[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

In “Conclusion”, Thoreau continues to expand upon his core belief that a closer relationship with nature is beneficial for individuals, but he also solidifies other ideas in the reader’s mind. Compared to previous chapters, “Conclusion” definitely had more of a ‘preaching’ tone to it than others. Thoreau reminded the readers that it is okay to not strive for economic success or dominance in life, because being an individual is what will truly bring the most success. “A living dog is better than a dead lion” (9) continues to reiterate Thoreau’s point that he feels a man who is asleep and not living life to the fullest is not of the most value. Even though a dog may not seem as glamorous or strong as a lion, the dog is still one of the happiest animals, spending its days doing as it pleases. Expanding on individualism, saying “if a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer” (10), Thoreau expresses, yet again, conforming to society does not equate to success; success is found when people can “let every one mind his own business, and endeavor to be what he was made” (9).

Like many have stated in posts before me, this was my first time reading any type of philosophy. I feel like I could easily say that I learned that simplicity is a vital aspect of life and that materialism is not the answer, but I will be the first to admit that I find lots of joy in material goods and I do not view myself as any less of a person because of this. The most important piece of philosophy that I have  learned more about through Thoreau is really all about the power of being an individual and being myself. It sounds so cheesy, but, for me, Thoreau is saying that it is okay to not perfect . Especially in the modern day, success is primarily measured based off of financial stability and wealth in general, but Thoreau is saying that everyone can find success on their own path and that is nothing to be ashamed of. I think actually applying some of Thoreau’s beliefs into my own life will be a challenge, as I feel that the pace of life today does not exactly give much time to reevaluate and reprioritize my life. Realistically, I am not going to become ‘one with nature’ or stop relying so much on technology, but I do not think those are the most important pieces of advice to gain from Thoreau. From the readings, (this is so cheesy and cliché, I sincerely apologize) I felt reassured that it is okay to be who I am and being ‘quirky’ or ‘different’ or all other ‘abnormal’ adjectives is what makes me successful in my own way.

 

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

I’m trying to edit my post, except it won’t let me – but instead of ‘black and white’ nature, I meant to say how the ants’ attitude of “Conquer or die” (12) emphasizes the harshness of their society.

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

In “Brute Neighbors”, Thoreau uses ants to represent human nature’s ability to find conflict in even the simplest conditions. The ant population are ‘combatants; … it was not a duellum, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and frequently two red ones to one black’ (12).  Thoreau described the ants’ fighting as an “internecine war” (12) where “the battle was raging” (12). If everyone lived as simply as Thoreau did, humans would end up living and combating like the ants do in the chapter. Even in a simple form, ants still have the ability to come together to form complex structures, like bridges made out of ants. Humans, even stripped down to a simple lifestyle, still have complex minds; they have the ability to either come together as a society, like the ant bridges, or combat each other in times where they cannot distract themselves, as there are no trivial matters in their simple society. The ants fight to “Conquer or die” (12), emphasizing the ‘black and white’ nature of the ants’ society. As they have no materialistic principles to fight for, the ants (or humans in a simple lifestyle) fight for their opinions and individualism.

The usage of historical allusions is significant because it’s Thoreau’s way of comparing the ants to people and almost proving that it is possible for humans to have a lifestyle similar to the ants’. “The legions of these Myrmidons covered all the hills and vales in my wood-yard” (12) refers to “the warlike people of ancient Thessaly who accompanied Achilles” (Harding). The Myrmidons were the group, but Achilles was the leader. Achilles, a strong Greek warrior, is relevant because while Achilles was fighting for a group cause, he was still an individual fighting for himself.

I think Taylor makes a good point by noting how Thoreau uses the black and red ants as symbols for political parties as well. Even in living a simple lifestyle, political opinions can still be very strong and divide up a community. Solitude has a direct correlation to conflict over political opinions because, being isolated, individuals only have their own thoughts or nature to converse with. Spending so much time thinking and pondering topics, such as political views, can lead individuals to have stronger opinions and easily more differentiating ones.

Any information regarding ants building complex bridges came from this article:

http://www.quantamagazine.org/20140409-the-remarkable-self-organization-of-ants/

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

In “Higher Laws”, Thoreau states his belief that humans should eat the bare minimum amount to sustain their animal existence, saying foods like fish ‘seemed not to have fed [him] essentially’ (5) and that “a little bread or a few potatoes would have done as well, with less trouble and filth” (5).  Regarding eating animals, Thoreau believed “no humane being, past the thoughtless age of boyhood, will wantonly murder any creature, which holds its life by the same tenure that he does” (3). Thoreau thought that indulging in delicious foods and other aspects of life were just a distraction from intellectual pursuits, going as far as saying “even music may be intoxicating” (8).

