[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “Conclusion”, Thoreau continues to discuss his favor for simplicity over modernization. Thoreau used his solitary confinement at Walden Pond to try and understand himself instead of modernizing like the rest of the world and spending time with things that were useless, unnecessary, and could only hurt him as a person. While at Walden Pond, Thoreau says he has learned from his experiment 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). Thoreau believed that if you were unique and didn’t follow everybody around you, then you would be able to accomplish your dreams. Because of this, Thoreau favored uniqueness over success since he believed that by being unique you will eventually see success. He continues to say that, “In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex” (359). Another thing he learned from Walden Pond was that simple lives are more beneficial than lives that use more than just the “necessaries”.

After reading Walden, I think there are several parts of Thoreau’s philosophy that I could incorporate in my life. Most importantly, I think I should take time to focus on Thoreau’s belief that once should only use the real “necessaries” of life. I think this is very beneficial because I always find myself taking certain things for granted without being grateful for the “necessaries” that I am given. Being unique is also an important part of his philosophy that I think I should focus on. After reading Walden I have learned that being unique helps people to find their inner selves and show who they really are.

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

If people would experience living simply as Thoreau did, they would compare to the lives of the ants that were discussed in “Brute Neighbors.” In this chapter, he first begins discussing the animals that relate to Thoreau’s way of life, “It is remarkable how many creatures live wild and free though secret in the woods, and still sustain themselves in the neighborhood of towns” (286). This can be compared to Thoreau who also lived free away from society, which is what he preferred. He first talks about the ants when he speaks of seeing the two different types fighting on his woodpile. It is shown that fighting is the only thing that the ants know and that they do so until they become victorious or die trying. This helps to represent the simplicity of their lives. Thoreau explains the scene when he says, “On every side they were engaged in deadly combat, yet without any noise that I could hear, and human soldiers never fight so resolutely” (287). This characteristic of joining together to achieve a common goal can be compared to simplicity of humans that live like Thoreau. These people living simply like Thoreau aren’t involved with any non-essential things so they spend their time struggling with their inner selves to find who they really are. Thoreau makes various historical references when speaking of the ants. He uses past battles and figures to emphasize the type of battle that these ants are fighting. This connection helps to show that the ant’s battle can be used to symbolize other battles such as the historic ones discussed and the one that the simple man has with himself.

I like Zac’s point then he says that the only thing the ants are fighting over is food so humans could never turn into them. Although my idea was different from this, I agree that when looking more in depth unlike the humans that are faced by many more struggles the ants don’t have much more to do than fight for food.

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “Higher Laws”, Thoreau expresses another one of his ideas, which relates back to only having the “necessaries” of life.  In this chapter, he states his belief one should only eat what they need in order to pursue their daily activities. Thoreau claims that, “The fruits eaten temperately need not make us ashamed of our appetites, nor interrupt the worthiest pursuits. But put an extra condiment into your dish, and it will poison you” (277). Thoreau believed that the consumption of unnecessary food was a hindrance to the mind. He continued to state that, “It is not worth the while to live by rich cookery” (277). This helped to enforce his belief that people should only eat to sustain their animal existence. I agree with what Thoreau is saying because what one eats now can affect them very negatively in the future and most definitely distract them from higher intellectual pursuits. This is because “every man is the builder of a temple, called his body” (282) so if they begin with a bad foundation then they won’t have the ability to achieve certain things later on.

I agree with Tom’s point that eating the simplest foods isn’t always the healthiest choice due to their nutritional value. When speaking of the boundaries on Thoreau’s idea that extra condiments would poison you, sometimes it may be necessary to eat things that aren’t always the best just to receive nutritional benefits. This in return would help to build the body.

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “The Ponds” Thoreau’s discussion of Walden Pond helps to show how the pond symbolizes his getaway from society. This is observed when he says, “Occasionally, after my hoeing was done for the day, I joined some impatient companion who had been fishing on the pond since morning” (245). After working, he used the pond to enjoy the natural beauty of nature relating back to his prominent use of his “necessaries” instead of taking part in something rather unnecessary unlike the pond, which was given. Thoreau demonstrates this point again when he says, “Sometimes, after staying in a village parlor till the family had all retired, I have returned to the woods, and, partly with a view to the next day’s dinner, spent the hours of midnight fishing from a boat by moonlight, serenaded by owls and foxes, and hearing from time to time, the creaking note of some unknown bird close at hand” (246). After visiting with family, Thoreau used the pond to escape from society once again and enjoy everything that nature had to offer which is shown when he talks about the different animals. This also helps to show how the pond is significant to Thoreau. Since he was very passionate about only having the “necessaries” of life and enjoying what nature offered instead of being around other people, he made full use of the pond.

