Chapter 11: Higher Laws

Chapter 11: Higher Laws

1. Thoreau was going to kill a woodchuck that crossed his path.

   • Let's not mention eating. He finds himself in a spiritual life and a savage one.
     • He has love for both sides.
       • Does believe however that eating animal food is unclean and this doesn't really feed a soul. Prying on animals is a low way for ment o live.
         • Only thing a wise man should stick to is water as a whole some diet.
           • vegeterian diet.
           • Advocating for boys to shoot and sportsman not as hunters.
             • One day, he will leave the sun behind becoming a man of intellect.
               • Food doesn't defile a man rather than his appetite which he consumes it.
                 • Thoreau believes livinga pure life and controlling one's appetite is linked to many okay commune with God.
                   • Transcendentalism
                   • Keeping sacred the temple that in the's own body. From work has a virtue, while laziness comes vice and ignorance.
   • The woodchuck in the beginning symbolizing human primitiveness and insticts in wanting to eat the woodchuck.
     • Showing how th ementality of Thoreau has charged spending time in the woods. The woodchuck also symbolizes wilderness within the wilderness.

2. Passes woodchuck and has strong urge to eat it.

   • dual nature
     • noble is spiritual and dark/savage
       • alues both sides.
   • importance of the hunt - early stage in person's education upbringing.
     • eventually move up on higher callings.
     • becoming reluctant to fish
       • they aren't nourishing/clean
       • desire to become vegeterian based on instincts and principles
         • eating animals is moral debasement
           • eats greens and fruits (easier) (vegeterian diet)
           • if people had to slaughter, they wouldn't eat them. (Not in man's natural instincts to kill).
           • delight one's appetite rather than obeying it.
             • wants to distinguish his higher nature from his animalistic tendencies (more with morality than a diet)
               • animal nature fades, divinity is approached.
                 • it is up to each individual to care for their body.
         • avoids alcohol, tea, and coffee.