Personally, I disagree with Thoreau and believe that food actual serves as inspiration for higher intellectual pursuits. Like Noah pointed out in his post, there are countless studies that show the benefits of eating a healthier diet and how diets can increase a person’s intellectual capability. However, going back to ideas touched on in “Economy”, Thoreau stated that food was one of the necessaries in life, and once those necessaries are accomplished, an individual has the potential to grow. While a diet of bread and potatoes may be enough to keep a human’s body physically alive, if a person’s diet does not lay a solid foundation for their life, they will not have the ability to intellectually grow. A sense of blandness in a person’s diet hinders them from experiencing life to the fullest. Food can possess a strong sense of vibrancy and life that it would positively add to a person’s hunger to pursue intellectual endeavors.

I think April does a great job of emphasizing that food does provide a lot of enjoyment for individuals. While it is understandable how Thoreau can view that sense of enjoyment as a distraction, food has evolved into something a lot more than just a source of energy. Like April said, food is a source of enjoyment or even a source of comfort that humans have become mentally and emotionally dependent on. Humans would spend more time being distracted over longing for a certain food than they are indulging in delicious ones.

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

In “The Pond”, innocence and purity are both symbolized in Thoreau’s pond. In addition to moving into the woods and into solitude to escape society, Thoreau was also escaping his adulthood to a certain extent. The pond does not disregard Thoreau’s adulthood and suggest that Thoreau possesses immature, child-like traits; it simply symbolizes the return of a child-like sense of freedom back into Thoreau’s life. The symbol of purity is also made explicitly clear in the chapter; Walden notes “this pond is so remarkable for its depth and purity as to merit a particular description” (5) and “it is pure at all times” (13). The pond’s spirit of innocence is made apparent with Thoreau stating the pond “is perennially young” (25).

The significance of the pond is that it is one of the last remaining objects not affected by society in Walden’s life. The surrounding trees can be chopped down and his bean crops constantly grow and die, but the pond’s spirit of purity, youthfulness, and innocence cannot disappear as long as Thoreau allows them into his life. Considering that “perhaps on that spring morning when Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden Walden Pond was already in existence” (8), the Walden pond was created pure and managed to avoid sins through its existence.

I really like Muriel’s point of bringing up that the pond offers a sense of comfort to Thoreau. Many individuals can find some form of comfort and relaxation in a pond, spending the day fishing or ‘hanging out’ with friends, but the contentment that that specific pond offers Thoreau cannot be easily replicated. Because Thoreau views the pond in such a clean and pure light, he is able to find peace in such a simple part of nature.

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

In “Economy”, Thoreau states his belief that “most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them” (6). However, contrasting his initial thoughts against farmers and those who prioritize finances over nature, Thoreau develops his own love for farming in “The Bean Field”. ‘As [Thoreau] had little aid from horses or cattle, or hired men or boys, or improved implements of husbandry, [he] was much slower, and became much more intimate with [his] beans than usual’ (4), which showed his evolution as a man due to his time spent in the woods. Similar to how he personified items in nature in previous chapters, Thoreau began forming his own relationship with his beans, saying that selling them was hard to do and that he “was determined to know beans” (4). The work of tending his beans shifted from being an obligation to being a choice when Thoreau’s solitude led him to develop a personal connection to the crops.

I think Julia’s post did a good job of emphasizing just how much Thoreau prioritized his relationship with nature over anything. In Julia’s reply to Haley, she notes that Thoreau does not really care about the energy that the beans provide for him. In “Economy”, Thoreau also stated that one of the necessaries in life is food, but, several chapters later, Thoreau is prioritizing his relationship with the beans and the joy he finds in tending  his crops over one of the necessaries in life.

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

Kheldhe,

I really like your thought that “solitude is important because it give Thoreau peace, and thus he believes solitude will give others peace” because it shows that solidarity does not necessarily relate to selfishness. Even though he is alone, he is still making a positive difference in society because of the growth he’s experiencing as an individual. After all, society is composed of many individuals and those individuals need to rely on solitude to bring them to a mental state where they can hold more positive roles in society.

