Walden, S Views Of Economy In Thoreau's Walden

The first chapter of the Walden is Economy. Therefore, in the chapter economy, there is Thoreau’s idea that he wants to make a living practically and cleverly. Dignity and unification are the support for his ideal spiritual life; however, his idea about economy focus on the way of making a living in the society.

America or many other countries are based on the capitalistic economy. Thus, it is necessary to think about economy. In the first place, the word, economy, reminds us of the movement of the money, trading between the countries, negotiation, proprietary wealth, employment and labor. Generally speaking, the more they have wealth, the more they succeed in economy. Therefore, developed country should be the country which succeed in economy,

That is, Thoreau suggests finding out what you really value and really need for your life. Thus, Thoreau try to solve this problem from an economic view of point. Thoreau states that everyone seems to treat economy carelessly; however, “economy is a subject which admits of being treated with levity, but it cannot so be disposed of” (72). When they treat economy carefully and look at their problem from a different angle, they would realize that it is not so serious problem. Almost all their problems do not come from lack of the necessary for life but come from lack of the luxury. They do not understand the difference between necessary and luxury at

In his opinion, “the grand necessary […], for our body, is to keep warm, to keep the vital heat in us” (56). In this point, House, clothing and food are necessaries for the life, necessary does not change from ancient age, and all purpose of them is to keep warm. That is, if he has a house, clothes and food to keep his vital heat, that is enough. In terms of keeping warm, savage people know better than people live in Concord. Thoreau says, “In the savage state every family owns a shelter as good as the best, and sufficient for its coarser and simpler wants” (72). Wants mean warmth. So savage people do not live in developed city, and they do not have large amount of money; nevertheless, every savage people have a comfortable house. Thoreau indicates that “the savage owns his [house] because it costs so little, while the civilized man hires his commonly because he cannot afford to own it” (73). The savage’s house has so simple structure, they can build it for a few days. Therefore, if they think only about warmth, necessary of life, of the house, it is not difficult to own their house. Moreover, they can own comfortable house without any