Rhetorical Analysis On Civil Disobedience

At the beginning of “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, he states that “‘That Government is best which governs least’, and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically”. This opening statement likely best captures Thoreau’s opinion of an ideal government; one which is involved minimally in making decisions for the people, yet is wise enough to prevent society from falling into an unguided system that may run astray. Thoreau views that all aspects of society are corrupted or incompetent in one way or another, and that the root of these problems stems from the inability for the government to do its job correctly.
Thoreau begins his paper with a call to the people to change the government to cease their treatment
Thoreau’s government would appreciate him because he is an intellectual man, and a smart government should be filled with like-minded smart individuals who aren’t prone to corruption or an attraction to mere physical power like the government at present is. In fact, Thoreau mentions several times that his as is focused on what he views as the inferior physical power over his superior power of the mind. He mentioned in part one that the individuals under the state were nothing more than machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia…” implying that the state will even go so far as to turn people into physical material for their lust for personal power.
Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience is a glimpse into some of his political views regarding priorities of a state of government, and what values are important in establishing a “better government” as he sees it. Throughout the paper, he repeatedly states that this government should value people as individuals, be made up of wise individuals, and value wise and innovative individuals such as he to be successful in making a state that values the individual and has respect for itself as