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

Solitude holds a place of importance in Thoreau’s life; due to purposely secluding himself from a society composed of humans, he finds the most joy and sense of inspiration being surrounded by nature. Similar to the chapter “Sounds”, Thoreau personified traits of nature, but not for literary effect; Thoreau personified nature in “Solitude” as well to show that he literally finds the most humane traits in nature, not humans. Saying “my nearest neighbor is a mile distant, and no house is visible from any place but the hill-tops within half a mile of my own” (212), Thoreau shows the reader just how ‘alone’ it may seem like he is. However, solitude offers a sense of comfort to Thoreau and he places such an importance on it because it strips him down to a place as a human being where he is forced to be one with his thoughts. Thoreau argues that solitude is important for us because distance is just a concept and reliance on other humans will not help an individual grow. Thoreau says “the whole earth which we inhabit is but a point in space” (214), showing how meaningless a relationship between two inhabitants can be. Solitude is important because “with thinking we may be beside ourselves in a sane space” (215) and being alone is that sane space.

 

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

In “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”, Thoreau is quick to emphasize his preference of a spiritual reality over a materialistic one. His distaste for materialism  is apparent with him saying “an honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” (Thoreau 182). Using a quote in his writing telling the story of  shepherd, Thoreau continues to stress his point that society prioritizes materialism over spiritualism by asking “What should we think of the shepherd’s life if his flocks always wandered to higher pastures than his thoughts?” (Thoreau 180). The chapter highlights the misplaced priorities of society and Thoreau appears to make it his own personal mission to offer advice to counteract society’s wrongdoings. Saying “we must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forake us in our soundest sleep” (Thoreau 181), Thoreau reminds society that spiritual thoughts have a sense of longevity that materialistic objects lack.

In 2014, society still prioritizes material goods over spiritual thoughts. With technology constantly improving and the speed of life increasing with industrialization, the question “Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life?” (Thoreau 183) is more applicable than ever. However, while Thoreau would arguably continue to experience his disliking of materialism, society as a whole are not as bothered in 2014 because it has become the ‘norm’ to hold misplaced priorities.

Taylor, I think your point of saying modern day members of society having the urge to ‘outdo’ their neighbors is an important one to consider. Using that competitive motive, it makes sense why some prioritize material goods more so than their spirituality because it is a lot easier to compare financial values than spiritual connections.

 

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

Noah,

The quote you used, “if my jacket and trousers, my hat and shoes, are fit to worship God in, they will do; will they not?” (36), introduces a good point regarding the core necessities and approval from God. Going back to the Puritan values, obviously materialism was a sin. Bradstreet shows her evolution into humanity from a place of spirituality as she worries about her material goods being destroyed, but then she remembers her relationship with God is more important than anything else. Your usage of that quote was a good reminder of the core values that some societies were founded on and how future generations of those societies have evolved and strayed from them.

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

Alexa,

I really like that you said luxuries are “what sets each person a part; it adds a price to their name”. In a reading where an emphasis is placed on the negatives of luxuries, I think your point is a very positive and refreshing one. As long as the luxuries are not in superfluous amounts, they can really add to a person’s sense of individuality.

 

[Sammy “Grapefruit” Plezia]

Little note before I continue: all of my citations reference the paragraph number from the online text, not the page number from the physical book (as I read the text online).

Like everyone has stated before, Thoreau establishes that the necessities in life are “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel” (17), which are all values synonymous to heat. After “getting” these four core principles, individuals then begin to add luxuries into their lives. However, especially in modern day society, there is a blurred line between necessities and luxuries because individuals simultaneously add the two into their lives, opposed to the idealized concept that luxuries are added only after the necessities are established. The next step is growth; after “the soil, it appears, is suited to the seed” (20) then “it may now send its shoot upward also with confidence” (20). Thoreau basically writes that necessities are the foundation in life and luxuries are the needless, but seemingly desirable, building blocks off of that foundation.

Materialism holds a place of importance in “Economy”. Society ironically glamorizes materialism, even though Thoreau describes luxuries as ‘not only not indispensable, but [also] positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind’ (19). Thoreau recalls when a farmer told him “You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with;” (11), which leads Thoreau to discover “some things are really necessaries of life in some circles, the most helpless and diseased, which in others are luxuries merely, and in others still are entirely unknown” (11). The quote regarding vegetable food is used to show that different individuals and different cultures distinguish certain items as necessities, where as some do not.

The interesting idea discussed is the evolution of luxuries into necessities, and vice versa. Everyone needs some form of the four necessities to physically survive. When people begin to attach emotional traits to luxuries, they become heavily dependent on them, so much so that they convince themselves that they are in fact necessities, not mere luxuries. Like Muriel said, people attach emotions to clothing, like jealousy and envy, to evolve clothing into something more than just physical protection. When brand-names and style become involved, the mental distinction between necessities and luxuries becomes even less apparent.

[Author]

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