Walden’s Challenge and Revelations
Uploaded by merafera on Nov 14, 2007
How many times have we all thought about getting away from it all? The mounting bills, traffic jams, needy co-workers, it all seems to just mount up and consume our lives. We think that it would be so easy to just get away from all of this and live a simple life far-removed from our modern “conveniences”. Henry David Thoreau put this thought into action. In Walden we are transported to his escape. He removes himself almost totally from society and reflects on what his life is and what it will become. He embraces the challenge of relying on himself for guidance. It is through his account of his time on Walden Pond that we see the work of a great Romantic writer through his self reliance, portrayal of nature as a reflection of human emotions, and discovery of what is important by simplification.
Thoreau’s retreat into the solitude is a solitary journey in which he relies totally on himself for all of his basic needs. He does not look to others or an established society to provide him with sustenance. It is through this self-reliance and willingness to live in concert with nature that we see a fundamental theme of the Romantic Movement. He builds his own house and constructs his own lifestyle independent of anyone where he can begin his own spiritual and intellectual journey.
Through his self-reliant journey we also see the simplification of Thoreau’s life. He has removed from himself from the society in an effort to “live deliberately” and simplify his journey from the extraneous distractions present times. It is through this separation that he discovers how little “work” is actually needed to sustain life. He is able to totally devote himself to spiritual and emotional growth
With his primitive needs met and an abundance of “free” time Thoreau has an opportunity to see nature as a reflection of man’s emotions. The weather is a constant reflection of his emotional state. His self-doubt and melancholy thoughts manifest themselves during the frozen winter months and his joyous points of reflection come with the thawing of the pond. Through this close connection with nature Thoreau embodies the Romantic ideal that man is not separate from nature, but closely connected.
Living a self-sustaining, simplified life Thoreau is able to see nature as a reflection of human...