[Taylor Woehl]

In “Conclusion” Thoreau learned “that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours”(358). This means that the person works towards a dream with confidence that they will achieve it and hard work, that person will acquire a larger sense of accomplishment and happiness than one who just does the moderate amount of work to achieve the goal. He also comes to the conclusion that when one “simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness”(359). In simplification, one’s life becomes clearer and when they are alone they do not feel alone due to the world around them. The world around them gives them imagination and ideas that one without a simplified life does not notice.

In reading Walden I have learned that all of the technology that we possess is not necessary to live a happy life. In fact, it is some ways hindering the growth of our social and communicable traits-two very important traits to obtain. These traits are not being hindered by important activity but rather mindless activity. This mindless activity is addicting to most of the generation today-in that today’s society is constantly checking their technological devices and updating their social status. This activity thus assists in the declination of intelligence. Without technology, today’s society could become more creative and intelligent.

With the help of Thoreau in the realization that technology is not a necessity and that if one puts down their devices and pays attention to the insightful world around them, they could learn a lot more- I will try to incorporate less technology in my life. I do not mean to exterminate all technology from my presence, because at times it can be vital, but  to put down my phone at dinner and engage in a real conversation with someone who is in front of me and not on my newsfeed. With this change, I believe that I will learn a lot more about the world around me and become better prepared for any conflict that could come my way.

[Taylor Woehl]

In “Higher Laws” Thoreau expresses his philosophy that people eat more food than they necessarily need. Thoreau shows his distaste for gluttony when he says, “It is neither the quality nor the quantity, but the devotion to sensual savors; when that which is eaten is not a viand to sustain our animal or inspire our spiritual life, but food for the worms that possess us”(279). By saying that worms, which are grotesque and not something one would prefer to think about while they are near food; are inside of  us pressuring us eat what we do not need to eat, he expresses that he thinks of mindless eating as an act of something dirty.  He continues with the idea that we have an ugly demon inside of us that pushes us to gluttony when he says, “It is reptile and sensual, and perhaps cannot be wholly expelled; like the worms, which even in life and health, occupy our bodies”(280). Thoreau is expressing that the ‘worm’ that occupies our bodies is always there, but it is a matter of if we feed the worm, or if we feed ourselves (in feeding ourselves, we do not turn to gluttony).

I agree with Noah that Thoreau’s theory could not be applied to society today due to modern science. Food and the flavor of foods have become better over the years. Food is easier to acquire in the times that we live in. With the quickness of food, it is very easy to eat when one is not hungry. Though I do think that Thoreau was right in saying that we should only eat what we need and not an excess; I do not think that his theory could be applied to today’s society.

[Taylor Woehl]

Thoreau describes the battle between two different kinds of ants-one black and one red- in “Brute Neighbors”. If we all lived as simply as Thoreau did, we would turn into living like these ants. He relates these ants back to the colonists, who were living in a much simpler time than him, when he says “I have no doubt that it was a principle they fought for, as much as our ancestors and not to avoid a three-penny tax on their tea;…”(289) The ants’ war being compared to a revolutionary time in our history makes the realization that we could turn into that more feasible. The colonists, like the ants, “manifested the least disposition to retreat”(288). These ants were willing to fight for that chip like the colonists were willing to fight for their independence from Britain, at all costs.

I agree with Haley that Thoreau was “humanizing” the ants. With this humanization, it connects humans with the ants, making it seem like we are not so different from them in the aspect that we will fight for what we feel strongly about.

[Taylor Woehl]

In “The Ponds” Thoreau says the pond has “water [that] is so transparent that the bottom can easily be discerned at the depth of twenty-five for thirty feet”(248). With the water in the pond being so clear, it can represent innocence. Perhaps Thoreau enjoys spending time at the pond so much because it creates a peacefulness that he enjoys. When Thoreau says, “…yet this pond is so remarkable for its depth and purity…”(247) it also strengthens the idea that he views the water as innocent and peaceful.

I agree with Hunter that Thoreau views the pond as an escape. Thoreau likes to spend his time there, and the peace that he receives from being there makes him visit frequently. Hunter makes some really good points about Thoreau going to the pond to escape the “unfavorable qualities” in his society.

[Taylor Woehl]

Thoreau contradicts himself in “The Bean Field”; having stated his dislike for farmers, he becomes one. However, Thoreau has a different mindset about the work he does as a farmer than the other farmers in his society. Thoreau is not doing this work for money or power, he is doing it to become a better person. In stating that “It [farming] has a constant and imperishable moral, and to the scholar it yields a classic result”(232), he expresses his thought that farming will improve him as a person. He does not believe the money will improve him, he is looking purely for genuine discipline gained from manual labor.

