Chapter 1 "Economy" Part 2

Chapter 1 "Economy" Part 2

1. Thoreau repeats his ideas

   • The narrator goes into detail about ideas he's previously mentioned
     • Clothing is something that people pay attention to instead of their clean conscious. He believes that clothing should be simple, rather than a sign of status
     • As of shelter, Thoreau argues that the best shelter is a simple one. Nature taught us that something like a cave that provides warmth is all we need. This is because luxurious homes are so expensive that they limit people who spend their lives trying to buy one

2. The savage vs the civilized man

   • The civilized man is concerned with abiding by society at the cost of the good of mankind. They are distracted from their spirit and morals.
   • The savage on the other hand is not threatened by all these societal obstructions. He is the epitome of a self- reliant individual.

3. March 1845, Thoreau builds his home

   • While cutting down trees, he sang and got lost in the beauty of nature
     • This is an example of the narrator following his own advice and being independent. This also shows his admiration for nature
   • He still enjoyed the company of a railroad worker, James Collins
   • Once again, he urges others to follow his foot steps and be independent. In this case, by building their own home.

4. Continuing his voluntary poverty lifestyle, Thoreau keeps record of all the things he spends

   • He contrasts his lifestyle to that of a Cambridge college student. They waste an immense amount of money on knowledge they can teach themselves through living it.

5. Railroads, modern advancements, the college system, and traveling overall is a ridiculous waste of money

   • People treat it like a social status. It is both an economic and spiritual problem

6. In order to make money, Thoreau plants a bean field.

   • He does well enough to survive with that money for both years.
     • He also does this without using any farm animals
   • Thoreau is convinced that he has done better than other farmers. He made money while maintaining his independence
   • This is an example of Thoreau makes money, something he needs because of society, while keeping his transcendentalist morals.

7. People should not be judged by their materialistic wealth

   • Instead, they need to be judged by their thoughts

8. Thoreau makes another chart of all the household goods and food he bought

   • He learns that he can eat simply and still be healthy
     • This is living proof that his philosophy of living works and is not unacheiveable
     • Thoreau even learned how to make his own bread

9. The only household items and furniture someone needs is a table, a desk, three chairs, two knifes, two forks, three plates, one cup, and one spoon

   • Thoreau preaches against having too many belongings and owning only what one needs

10. The author discovered that he only needs to work six weeks of the year and leave the rest of the year to gain knowledge and grow as an individual

    • Thoreau further explains that this way of working is liberating by giving him a lot of time to himself.
    • He also argues that work should not be loved for the money and that each one should find their own path of labor.

11. Philantropy

    • Giving the poor money can often harm them by causing them to be lazy and rely on the money they receive rather than themsleves
    • Charity is often confused because of people's selfishness. A good deed turns into one that satisfies a man's ego and fears rather than help others.

12. Religion

    • Thoreau favors person spiritual growth instead of regular religion.
      • That personal growth is like a tree that is always flourishing

13. The Pretensions of Poverty

    • A poem that shames the lazy poor who forgot to strive for bravery, prudence, heroism, and magnanimity