Chapter 6: Visitors

Chapter 6: Visitors

1. Superior Guests

   • Thoreau believes that a bigger house allows all people to come in, which defeats the purpose of having meaningful conversations with friends.
   • Thoreau has a small amount of furniture in his home so that he knows when visitors are actually coming for something important.
     • He is stressing the idea that simplicity will lead to a happier life.
   • People who were truly friends of Thoreau did not care if he had enough room or a sufficient amount of food for them.
     • This is how Thoreau was able to determine who had been wasting his time.
     • It is also why Thoreau felt he had more visitors at Walden Pond than in society.

2. The Canadian Wood Chopper

   • Thoreau likes this man because he believes him to be simple while also showing an appreciation for knowledge and nature.
     • The man did enjoy reading, but was never able to understand it.
   • The man seems to be very happy with his life, especially with his work.
     • Thoreau comes to the conclusion that the man is a simple man connected to nature, but is nowhere near as sophisticated as himself.
   • Thoreau tries to convince the man to live a life similar to his own.
     • The man appreciates his offer, but does not think it will be easy to change when he is already so content.

3. Different Travellers

   • Most of the men Thoreau met appeared to be a lot more intelligent than the powerful men of society.
     • He shows readers that they should not underestimate the capability of another person based on their economic status.
   • Some of the men had selfish motives for meeting with Thoreau.
     • Thoreau was often aggravated with these people because they were not able to figure out their true independence.
   • Other visitors consisted of runaway slaves, and Thoreau would share his ideals with them.

4. Corruption of Society

   • Thoreau observes all of his visitors, and notices that most of them have already been corrupted by their temptations.
     • He tries to help his visitors understand his beliefs, but most of them try to justify their reasoning for life in a society.