Chapter 1: Economy

Chapter 1: Economy

1. Men

   • He says that men work way too much. He adds that they worry about so much land when they could survive on very little. Money and financial restrictions and their work prevent them from enjoying what life should be about (friendship, etc.).
   • Most men, Thoreau says, are basically hopeless. They forget that they are the ones who get to decide their future and they way they live by saying that they 'have' to do what they do (like job, making money, etc.) when in fact, according to Thoreau, it is a choice that they make everyday.
     • They follow the examples of past (older) generations, thinking that they are wise and know better. Thoreau further states that human lives (especially from generation to generation) are SUPPOSE to vary.

2. Solitary

   • Thoreau's way of living (shown throughout the rest of the book) is a sort of experiment ON himself FOR others, to find the minimum necessities man needs to survive. His experiment is not meant for those who have 'mastered' their way of living, or for those who are happy with the way their life is, it is directed to people who are NOT happy with their lives.
     • He says that those who are poor externally are often rich internally.

3. Thoreau

   • Thoreau had many jobs before he went to live alone in the woods. Those jobs included being a newspaper reporter (even though none of his works were published), a weatherman, a herdsman (animal keeper/watcher), and even a gardner.
     • Instead of finding a job which could actually help him and eventually meet society's standards/ adapt to society, he decides to leave to live alone in the woods, saying that it is basically 'good business' just because now he can do whatever he wants.

4. Clothing & Shelter

   • Thoreau argues that clothing is more of a concern for most people than it should be. He says that making the choice of what to wear should not depend on 'silly' things such as looks or price, but should instead be chosen based on their practicality. He further adds that the clothing industry does not care about the people, but only care about the money they make.
   • Thoreau explains how shelter was term used to refer to clothing (to keep a person warm) and was later developed to mean a comfortable place (home/house). He continues by saying the humans used to use caves as shelter. He also says how he admires the large boxes that he sees by the railroad (for workers to put their tools in) and imagines what it would be like to live in one. He also talks about the Indian wigwam (tent). He ends his thoughts on shelter by saying how rediculous it is that one has to so much money on houses.

5. The Civilized vs. The Savage

   • The civilized man, Thoreau explains, is (as far as I understood) kidnapped or sort of taken over by the society (and technology) surrounding him. He is then taught (and I guess sort of has his individuality stripped from him at birth) to 'be the future' (hope for tomorrow. He also adds that the civilized man is one who is spiritually, morally, and overall internally 'distracted' or taken away from his full internal potential. He then basically says that the savage man is completely the opposite EXCEPT for Thoreau's thought on how the motivations and reasons behind a civilized man's actions is no different than that of a savage man's.

6. Art

   • Thoreau goes on to explain his point of view on art. According to Thoreau, art is its best when it is created from the artists desire to free himself from society. He thinks that the best art is that of purpose and background. He continues to say that there is no room in a civilized man's life for art. Thoreau says that civilized men are distracted by lesser things. He then relates his reasoning back to society and its fancy and expensive houses.

7. Walden Pond

   • It was March 1845 that Thoreau went to Walden Pond. Once there, he immediately began cutting down trees to build his house. He enjoyed and appreciated being surrounded by nature, and felt as though now he was where he was suppose to be. He buys a little 'shack' from the railroad, which he later cuts down for timber. Later, in May, with the help of some people, he is able to build and finish his house and is soon able to build a fireplace as well. He then wishes that all men could feel the joy and happiness of construction a house of their own not for its appearance but for its humble purpose. Thoreau keeps detailed records of all the money he spent on building the house and he concludes that he spent less money building his WHOLE house than people spent on their houses annually. Thoreau also includes in this comparison the Cambridge College students, who he think spend too much money on their EDUCATION when they could just BE LIKE HIM ('learning with their hands' or whatever).
   • In order to be able to pay for necessities, Thoreau plants a bean field, which helps him make a fair income to provide for himself. After a year, he does even better, now comparing himself to the Concord farmers (farmers of Concord). (ISN'T HE BEING A HYPOCRITE???? SAYING THAT PEOPLE WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT MONEY YET HERE HE IS COMPARING HIS INCOME TO THAT OF OTHER FARMERS).