Thoreau and Crane Essay (revised)Jedediah GradyCap English Blue GroupDecember 23, 2014

Thoreau Crane Essay

Henry David Thoreau, in Walden, and Stephen Crane, in Maggie, A Girl of the Streets, compare in their views on philanthropy, but contrast in their views on philanthropist and self-reliance. Walden is an autobiography written by transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. The book explores Thoreaus experiences of the two year, two month, and two day period of time he spent isolated in a cabin near Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau shows others that he can live a very enjoyable life without having much at all. Maggie, A Girl of the Streets is a story about a young girl named Maggie who struggles to find her way in a life full of misery and poverty. She grows up in a poor neighborhood in New York with an alcoholic mother and is helplessly nave. Although the two pieces were written in different time periods, they are in a way similar, and share some of the same view on some subjects, and disagree on others.

Both Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane agree on the subject of philanthropy and how it is. In the first chapter, Economy, Thoreau writes about how Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind. Nay, it is greatly overrated; and it is our selfishness which overrates it. (63) Thoreau believes that philanthropy is needed and that when it is given, it is greatly appreciated. Although it is needed however, peoples selfishness ruin it. Thoreau also tells the readers to Be sure that you give the poor the aid they most need. (62) This is just Thoreau showing how he supports the idea of philanthropy and sees the good it does but understands that some people can ruin it. Stephen Crane agrees. The one time Maggie goes and asks for help, she is avoided with a vigorous side-step. (87) The ironic thing is that the man who avoided Maggie was a pastor, whose job is to help others. The man wanted to save his respectability. Philanthropy itself is very helpful, but when people like the pastor only really care about themselves, what good is philanthropy? Both Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane understand this.

Although Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane agree on the subject philanthropy, they disagree on the subject of philanthropist. As seen from previous quotes, Thoreau supports the idea of philanthropy. He writes that he wound not subtract any thing from the praise that is due to philanthropy He thinks it is needed and is god for mankind. Thoreaus views on philanthropist are all but the same. He says that most so-called philanthropists are fake, and that all they do is commit partial and transitory acts. (63) He also states The philanthropist too often surrounds mankind with the remembrance of his own cast-off griefs as an atmosphere, and calls it sympathy. (63-64) What Thoreau is saying is that most people who call themselves philanthropist really dont give that much, for their acts are partial. He also means that when most philanthropist do something for somebody in need, it is just too build themselves up and to make them seem great. Thoreau does not believe those real philanthropists exist. Stephen Crane disagrees. Although it is rare to see, Crane shows people showing kindness even if they do not have much. When tommy dies, he clutch[ed] a flower that the girl Maggie had stolen from an Italian. This was a true act of philanthropy. Maggie didnt have anything, but she still found a way to give to the less fortunate. She did not do this to get recognized by anyone, she just did it to be kind. Another example is when after Maggie was rejected out of her own home, an old alcoholic lady says to Maggie, well come in an stay wi me tehnight. The old lady didnt have much, but she still offered help to somebody in need. Crane shows how true philanthropy does exist, and not all of it is for personal gain. Philanthropists dont need to be big and rich, they just need to have the right incentive to help others. Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane agreed on philanthropy, but not philanthropist.

Another topic that Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane disagree on is the subject of self-reliance. Thoreau is very passionate about this subject. His entire book Walden, is about his own self-reliance in the woods. Thoreau chose to live alone and to rely on nobody but himself for a little over two years. He also talks about self-reliance in the chapter Economy. Thoreau believes that it is easier to gain self reliance and to live a happy life when you live simple and wisely. (53) Thoreau goes on to say that to maintain ones self esteem on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime. (53) What he is saying is that life becomes better and easier when people just let it happen and when they only rely on themselves. He also thinks there is no need to try and work hard to maintain ones self esteem when it can happen naturally and doesnt have to be so troublesome. Stephen Crane does not agree. Although he doesnt state it exactly, throughout the book, we see the main character Maggie struggling to find her way through life because there was nobody around to the help that she needed. As a result, Maggie has to resort to prostitution to make a living. The reader can see how difficult it is to live a successful or nice life without ever being showed compassion or help. Maggie has nobody to show her how to become a wonderful young lady. Her mother was a drunkard and would frequently roar at her (59) Also, Maggies father and youngest brother died, and her surviving brother Jimmy eventually tells Maggie to go the hell. Another huge person in Maggies life, her boyfriend Pete, also let her down when she most needed him. She was pale. From her eyes had been plucked all look of self-reliance. She leaned with a dependent air toward her companion. (73) Maggie devoted so much of her time and trust into Pete, for she thought she would help her, which he didnt. In the end, Pete just cheated on Maggie, then left her. After all of this pain in Maggies life, Maggie committed suicide and died away into a silence. (89) Crane believes that a lack of help and support can ruin ones life, and that self-reliance ends terribly.

Henry David Thoreau, in Walden, and Stephen Crane, in Maggie, A Girl of the Streets, compare in their views on philanthropy, but contrast in their views on philanthropist and self-reliance. Thoreau and Crane both believe that philanthropy is needed, but greatly overrated. Although they agree on that subject, they disagree on philanthropist and self-reliance. Thoreau believes that all philanthropist only care about themselves and that self-reliance is the best way to live while Crane believes that true philanthropist are real and that self-reliance is impossible and will get you nowhere.

Works Cited

Crane, Stephen.Maggie A Girl of the Streets. Ed. Kevin J. Hayes. N.p.: Bedford Cultural Editions, 1999. Print.Thoreau, Henry David. "Walden, Economy."

Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau. Ed. Joseph Wood Krutch. 1854. N.p.: Bantam Books, 1962. 107-65. Print.