Walden: Chapter 18

Walden: Chapter 18

1. Plot

   • Thoreau begins by remarking that doctors often recommend that a sick person should change their scenery to recover. He juxtaposes the journeys of animals across the world with the human tendency to remain in their corner of the world. He acknowledges that the universe is much bigger than our understanding could ever grasp.
     • He refutes the claim that sick people require a change of scenery, and should instead begin a journey of self-discovery. He believes there is more power to be found in the mind than any island or kingdom in the world, and we should not sell our self-respect. Thoreau encourages people not to travel the world, but rather their mind, for there is much more to be found there.
       • Thoreau refers to the French revolutionary Mirabeau, and disagrees that men should be in formal opposition to a government (he feel this is desperate, and yields to nothing). Instead, he believes that men should be obedient to their own morals and not fret about being in opposition to a formal government.
         • Thoreau decides to leave Walden in order to explore his other dreams. He did not expect to stay for so long, but recognizes that our minds are easily impressionable. Humans are quick to refer to tradition and dwell where others have simply out of comfort. Thoreau supports following your dreams, and feels that anyone truly searching for their desires will find that the world bends to their will.
           • Thoreau does not agree with the notion that we should be restrained to one singular language. He also feels that our outward appearance means nothing, and that what is within our soul is what matters. According to Thoreau, we should embrace what is in our minds, and not allow the world to restrain us to simple meanings. Instead of trying to be something that we are not, Thoreau encourages readers to use whatever they are endowed with.
             • Thoreau recounts the story of an artist in the city of Jouroo who dedicated his life to the carving of a staff. He worked for centuries, and as the world aged around him, he remained youthful because of his intense purpose. When he had finished, the older world had been replaced by a glorious one. He deceived himself, and could not believe that any time had passed; how could it, when he possessed such a beautiful creation? Thoreau, however, feels that the truth is the only thing we should live by, and there is no use in masking reality with fantasy.
               • Thoreau does not find shame in being poor, and advises readers to do away with the extravagent, sell their things, and trust in themselves. He believes that the poor have the opportunity to learn from their experiences and see the world in a different light, something that money cannot buy. He receives no enjoyment from conversations with his neighbors or the newspapers, which discuss material issues and trivial things such as wealth. Instead of deliberating, Thoreau believes that humans should make firm decisions that they would be proud of. He encourages readers to accept their circumstances and learn how to be patient in the place they are in.
                 • Thoreau laments of his experiences at dinner parties. He feels that as material wealth grows, people begin to lose their sense of truth, and become cold and vain. He cannot stand such behavior, and prefers the company of those who have little yet hold a magnitude of goodness within them. He is quick to criticize the men of his age for lauding themselves, believing that they have accomplished little in the grand scheme of the universe.
                   • Thoreau recounts the story of a bug that came freshly from the wood of an ancient table. He is inspired by the story, and believes that there is hope to be found in the possibility of leaving mundane society behind and finding enlightenment. He realizes that the average person will not understand what he is saying, but that shouldn't matter. A new dawn is coming, and with that, there is hope.
                     • Throughout much of chapter eighteen, Thoreau has not hidden his contempt for those who value material wealth and engage in trivial conversation. At the end of the chapter, and consequently the novel, Thoreau expresses a bit of hope. He does believe that his readers, no matter how greedy they are, can escape this frivolous cycle and awaken their senses to what they truly desire. In true Thoreau fashion, he recognizes that there are some people who will completely reject what he has spoken of, and will continue to live a mundane life. But even they cannot stop the dawn of enlightenment, and that is enough hope for him to rest.
                   • Throughout Walden, Thoreau places an emphasis upon truth. He has no interest in the life of judges, lawyers, or the greats of his Age. He feels that they waste their time upon hypothetical situations; to him, there is little value in treading upon a path that does not exist. Once more, we see how Thoreau connects the conditions of his time period with the behavior of himself and those around him. During a time of growing industrialism, materialism was bound to grow as well. He feels that during his Age, both people and the world have lost their sense of truth. Truth, within Walden, is ultimately connected to his lack of material wealth and his emphasis upon self-reliance.
                 • I can't say that I agree with Thoreau's encouragement of readers to do away with their extravagant property. There is nothing romantic about being poor as Thoreau seems to believe. Many poor people don't have the time or means to see the world in a different light or engage in deep, philosophical conversations. I do, however, agree that there is little enjoyment to be found in deliberate gossip and trivial conversation. To Thoreau, there is no importance to be found in discussions of distant locations if there is no introspection being conducted. Although he comments that the universe is incredibly larger than we could believe, it is nothing if we do not see the world for what it is; an opportunity to learn about ourselves and others.
               • I find this story very interesting in the context of this chapter. The artist's intense focus on his staff, and thus his ignorance for the changing world, may represent Thoreau's emphasis upon using our mind. We should not be distracted by the things in the world that are very eye-catching and lose sight of the truth. Conversely, this story may represent Thoreau's tendency to encourage readers to follow their dreams. He may be displaying to reader's that they are all capable of harnessing their passion and creating something that can change the world. I believe that this story can be looked at in a number of ways if one considers the duality of Thoreau's beliefs.
             • As Thoreau wrote Walden, the world was rapidly evolving. There was a rise in the usage of technology and overall manufacturing, and thus materialism within America. The world, which once moved slowly, was now quickly moving during the rise of industrialism. There is an emphasis that Thoreau places upon moving at your own pace, and not allowing your goals to become tainted with what others deem appropriate. It seems as though Thoreau is encouraging readers to not allow the growing communication with others to influence their life, and to rather look inward for inspiration and meaning. The changing times, according to Thoreau, should not determine how we see the world, ourselves, and our goals.
           • This observation that Thoreau makes about achieving your dreams is quite interesting. He came to Walden Pond to be self-sustaining and remain grounded in his thought. He advises readers, however, to shoot for the stars. Thoreau speaks openly about following any whim that he decides to explore. His description of following his dreams and the world bending to his will is reminiscent of the belief systems of New Age religions. It seems as though his understanding of life (which he speaks of in a very casual manner) is influenced by religions that place value in manifesting and positive thinking, such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
         • The lesson that Thoreau is emphasizing is that one's own moral laws should already be in direct opposition to a government. By actively fighting against a government, you will achieve nothing; instead, there is more value to be found in staying loyal to your own moral compass. This may be where Thoreau's stance against traditional institutions is misconstrued; he did not work against the government. Rather, he worked on finding his own moral compass and staying above the injustices of our governments.
       • There is a line from the text that is particularly interesting: "Yet some can be patriotic who have no self-respect, and sacrifice the greater to the less" (Thoreau 156). Thoreau uses the prescription given to the sick (a change in scenery, in particular) to describe the journey of introspection he believes readers should go on. With such a broad look at the world, and the mind, he feels that allegiance to a nation costs a person their self respect. They lose themselves to an extreme devotion to a set of beliefs; this relates to the theme of exploration that he has emphasized throughout the chapter.
     • This is a very Transcendentalist way of thinking. Instead of seeing sickness as an ailment of the body, Thoreau prefers to look at sickness as stemming from the soul. Thoreau also ensures that readers understand how large the universe is by using examples of locations and creatures from every corner of the world. This imagery adds to his statement that the universe is much larger than a human could fathom.

