ipl-logo

Civil Disobedience Rhetoric

526 Words3 Pages

Historian, Henry David Thoreau, in his essay, Civil Disobedience, exploits the influence that corrupt government has on Americans. Thoreau’s purpose is to point out the government’s flaws. He adopts a defiant tone in order to expose the wrongs of the government to the American people. Thoreau begins his essay by identifying statements he believes in such as, "That government is best which governs least,” and "That government is best which governs not at all.” He appeals to resentful emotions by stating, “Witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for, in the outset, the people would not have consented to this measure.” He writes about his resentment in order to …show more content…

He criticizes citizens be stating that some citizens were “opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them.” He critiques the citizens in order to ridicule them, so that they might fight back because Thoreau believes that the most some citizens will do to state their opinion is merely, “give only a cheap vote.” This critical tone from the essayist hopefully will persuade people to speak their mind more. Thoreau closes his essay by posing a series of rhetorical questions that will hopefully motivate the citizens to become not only self-reliant, but also become more politically aware. He affirms his thought that the people should be more sovereign by stating that government “can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it. “ He reflects on his thought for less government in order to establish his final plea towards citizens. The outpourings of pleas convey an urgent tone that if the current generation does not act upon the pressing government, then no one will. In closing, Thoreau’s pointing out of American governmental flaws will hopefully inspire citizens to become more freethinking and less dependent on a corrupt system of government. His adopted defiant tone and diction has been a basis for many rebellions, revolts, and protests, and his essay is one that will never be

Show More
Related
540 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the writing “Civil Disobedience”, Thoreau spoke often of the idea he supported, which was “That government is best which governs least;” In his text he talked about not paying the government’s poll tax for 6 years, causing him to be thrown in jail. A poll tax is a tax of an equal amount of money for each individual paying it. This poll tax was for waging war on Mexico, which Thoreau disagreed with, therefore he did not pay it. When talking about his time in jail, Thoreau used many different rhetorical strategies, including an intense appeal to Pathos, as well as major uses of imagery and symbolism in order to achieve his purpose of persuading his audience that the best type of government is one one of laissez-faire.

Read More
653 Words | 3 Pages

Thoreau believes that government should be lenient with their people and work with them for their common good, Gale actions as an individual shows that he agrees. In “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau explains his belief that the government should be tolerant. He explains, “[He] heartily accepts the motto, ‘That government is best which governs least’

Read More
486 Words | 2 Pages

Thoreau starts his essay by condemning his fellow countrymen’s actions, or rather, inaction. They and Thoreau share similar moral beliefs, but they refuse to take any action towards them. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or

Read More
943 Words | 4 Pages

Thoreau and Steinbeck’s Ideals for Government Since the beginning of early societies, people have evaluated the written rights in which the government provides its people, and the unwritten rules that keep many from living freely. Henry David Thoreau, in his essay, “Civil Disobedience”, discusses the importance of protecting one’s rights and using those rights to protest the government for its discrepancies. John Steinbeck, in his novel, Grapes of Wrath, presents a similar argument in Chapter 17, through the story of a community of families with a set system of governing.

Read More
906 Words | 4 Pages

Thoreau is suggesting that the government is not doing enough for it’s people and the government needs to improve. His proposal of two ideas that contrast each other draw attention to a solution he suggests. Rhetorical strategies in writing help readers better understand an intended message and allow acceptance in opinions by introducing ideas in a creative

Read More
1112 Words | 5 Pages

In contrast, Thoreau begins his essay by criticizing the government system, and he believed that government is ineffective because of the stringent and barbarous laws. And he indicates his point when

Read More
897 Words | 4 Pages

Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience heavily criticizes the government for being too corrupt and also argues that the people have the right to refuse allegiance to the State. Because the government is unjust and corrupt, Thoreau calls for a change in how the government operates rather than abolishing the government entirely. Thoreau’s idea of a better government is a government that governs the least. This claim is elaborated as Thoreau states in his essay that the individuals with consciences should rule instead of the government officials that lack said consciences. For example, in part 1 paragraph 4, he mocks individuals such as soldiers and privates for showing respect to the government through marching admirably because they are going

Read More
820 Words | 4 Pages

By making people ponder on the unjust laws in society Thoreau hopes that it will draw more attention to the matter and convince people to help support the cause. Thoreau utilizes this strategy again to draw people’s attention towards the malfunctioning of the current government. He attended to make people question their attitude towards their government. Thoreau asks “how does it become a man to behave towards this American government today? [He answers], that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.

Read More
422 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or

Read More
2124 Words | 9 Pages

Mr. Thoreau argues that people should not allow any government to control or atrophy their thoughts or beliefs. Mr. Thoreau was an also remained a devoted abolitionist and has written

Read More
1097 Words | 5 Pages

10/27/15 Henry David Thoreau is known as one of the most influential writers of all time. His ideology is idolized by many writers including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In civil disobedience, Thoreau expresses his strong dislike for the United States government and his opposition to slavery and the Mexican War. Thoreau believes everyone has the responsibility to fight against unjust laws. He spent a night in jail because he refused to pay taxes to support the Mexican war.

Read More
673 Words | 3 Pages

The key to deconstructing Thoreau's argument is to understand his hierarchy of government and the individual. Thoreau's ideal communion between the individual and the state is manifest by the individual as a "higher and independent power". This relationship is entertained in Civil Disobedience in the analysis of Thoreau's 1846 imprisonment, in which Thoreau demonstrated freedom as an internal and subjective

Read More
137 Words | 1 Pages

Thoreau distinguishes that there will always be certain characteristics about a government that are distasteful to individuals within that government—Taxes placed on certain merchandises, for example. These little frustrations he terms the “friction” that always supplements a machine as large as a national government. But there is a key difference between a machine that produces a small amount of friction in its efforts to be productive and a machine that becomes passive to the friction it produces. When the negative and harmful aspects of a government become more predominant than the useful aspects of a government, Thoreau says, “It is a great evil to make a stir about it. But when the friction comes to have its machine, and oppression and

Read More
905 Words | 4 Pages

Henry David Thoreau begins his essay Resistance to Civil Government, also known as Civil Disobedience, by stating that governing forces rarely demonstrates itself as useful and that they obtain power from the majority of people simply because the majority is the strongest group, not because their viewpoint is the most reasonable. Thoreau argues that government only exists for the sole purpose of guaranteeing freedom for individuals. He states that he simply wishes for a better government, not to abolish it. The rule of expediency, in Thoreau’s case, can be defined as government officials putting themselves before citizens so that they themselves can be more practical and convenient. Thoreau believes the rule of expediency is an unsatisfactory

Read More
1198 Words | 5 Pages

What Thoreau means by the Civil Disobedience is that every person should be govern more by his own moral compass that gives him much clearer answer to his deeds, rather than some laws of a government. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward.” (1)

Read More

More about Civil Disobedience Rhetoric

Related Topics

Open Document