The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail Analysis

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s maxim, “Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense”, Emerson supports the notion of individuality and conveying one’s beliefs without the fear of controversy. This maxim relates to the play, “The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail”, in which the main character Henry doesn’t conform societal expectations and stays true to his beliefs. While instructing a class of students, Henry refuses to teach according to the school’s curriculum. He is criticized by the Deacon and is scolded for dismissing the administration’s rules. Despite this, Henry continues to argue against the use of the school’s textbooks and denounces the idea of religion. He recognizes the contributions that individual has on society and