I agree with Max about the tasks we undertake being all about your mindset. People tend to slack off when they are not passionate or interested in what they are doing. Thoreau is not passionate in farming but he is interested in what he could gain from it. The farmers that he is surrounded with are only in it for monetary purposes, which could make farming seem more like a chore for them.

[Taylor Woehl]

Solitude is important to Thoreau because he is a misanthrope and enjoys the company of nature. He mostly thinks of nature as a human companion, saying it can get emotions like “sympathy have they ever with our race, that all Nature would be affected, and the sun’s brightness fade, and the winds would sigh humanely, and the clouds rain tears, and the woods shed their leaves and put on mourning in midsummer, if any man should ever for a just cause grieve.” The fact that he thinks of nature as a human, he does not feel the loneliness that one would think he would. He busies his mind with thoughts. He argues that it is important for us by saying, “If men will not drink of this at the fountain-head of the day, why, then, we must even bottle up some and sell it in the shops, for the benefit of those who have lost their subscription ticket to morning time in this world” and then going on to explain that it will not keep well. In summary, he is saying that one can only feel that happiness when one is alone with his/her thoughts to keep them occupied.

I agree with Ane that the busyness of ones mind can cause the feeling of not being lonely. It is a good point to bring up because the only reason that Thoreau is not going crazy is because he keeps his mind busy and he does not have time to think of his misfortunes.

[Taylor Woehl]

In Sounds, Thoreau is anthropomorphizing because he is living in solidarity and he makes up for his lack of human contact with the idea that nature is a human. When Thoreau is no longer associated with the sounds he states, ” I am more alone than ever.” This shows that when he was around those noises, they took his mind off of his loneliness with thought.  When he no longer heard what he once did, he came to the realization that it was actually difficult to be without contact of anyone.

I agree with Amanda in that he is replacing humans with animals in order to escape his loneliness. This shows when he no longer equates the two and he begins to feel the loneliness.

[Taylor Woehl]

(This is Jennifer not Taylor)

I agree with Kheldhe when she stated that, “the necessities of life they must be used to gain knowledge.” In order for the necessities of life to be used as knowledge a person has to live simply. Thoreau explains that knowledge makes life harder, “With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor” (122).  Thoreau also states that knowledge is not so much wanted but admired, “The success of great scholars and thinkers is commonly a courtier-like success, not kingly, not manly” (122).

-Jennifer Woehl

[Taylor Woehl]

(This is Jennifer not Taylor)

In “Economy” Thoreau states that the “necessaries” of life started out as what man could obtain and has become so important to human life that few people attempt to do without. These necessities include “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel.” After one obtains these necessities, they adventure on life and search for more. Thoreau compares these necessities as roots and once the roots are firmly placed it is able to shoot up with confidence, “For the nobler plants are valued for the fruit they bear at last in the air and light, far from the ground, and are not treated like the humbler esculents, which, though they may be biennials, are cultivated only till they have perfected their root, and often cut down at top for this purpose, so that most would not know them in their flowering season” (123).

Throughout “Economy” Thoreau constantly repeats his thoughts on luxury. Thoreau believes that it is better to live simplistically than luxuriously which is his reasoning for moving to Walden. He states that someone willing to live off of what nature gives can live perfectly fine while those who live off of materials are hindered in their attempt at individual improvement. Thoreau also expresses how self-reliance is important when he moves to Walden because he builds his house alone and does not want to owe anyone anything, “The owner of the axe, as he released his hold on it, said that it was the apple of his eye; but I returned it sharper than I received it” (142). He believes in self-reliance because he feels that a man who travels with others is hindered by them, “… the man who goes alone can start to-day; but he who travels with another must wait till the other is ready, and it may be a long time before they get off” (167).

-Jennifer Woehl

[Taylor Woehl]

In Economy Thoreau states that the “necessaries” of life are “Food, clothing, fuel, and shelter.” Thoreau believes that clothing is not so much a necessity in the sense that it will help you live but rather a perk for our own self images. This is evident when Thoreau says,  “perhaps we are led oftener by the love of novelty, and a regard for the opinions of men, in procuring it, than by a true utility.” In the elaboration of shelter being a necessity, Thoreau explains that  “I will not deny that this is now a necessary of life, though there are instances of men having done without it for long periods in colder countries than this.” All in all, he is saying that it has become a necessity of life because of the fact that we as people are becoming more industrialized; but we as a people could also withstand a life without the presence of a house to live in. The necessities of food and fuel are not arguable because they keep us alive and healthy.

I agree with Muriel in that the job of humans is to focus on what is truly needed and less on what isn’t. Every human being is guilty of the feeling of envy based on what another has. Most are focused on what they want and not on what they already possess, which others may feel an amount of jealousy over. People need to appreciate what they have and work not  on being better and obtaining better and more  expensive things than others, but on becoming the best type of person they can be.

-Taylor Woehl

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