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Through paragraphs 7 and 8, Henry David Thoreau utilizes certain rhetorical strategies to convey his attitude toward life, generally being that he dislikes the impostor way of life in which everyone lives now. His message through this writing of his is that he plans to actually “live” the ideal way of life, which is the way of life that has always been meant to be for everyone.…
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4. Thoreau states that, “no government would be best”. However, as a citizen what does he call for at once? Why?…
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Thoreau starts his essay by condemning his fellow countrymen’s actions, or rather, inaction. They and Thoreau share similar moral beliefs, but they refuse to take any action towards them.…
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Thoreau begins his essay by arguing that the government intervenes too much and it would be better if they were not involved at all. He believes men are too absent minded and do whatever the government says without thinking about their morals. Those who listen and follow the government are not wise and do not trust their conscience.…
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This passage is a very powerful one because Thoreau does not badger the government. Instead of saying that the government should change one thing into another thing he suggests that the government should re-evaluate something that needs change, and asks the government officials to take other viewpoints into consideration. In modern times, people have shown how uneducated are by having the audacity to say things like our country would be better off without a government. When people make statements like this, or take a similar approach towards a topic, they show how truly uneducated they are. Without a government, our country would be in complete havoc and turmoil. The mindsets of people in the 1500’s were completely different to the mindsets of people now. In today’s world, people have become accustomed to a society that is filled with drama and sarcasm. Because of this, people are constantly ridiculed and have learned to ignore the opinions of others. In the 1500’s the people wouldn’t make unrealistic statements because they didn’t want their opinion being made a joke, and would feel both humiliated and embarrassed if they were ridiculed by their…
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"He keeps casting conformity behind him". Henry David Thoreau was never one to conform to society's norms. It is very apparent that this entire play's main idea is nonconformity. That is the way Thoreau lived his life. Many transcendentalists speak of what they wish to live their life as, however, it was Thoreau who went further than just discussing Transcendentalism; he put it into practice when he refused to pay the poll tax that supported the war efforts. He lived in the way he viewed as correct, rather than the way society told him to live. For example, when he completely leaves society behind and goes into the woods to thrive on his own and when he went against the teaching methods of the time period and of religious views. He never wanted to be like anybody else, and this play reflects both his personality and beliefs. If he was told to do something that he seemed unfit or contradicting everything he believed in, then he just wouldn't do it.…
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My thoughts: Here Mr. Thoreau states what he feels represent government in his day. He…
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“Few people are capable of expressing opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment.” (Albert Einstein) Many people choose not to speak up in public because they feel their own point of view might not be widely shared. Although this may be true, there a few individuals are willingly able to express their thoughts on social issues. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden demonstrates how an individual, like himself, has the ability to confront the problems that manifest itself within a flawed society. Thoreau’s novel Walden chronics the two years he spent living in a cabin near the woods, next to Walden Pond. Many readers may assume that Walden is based on naturalism due to his surroundings in the wilderness, while others might interpret it as a journey towards a simple…
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In the first two paragraphs Thoreau is using local reasoning, he is giving facts about events that have happened in our history to help build our government to how it is today. He them goes into ethical reasoning. He is trying to explain to people that we need a better government, one that does less in personal affairs and gives everyone the chances that they deserve. “Government is best which governs least.” He is placing his own thoughts out on the page, so people see where he is standing with the government. Thoreau is using what people think about the government to help aid him in his letter. He knows that not everyone is happy with how the government is currently working, and he uses this to his advantage.…
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In his opening paragraph, he declares the bold and audacious statements: ‘[...] government is best which governs least [...]’ (lines 1-2) followed by, ‘[...] government is best which governs not at all [...]’ (line 4). Immediately the audience is—very clearly—exposed to his argument, which has an immense amount of force behind it. This is vital for Thoreau’s argument, as throughout his essay the audience hears a very strong and passionate voice, urging them to feel the same way about the topic, and that they too have been wronged by the government. Alongside Thoreau’s very forceful and powerful tone, a candid and critical tone is present. ‘This American government—what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity?’ (lines 18-20). This very prominent line denounces the American government’s rectitude, implying that its partiality has reached to the point where it is just a pattern, and continued to increasingly execute unequitable behaviour. Though his attitude sounds negative and pessimistic, Thoreau does make a petition for action from society with an encouraging tone. ‘[...] I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it...’ (lines 45-48). Here, Thoreau uses ethos, as he knows that every man (and woman) wants to be respected, which then builds motivation for the people to take action against the current unjust government instead of heeding to its indoctrinated…
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the majority opinion or the accepted norms to society. The Night Thoreau presents a work that…
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A free thinking society ought to exercise its right to think freely; without doing so, civilization halts at a precipice. For instance, Thoreau, in his argument for Civil Disobedience, argues that citizens simply…
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Thoreau writes down his experience and what he learned in an essay called “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”. In the essay he talks about deciding to live on a pond, only a couple miles from the city, but to him an unexplored corner of the universe. He wants to live deliberately and to simplify his life. “Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life? We are determined to be starved before we are hungry.” (63) The world was moving too fast so to enjoy life he needed to slow down. According to Thoreau, newspapers are useless. He talks about how they never tell us anything new. Most of mankind spends their mornings working at a job that they do not like; they are slaves to a career and aren’t able to enjoy the natural world around them. Thoreau realizes this and gets critical of civilized society. In the end he says that all people can improve their lives if only they live more simply. If man removes himself from social existence, he can begin to grasp reality.…
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Due to the financial crisis there have been many changes made to government programs to reduce costs and help with debt. Many of these cuts are happening statewide, in America’s public schools. The first programs that are being cut are the art programs, and the excuse is that the core classes are more important. The argument is that children need to be more focused on test scores in Math, Science, English and History. It is unfair to single out art classes, there should be a more even spread of budget cuts, not just the sole elimination of the arts. There are parents who are indifferent with the arts and they are unfazed by their removal from elementary public schools. What many of these parents do not recognize is that there are actually benefits of the arts that help with core subjects. Some benefits are strengthening problem solving skills, stimulating critical thinking and helping developmental growth. There is also a duel component that shows that there is a direct correlation between SAT test scores and art programs in schools, as well as higher participation and attendance. It has also been shown that the arts can help boost the economy.…
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4. In the similes in paragraph 2, Thoreau compares men to ants and pygmies. The rhetorical significance of this is the symbolism behind this comparison. Both ants and pygmies may seem strong but in the end, all of these actions are not beneficial and have no purpose to them. This parallels Thoreau’s point of a person who lives for the future and not for the present. The person is wasting a day while wishing for another. The person did not capture the pleasure of living and that is the problem Thoreau wants to exploit.…
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