them.

I think Max’s idea about how the value of necessities “lies in the eye of the beholder” is true and it is an important point to bring up. People who are very poor appreciate their basic needs such as food and clothing more than people who have an abundance of those things. It supports the idea that to understand how great the things you do or have are you must first live without them.

 

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