Friday, April 22, 2016

Romantic: Henry David Thoreau: Walden

read economy closely, "suck the marrow," section; skim chapters after; loon section; anthill (sandhill) chapter
  • Master plots; wikipedia
  • Literature resource center
    • subject guide
Resistence - section in jail
  • taken by Ghandi & MLK
Economy
  • He wants each person to find his own way, not follow what he does
  • He doesn't feel that philanthropy is a positive act -- rather he wants people to be self-sustaining
  • Don't give them what you want to give them, give them what they need
  • Poor people will be accustomed to receiving donations, and will not choose to work for it
  • If they don't want help, let them be
  • People may be able to be anonymous in their philanthropy
  • When anonymous, you still know you're doing it
  • Don't have debt so your not tied to it
  • People are slave drivers to themselves
  • The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation
  • Live simply and go back to the roots and live in accordance with the Earth
    • Not talking to the valiant, being well employed, talking to the lost
  • Clothing should not be chosen for fashion
  • Anti-capitalist (factories)
  • Trapped under inheritance
  • Live simply & wisely
Where I live and what I live for?
  • Discusses the beauty of nature and the necessity to enjoy it
  • Thoreau wants to immerse himself in it
  • We need to simplify our minds
Sounds
  • Discusses the sound of a train
  • After the train passes, he notices how alone he is, however he's happy to not be on it
  • Mentions the bull frogs, whip or wills
Solitude
  • How are we alone/only when we're in the Milky way? we're part of a huge solar system
    • He's not alone if he's talking to us while he experiences it
Higher laws
  • Takes care of his body - a man's body is his temple
  • Disgusted by people that eat meat
  • He's contradictory - he also eats meat
  • Switches between pro/anti-hunting
  • Pro vegetarian
  • Sounds like a man can do no right while having an appetite - the only good is while working
  • Romantics always go overboard while contradicting themselves
  • By citing multiple religions, he gets very extreme with cleanliness

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