Chapter 1: Economy

Chapter 1: Economy

1. Background

   • Henry Thoreau is describing his two years living on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts.
     • The entire book revolves around the questions he is most asked about his experiences.

2. Importance of "I"

   • Thoreau uses “I” in his account, even though most authors leave themselves out.
     • Thoreau is showing that each person is significant and that this is his personal story to tell.

3. Laboring for Profit

   • Most men in society focus more on working for money, instead of their individuality.
     • People believe that money is what makes you powerful, but it makes you blind to the fact that you are being used as a machine by those in power.
       • This is the reason why many people are not content with their lives.
     • People work like slaves to fulfill different types of debt, but this worry will never truly go away.
       • There will always be payments that need to be worried about like rent or money for food.

4. Intelligence of the Elderly

   • Old people are not as wise as people believe because of their lifestyle.
     • They lived in a society filled with conformity and shared it with the impressionable youth.
       • As a result, the cycle of conformity continues through each generation.
     • Thoreau refuses to listen to those who have been corrupted by society.

5. Necessities of Humans

   • According to Thoreau, humans only need shelter, food, and clothing.
     • Our savage instincts are combined with our intellectual abilities.
     • The rich and powerful use up too much of these resources, instead of living a simple lifestyle.
       • While the rich value materialistic objects, the poor tend to value their intellect, making them much more happier than the rich.

6. Thoreau's Reason for Walden Pond

   • Thoreau had already loved nature while living in society, but no one ever took him seriously.
     • When he realized this, Thoreau decided to live in the woods where he would be understood and independent.
   • Thoreau also thought that Walden Pond could provide him with more knowledge of life.
     • According to Thoreau, no one was capable of knowing everything about the world, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stop learning.

7. Clothing

   • Clothing is a necessity, but people try to use it as a symbol of their wealth.
     • People would rather wear uncomfortable clothing to look better, instead of practical clothing.
       • Teenagers can relate heavily to this issue of looking better and fitting in.
   • People spend too much time and money decorating their clothes.
     • The clothes you wear don’t make any difference when it comes to God.
   • Companies make you believe that you need new clothing because they want more money
   • The patterns and accessories on clothing look extremely ridiculous to Thoreau.

8. Shelter

   • Although Thoreau believes it to be a necessity, some people are capable of surviving without it.
   • Building a home yourself is better than renting from another person.
     • You will be able to customize your home however you choose and don’t have to worry about making payments.
     • You save money, and will probably have more money saved up compared to those who rent their homes.
   • People spend more time worrying about paying for their homes that we can’t truly feel relaxed or safe in them.

9. Students at Cambridge College

   • Students at Cambridge are under extremely difficult circumstances because they need to pay rent, while also focusing on their education.
     • This is a fraud, and the students should be doing whatever will make them content in life.
   • While these students are learning, they are not learning about the important and necessary facts of life.

10. Thoreau's Decision

    • Due to his simple living, Thoreau only has to work a short amount of time to pay for his necessities.
      • Thoreau now has more free time and can work on broadening his intellect.
    • Thoreau slowly realized that he didn’t like any of the jobs that his friends had chosen.
      • All of the jobs seem to deal with money and corrupt rich men.
      • Thoreau is also more free without a job to worry about.

11. Philanthropy

    • Thoreau thinks that philanthropy only helps those in power.
      • When the men in charge need people to work in their factories, they will look for those that are most desperate.
        • Poor people are going to be persuaded into becoming a machine like everyone else in society.
    • If philanthropists want to prove that they are kind, they should be working alongside the people in their factories.