[Morgan Rice]

In the “Conclusion” Thoreau discusses his time spent at Walden Pond, specifically what he has learned while there. He reveals that he was in search for himself while at Walden Pond. From being in isolation Walden learned about his true self and was able to focus more on his thoughts. By being alone with only nature as a friend, Walden was able to create a set of morals for himself and discover the ideal person that he would like to strive to be. The isolation let him strengthen himself to be able to reenter society and remain how he wants to be. Thoreau touched on how the world is what people make of it and it truly lies in their hands. In addition, Thoreau said “it is remarkable how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route” (Thoreau 358). With Walden, Thoreau broke the tradition that humans have naturally set forward and discovered himself before moving forward in life.

From reading Walden I realized how much I would gain from taking a time out on life. Its obvious I can’t remove myself from society even though at many times I would like to, but I know now that taking a second every once in a while will benefit me incredibly. Based on the success that Walden achieved I think that I would like to sit myself down and focus on what I want to be in both society and in life in general. Walden focused on himself in order to possibly help others and that is ideally what I want in life.

[Morgan Rice]

In “Higher Laws”, Thoreau discusses the need to eat only for the sake of your body and nutrition. He says that people should not savor or eat their food in large quantities. Thoreau believes that eating should not for fun but simply to stay healthy and alive. Thoreau thinks that people should have a “simple and clean diet” (Thoreau 277). He doesn’t think that there is any point to eating large meals and that there is no gain from it. This opinion of eating ties in with his overall idea of living simply and only doing the necessities of life. I personally believe that yes people shouldn’t eat for no reason but at the same time there is nothing wrong with celebrating special moments with a great deal of food.

I like Taylor W.’s breakdown of Thoreau’s worm quote, I agree with the idea of the demon inside of us. As most of us would not look at hunger as a demon in a way it is, always calling on us and sometimes pressuring us into situations we don’t necessarily want to be in. Really good connection and analysis!

[Morgan Rice]

During “Economy” Thoreau chooses to live a very simple life on the frontier in order to learn what the basic necessities in life are. After some time Thoreau discovers that life only has four basic essentials; “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel” (120). Although Thoreau discovers that there are necessities in life he also discovers that nature can pretty much provide everything that one needs in life. Nature provides life’s basic essentials but does not provide for luxury in someones life. In “Economy” it was stated that once these essentials are obtained humans can then focus on the issues of life and should be able to be successful. The next step after achieving the essentials of life is to expand ones knowledge and goal in life. Typically it is human nature to focus on what one wants instead of what one needs. Thoreau focused on the essentials and learned from the experience and gained both wisdom and knowledge from his discovery.

I agree with Shelby’s point of clothing not being a necessity as it is a social norm to wear clothing but it is not necessary for one’s livelihood. Clothing does provide a sense of heat and in some cases security but if both shelter and fuel have been acquired there is no need for clothing. Clothing is in a sense optional and not always necessary. The factor of environment could be a contributor for clothing being essential. No one could survive without clothing in the Arctic or even a winter in Rhode Island, but it is a possibility that someone could survive in a place such as Africa without clothing being an essential. But if things are staying basic and these are the “basic” necessities in life clothing shouldn’t be a part of the basic essentials because there is a so called fine print attached to it.

-Morgan Rice

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