Dr. Marc D. BaldwinDr. Marc D. Baldwin

Henry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauCopyright 2005 © by Marc D. Baldwin, PhD

Emerson’s FriendEmerson’s Friend

Much of what I talked about in the RWE, Romanticism, Much of what I talked about in the RWE, Romanticism, and Transcendentalism Lectures applies to Thoreau as and Transcendentalism Lectures applies to Thoreau as well, so please consider those remarks applicable here. well, so please consider those remarks applicable here. In fact, Emerson was Thoreau’s mentor, of sorts, until In fact, Emerson was Thoreau’s mentor, of sorts, until the student surpassed the teacher in one sense at least: the student surpassed the teacher in one sense at least: Emerson talked about how to live differently while Emerson talked about how to live differently while Thoreau went out and did it by living a Spartan existence Thoreau went out and did it by living a Spartan existence in the woods for two years, an experience he chronicled in the woods for two years, an experience he chronicled in his masterpiece in his masterpiece Walden.Walden. He was, thus, more of a practitioner than a philosopher, He was, thus, more of a practitioner than a philosopher, believing that America’s promise was as yet unrealized. believing that America’s promise was as yet unrealized.

WaldenWalden

T went to live near Walden’s Pond as an action based on T went to live near Walden’s Pond as an action based on principle so that he could get closer to Nature. principle so that he could get closer to Nature. The book is full of The book is full of correspondences,correspondences, meant to instruct meant to instruct the reader in how to live a more meaningful life. the reader in how to live a more meaningful life. Very Romantic, the lessons of Very Romantic, the lessons of Walden Walden are solipsistic, are solipsistic, teaching that we must perceive everything as a reaction teaching that we must perceive everything as a reaction to our own personal responses. to our own personal responses. It’s also narcissistic in that Thoreau sits meditating for It’s also narcissistic in that Thoreau sits meditating for long periods of time on the banks of the pond, long periods of time on the banks of the pond, contemplating his mantra, concluding that human activity contemplating his mantra, concluding that human activity is futile without the transcendant spirit and transparent is futile without the transcendant spirit and transparent eyeball of the Over-soul. eyeball of the Over-soul.

3 movements of 3 movements of WaldenWalden

The book is structured in 3 distinct ways: The book is structured in 3 distinct ways:

1) Chronologically, as a diary or journal of 1) Chronologically, as a diary or journal of T’s two years there. T’s two years there.

2) Rhetorically, as an argument for 2) Rhetorically, as an argument for adopting his philosophy and lifestyle; and adopting his philosophy and lifestyle; and

3) Mythically, as a quest for a rebirth into 3) Mythically, as a quest for a rebirth into a more enlightened state of mind and a more enlightened state of mind and being.being.

Innocent EyeInnocent Eye

T looked at the world with an innocent eye, attempting to T looked at the world with an innocent eye, attempting to “see without looking." “see without looking." Striving to "recover the lost child that I am," T sought to Striving to "recover the lost child that I am," T sought to cultivate a child‑like mind, believing that on each morning cultivate a child‑like mind, believing that on each morning one should start anew his quest for Truth. one should start anew his quest for Truth. The movie The movie Groundhog DayGroundhog Day is an exercise in Thoreau’s is an exercise in Thoreau’s transcendental revisionism. transcendental revisionism. As T puts it, "It is only when we forget all our learning As T puts it, "It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know." that we begin to know." The "highest wisdom does not inspect, but behold." The "highest wisdom does not inspect, but behold." This frame of mind is perfectly illustrated by Walt This frame of mind is perfectly illustrated by Walt Whitman in his superb little poem, “To a Learn'd Whitman in his superb little poem, “To a Learn'd Astronomer."Astronomer."

Romantic Cultivation of the Self Romantic Cultivation of the Self

Like any good Romanticist, T believed in pursuing his Like any good Romanticist, T believed in pursuing his own path on the journey to discover his own divinity. own path on the journey to discover his own divinity. For T, God is within your soul and in Nature. For T, God is within your soul and in Nature. The grand irony is that the more we seek ourselves and The grand irony is that the more we seek ourselves and our individuality, the more we come to believe in the our individuality, the more we come to believe in the collective unconsciousness of humanity. collective unconsciousness of humanity. As T said, "If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my As T said, "If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself." excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself." This statement echoes Walt Whitman, who as I’m This statement echoes Walt Whitman, who as I’m suggesting, was greatly influenced by Emerson, suggesting, was greatly influenced by Emerson, Thoreau, and transcendental thought. Thoreau, and transcendental thought.

