Henry David Thoreau's Where I lived, and What I Lived For

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Henry David Thoreau's Where I lived, and What I Lived For

I found Henry David Thoreau?s ?Where I Lived, and What I Lived For? made a very convincing argument. He has many examples to support his beliefs. Thoreau stresses the importance and value of living the simplest life nature affords, which I believe is as important now as it was in his day.

?Where I Lived, and What I Lived For? opens with Thoreau describing how he came to live in a small, dilapidated cabin near Walden Pond. He speaks of the many farms he imagines owning, yet never does. Thoreau describes the landscape of the pond and the surrounding area. One of the highlights of Thoreau?s simple daily routine is to watch the sun rise and set on the pond. The mornings are especially important because he believes this is the time of day that your mind is awake for intellectual thought. Thoreau writes that we should simplify our lives as much as possible, and that we should only worry about our own affairs. He then closes the paper by writing that he does not want to work any harder than he has to, but that he wants to use his mind to work through life.

One of the many ways Thoreau keeps his life simple is he only imagines buying a farm, however, he never actually does so. Instead, he uses the land only to observe and write about the landscape. By not ever actually buying the farm, Thoreau illustrates his belief that everyone should live free of commitments for as long as possible. This belief is even truer today, in that purchasing a house involves a real estate agent, banks, credit, and years of mortgages, which all add up to even more complications.

Thoreau settles in a small, simple cabin on the banks of Walden Pond. The cabin?s ...

... middle of paper ...

...horeau does a wonderful job of showing how lies complicate our lives unnecessarily.

Thoreau shows us through the use of many examples and analogies how we can and should live our lives more simplistically. Especially in today?s society, with the importance placed on technology and speed we should take note of what Thoreau has to say, ?The universe constantly and obediently answers to our conceptions: whether we travel fast or slow, the track is laid for us? (19). Thoreau closes the paper by saying he does not want to get through this life using his hands and feet, but by using his head. This is advice we should all take.

Bibliography:

Thoreau, Henry David. "Where I Lived and What I Lived For." Walden. 1854.

Project Gutenberg. Jan. 1995. U of Illinois. 1 Sept. 1998

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