 

I like Zac’s point that the water of the pond symbolizes the purifying of one’s soul. When Thoreau went to the pond, he did so to escape from society. It helped him to get away from everything that was happening in the real world and enjoy nature while making the most of his “necessaries.”

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “The Bean Field”, Thoreau contradicts his thoughts from an earlier chapter about farming. In “Economy” he had previously talked about his dislike for farmers. But now, he has become a farmer who believes that his intentions are different from those expressed earlier which makes him better. Thoreau discusses that he used farming for more positive reasons such as the benefit of his character instead of doing it for the money. He says, “It has a constant and imperishable moral, and to the scholar it yields a classic result” (232). His intentions are also shown when he says, “As I had little aid from horses or cattle, or hired men or boys, or improved implements of husbandry, I was much slower, and became much more intimate with my beans then usual” (132). Instead of farming for money, which is what Thoreau disliked, he enjoyed spending time with this activity that he favored to help him grow as a person.

 

I agree with Zac’s point that one who farms with a purpose for life and character is the one who gains the most from farming. This adds onto the point that Thoreau is not a farmer who is farming for the money. Instead, he is doing it to become a better person.

 

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”, Thoreau helps to prove a strong point about Americans preference for material rather than spiritual reality. An example of this is when Thoreau discusses the qualities of the property that he liked which other people did not. Thoreau says that he liked “the gray color and ruinous state of the house and barn” (Thoreau 176). While he wasn’t bothered by this unattractive appeal because of the other spiritual offerings that the house had, other people were which is why they didn’t like it. They turned down the house instantly just because of its appearance which shows that these people preferred material. He continues to demonstrate this theme when he urges the other Americans to “Simplify, simplify… and reduce other things in proportion” (Thoreau 182). He urged this to his fellow people because they never accepted just having the “necessaries” of life as enough.

The preference for material rather than spiritual reality is still in effect in 2014 which may be shown by the use of technology. Everybody is always trying to obtain the newest version of something showing how popular material is. Also, those who are successful almost never live with just the “necessaries of life”. This may be demonstrated by pretty much every professional athlete who lives in a huge house and drives the nicest of cars.

In response to Zac, I agree when he speaks of the fortunate people who do have a lot of money but always make use of it and never live with just the “necessaries of life.” This is rarely ever seen which is why people still prefer material over spiritual reality.

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”, Thoreau talks about the Hallowell Farm and how it was the “nearest that I came to actual possession” until the wife of the owner wished to keep it instead. He talked about some qualities that made the farm more attractive to himself which would have made it unattractive to most other real estate buyers. These qualities showed that Thoreau favored separation from everybody else which is why he said, “The real attractions… highway by a broad field” (Thoreau 175-6). In his previous chapter “Economy”, Thoreau talked about living with only the “necessaries” of life. This is why he favored these certain qualities about the house. Most other people did not favor the qualities because they did not want to live with just the “necessaries” like Thoreau. He also continued to state that other qualities he liked about the house were, “It’s bounding on the river… through which I heard the house dog bark” (Thoreau 176). This suggested that Thoreau liked the look of the house being somewhat unattractive because of its “gray color and ruinous state” which again relates to him not wanting anything more than what was needed.

In response to T-Dog Corey, I agree with his statement which suggests that Thoreau didn’t like to be close to all other human contact because human interaction wasn’t a part of his essentials. He chose this house because it didn’t have anything extra which wouldn’t have appealed to his simple life that he favored.

[Tim “Blood Orange” Powell]

In “Economy”, Thoreau first posits that the words necessary of life are referring to, “of all that man obtains by his own exertions… so important to human life that few, if any, whether from savageness, or poverty, or philosophy, ever attempt to do without” (120). He continues to explain that the “necessaries” of life are “Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel” (120). His reasoning for this is, “For not until we have secured these things are we prepared to entertain the true problems of life” (120). With this being said, it is shown that Thoreau believes it is a must to obtain these “necessaries” because with them comes a “life with freedom and a prospect of success” (120). In contrast, one who does not obtain the “necessaries” of life will suffer from failure. After one gets these “necessaries”, like Elise stated earlier, the want for other non-essential things increases which could ultimately have a negative effect. Thoreau explains the want for greater things when he answers himself by saying, “Surely not more warmth of the same kind, as more and richer food, larger and more splendid houses, finer and more abundant clothing, more numerous incessant and hotter fires, and the like” (123). Thoreau believes that instead of obtaining these “superfluities” the next step is “to adventure on life” (123). Thoreau didn’t like the idea of obtaining “unnecessaries” and preferred a simple lifestyle.

I agree with Elise when she states that once the simple needs are satisfied, the want for unnecessary things increases which can actually hinder a person’s quality of living. This is why Thoreau favored living a simple life. I also like Elise’s point about the rich possibly being at a disadvantage. This is because they have an easier access to obtain “superfluities” which don’t always have a positive effect.

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