SimplicitySimplicity

Perhaps the essence of T’s philosophy is the Perhaps the essence of T’s philosophy is the notion that we should live more simple lives. notion that we should live more simple lives.

"Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, "Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify,” he urged. simplify,” he urged.

Men, he believed, have "become tools of their Men, he believed, have "become tools of their toolstools.In proportion as he simplifies his life, the .In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness."poverty, nor weakness weakness."

Thoroughly Modern Henry Thoroughly Modern Henry

A strong case could be made for Thoreau’s enormous A strong case could be made for Thoreau’s enormous influence on the era of Modernism, which was coming influence on the era of Modernism, which was coming along toward the end of the 19th century. along toward the end of the 19th century. T believed in simply stating the facts for "Reality is T believed in simply stating the facts for "Reality is fabulous." fabulous." Like Whitman and the Modernists, T wrote paratactically, Like Whitman and the Modernists, T wrote paratactically, eschewing formal structure and setting down eschewing formal structure and setting down impressions in random order. impressions in random order. His writings were "excursions." His writings were "excursions." And also like Whitman and the Modernists, he preferred And also like Whitman and the Modernists, he preferred writing in the 1st person singular to capture the writing in the 1st person singular to capture the immediacy of the experiencing ego, the seeing immediacy of the experiencing ego, the seeing individual eye. individual eye.

““Civil Disobedience”Civil Disobedience”

One of the most influential pieces of writing in world history, T wrote One of the most influential pieces of writing in world history, T wrote “CD” to chronicle his protest of three things: the Mexican War, “CD” to chronicle his protest of three things: the Mexican War, slavery and taxes. slavery and taxes. He refused to pay taxes in protest of the Mexican War and slavery. He refused to pay taxes in protest of the Mexican War and slavery. As a result, he was put in jail for a night or two. It didn’t bother him a As a result, he was put in jail for a night or two. It didn’t bother him a bit. In fact, he concluded and insisted that it is a man’s “duty” to bit. In fact, he concluded and insisted that it is a man’s “duty” to break the law he disagrees with, but to do so in a non-violent break the law he disagrees with, but to do so in a non-violent manner. manner. This principle of non-violent civil disobedience was embraced by two This principle of non-violent civil disobedience was embraced by two of the 20th century’s most powerful figures: Mahatma Ghandi and of the 20th century’s most powerful figures: Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr., who led the Indian people and the American Martin Luther King Jr., who led the Indian people and the American Blacks respectively in their quest for civil rights and true freedom Blacks respectively in their quest for civil rights and true freedom from oppression. from oppression. Both Ghandi and King cited Thoreau as one of their main Both Ghandi and King cited Thoreau as one of their main inspirations in life. inspirations in life.

Is Thoreau Relevant?Is Thoreau Relevant?

A somewhat sad and perplexing question is whether or not A somewhat sad and perplexing question is whether or not Thoreau’s brand of reclusive protest is practical or even relevant for Thoreau’s brand of reclusive protest is practical or even relevant for us today.us today. Not many of us can afford to go to jail for our principles. It just Not many of us can afford to go to jail for our principles. It just doesn’t look good on a job resume. Nor can we take two years off to doesn’t look good on a job resume. Nor can we take two years off to live in a cabin in the woods communing with the raccoons and live in a cabin in the woods communing with the raccoons and possum. possum. And it’s easy to say “Simplify, Simplify,” but in today’s world those And it’s easy to say “Simplify, Simplify,” but in today’s world those who cannot multi-task and who aren’t able to manipulate a multitude who cannot multi-task and who aren’t able to manipulate a multitude of duties and skills sets find themselves on the unemployment line. of duties and skills sets find themselves on the unemployment line. It would be nice to chuck it all and grab a fishing pole, but bills and It would be nice to chuck it all and grab a fishing pole, but bills and responsibilities don’t allow such a luxurious permanent vacation. responsibilities don’t allow such a luxurious permanent vacation. So Thoreau’s theories are great to help us balance things out, So Thoreau’s theories are great to help us balance things out, though they are likely impossible to completely adopt. though they are likely impossible to completely adopt.