Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

In the United States, political participation is embraced as integral for ensuring an egalitarian and democratic government; the contemporary meaning of participation, as discussed by Cindy Patton, places an emphasis on the actions individuals have with a larger, more interconnected society (Patton 253). More often than not, participation demands an individual to contribute and donate for the "greater good" of society. In the essay "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau discusses an effective model of participation which fosters the opportunity for an individual, regardless of citizenship status, to contribute for the "greater good" of society. Although some may say that Thoreau's model of participation draws on bias accounts of participation, his model allows for the "common man" to participate, regardless of citizenship status. Many people assume that Thoreau's model of participation is bias because of the various assumptions in his accounts; for example, his account of refusing to pay tax in fear

In the second section of the essay, Thoreau describes the nation as being ruled by a "machine of government" that demands individuals to be the agents of injustice.(Thoreau 4) Thoreau asserts, "If it[the government] is such of nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law" (Thoreau 6). Thoreau is proposing that participation on behalf of individuals is vital when the government forces individuals to infringe on the rights of other individuals. In his case, Thoreau asks his fellow taxpayer, the vessel of injustice, to participate in fighting against the Mexican American War and the institution of slavery by resigning from office (Thoreau 7). His model of participation encourages individuals to scrutinize the state and the hold state accountable of injustices it