Thoreau
The reading selection I chose is contained in the seventh paragraph from Part II of Henry David Thoreau's essay "Life without principle." In it Thoreau talks about the difference in thought between people who engage in everyday conversation that he calls "gossip," and people who try to spend time deeply contemplating about what he calls their "inward lives." Thoreau explains that people who frequently read newspapers or receive extensive letters of correspondence and discuss about the latest news and events incessantly, are the ones engaging in "gossip." In contrast to this he explains that people who avoid such discussions in order to spend time thinking and understanding about themselves and about humanity in general, are the ones engaging in thoughts regarding their "inward lives." Thoreau further goes on to explain that in his view, people that only discuss about things they read or hear about on the news are just preoccupied with empty superficial thoughts. According to him it is the people who rise above thinking about matters of everyday life and think more deeply into the meaning of their lives, who should be considered as being rational thinkers.
This passage is important to me in this time of my life because I feel that I see too many people nowadays engaged in what Thoreau would consider to be superficial thinking. Nowadays especially the influence of the media has become so invasive and widespread that all people seem to do is just discuss about whatever the media portrays the world as being. I also feel that the media has succeeded in "dumbing down" people's thoughts, so that they do not even bother discussing anymore about politics or current events unless they are forced to. Instead many people today occupy themselves frivolous news surrounding celebrity gossip and entertainment. If people took the initiative towards breaking away from these superficial thoughts in order to start thinking, questioning, and investigating what is really happening with their lives and with the world, it can then be said that we have become the rational thinkers that Thoreau yearned for in society. Then we would no longer be engaged in boring and meaningless gossip and instead we would have the ability to not passively accept what more powerful members of society want us to think about regarding the world and our place in it.
Thoreau, Stowe, Melville and Douglas: Reflections on Slavery Henry David Thoreau, Harriet Beacher Stowe, Herman Melville and Fredrick Douglass all opposed the intuition of slavery in the United States in the middle of the nineteen century. This matter deeply divided the nation and ultimately led to the Civil War in 1860. While southerner's saw the matter as a state's rights issue, abolitions framed the debate from a moral perspective. Most people
Eserver.org/walden02.html).This, he implies is impossible in society. Thoreau stresses that although he is alone, he is never lonely. In fact, it is society and living away from nature that creates a sense of loneliness and hatred for one's own species: "I experienced sometimes that the most sweet and tender, the most innocent and encouraging society may be found in any natural object, even for the poor misanthrope and most melancholy
Question #4) Thoreau argues that his solitude does not equal loneliness. First, Thoreau describes the brilliance of his relationship with plants, animals, and the elements. Second, Thoreau comments on the connections he maintains with the world outside of Walden Pond, as visitors frequent the house to leave cards, flowers, and gifts in support of his endeavor. Finally, Thoreau feels paradoxically less lonely when he is alone: "I never found the companion
Supertramp' is McCandless' literary alter ego. In his writings, McCandless portrays himself as a kind of spiritual pilgrim in the last, pure place on earth -- the Great White North. Writing under a different name allows McCandless to distance himself from the very real risk he is taking, and also the callousness he shows towards those who try to help him on his journey. He refuses all aid because
Gertrude Stein Indeed. Gertrude Stein wrote for "herself" for many years prior to ever being noticed as the marvelously talented and versatile writer that she was. That fact was a reality simply because she did not have the opportunity for many years to publish the work she was so tirelessly putting out. Meanwhile, her legacy today is that of an extraordinarily insightful and respected woman of letters, an innovator, an elite
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