Walden And Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

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Should society be required to pay taxes which fund unjust causes? In Walden and Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau reflects upon the punishment he was given by the government for standing up for what he believed was correct. He says, “… there was a wall of stone between me and my townsmen, there was a still more difficult one to climb or break through, before they could get to be as free as I was” (Thoreau 289). Thoreau is not successful in persuading the audience he has greater degree of mental freedom than anyone else because he fails in credibility, emotional appeal, and logic. Thoreau has no experience to back up his claims. He was put in jail after he refused to pay a poll tax during the Mexican-American War. Thoreau believes the …show more content…

The use of inspiring phrases and words such as “break through” and “free” should persuade the reader, but Thoreau’s lack of connection to the common man drives the audience away. To the reader, it seems that Thoreau is too disconnected from the world; he does not know how to interact with ordinary people. He looks down upon everyday citizens as if he is better than them. Though he places himself on a high pedestal, Thoreau does not understand how fortunate he is. While most people in his era were struggling to put food on the table, Thoreau lived in the woods pondering his mind on a full stomach. Thoreau’s emotional interaction with the audience causes separation between the two parties because he fails to appeal to the …show more content…

Thoreau fails to consider that not everyone was afforded the opportunity to attend a top tier college such as Harvard. He frequently compares his life and educational level to those less fortunate than him. The audience may ask why Thoreau, with such a great education, believes his tax protest will help stop the Mexican-American War. Logically, the minuscule amount of money he owes the government is likely to do nothing to help the American campaign. If no one in the country paid taxes, how could the United States support and defend itself? Thoreau does not consider alternatives such as voting and an active protest demonstration; these could allow his voice to be heard by the public. Because he is not logically sound, Thoreau is not successful in capturing the audience’s

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