2. Analysis

3. Style Analysis

   • Throughout the chapter, is was common for Thoreau to break off into tangents that would relate back to Transcendentalist philosophy. For example, he began the chapter discussing the possible locations that one may go to when following a doctor's orders to find a change in scenery. He is able to describe the world and use these different places to emphasize the necessity of introspection. When he is not relating a portion of the chapter to Transcendentalism, he moves on quickly, often with very little transition. This creates a very jarring experience, and he often attempts to smooth the abrupt transition by employing a Transcendentalist lesson into the particular topic.
   • Thoreau often uses stories unrelated to himself or his time in Walden to emphasis a particular lesson he is trying to make. He tells the story of Mirabeau (a French politician turned highway robber), the artist in Kouroo, and a fresh worm who erupts from an ancient table; all of these stories are seemingly random and have little to do with himself. He employs these stories to inform readers on Transcendentalist philosophy, and share advice on his experiences in life.
   • It is common for Thoreau to write lengthy sentences that have multiple subjects. He utilizes very formal language in his writing and his vocabulary is very extensive. The tone of his work is very eager as he attempts to convince readers of the value of introspection.

4. Transcendentalism Philosophy in Walden

   • Transcendentalists are known for their rejection of tradition and established institutions. Thoreau encourages his readers to create their own set of moral laws to guide them instead of following the laws set up by a formal government. He vehemently opposes the injustices of our government along with religious institutions, and pushes readers to question their legitimacy. He rejects, however, the notion that we should antagonize these institutions; he believes that it is more important to focus on ourselves rather than engage in violence and protest.
   • Throughout chapter eighteen, Thoreau rejects materialism. He encourages readers to give up their wealth and extravagance in exchange for a life with only the bare necessities. This Transcendentalist belief rejects the importance of materialism within our lives, and places an emphasis upon a modest life. Thoreau remarks that those with little have a better outlook on life than those who are wealthy, and he prefers their company.
   • Thoreau encourages readers to not conform to society. Within the chapter, he questions the social conventions that force people to achieve the same goals as everyone else. Instead, he places value upon living at your own pace and doing what is important to you.
   • Much of the ideas that Thoreau speaks of in chapter eighteen are the result of being a free-thinker. He rejects the prescription doctor's give to patients, and instead offers up his own; soul-searching. He believes that traveling the world has little effect when one could learn more about themselves. During a time in which mental health and identity were not valued, this is particularly revolutionary. He uplifts the idea that were are capable of so much more than we could ever think.
   • The entirety of Walden and Thoreau's existence display the value placed upon nature by Transcendentalists. Walden encourages a life led simply that is separated from the materialism and industrialism of Thoreau's Age. Thoreau left behind city life to live among nature, and experienced his most defining thoughts in Walden Pond. Nature plays a big role in Walden and Thoreau's life, and he displays how impactful it has been in his life through Walden.
   • Thoreau shames trivial conversation that cold and vain people engage in. He believes that there is little to no value to be found in such mundane and superficial friendships. Instead, he reminds readers the value of their own soul, and how the most noble thing is to be introspective. Living among others, to Thoreau, means nothing when you know so little about yourself.