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Comparing Henry David Thoreau And Gandhi

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In order to be an effective and powerful speaker and to be able to influence your audience, you must be able to think in a more abstract manner. Both Henry David Thoreau and Mahatma Gandhi have mastered this ability to sway their followers and become elite leaders with the use of different grammatical strategies. Mahatma was born in Porbandar, India, which is a coastal town in eastern India. In a different region of the hemisphere, Thoreau was born in Concord Massachusetts. While being born on opposite sides of the world, both of these men had the same goal in mind. Although it required some effort, the men concerted to trade ideas, tactics, and strategies that they had found useful. Both men were very powerful speakers, and being that they …show more content…

When Thoreau states, “If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth - certainly the machine will wear out.” he speaks of the government as if it was a machine. Thus meaning that perhaps the government is a machine that runs on the people for instance. Furthermore, the friction he refers to could reference the people to act out of the norm, such as to quit paying taxes and other normally unlawful acts that would hinder this “machine” useless. Although Gandhi writes with less complex verbiage, he still uses strategies such as metaphors to acquire his audience's attention. In one such metaphor where Gandhi states, “One way is to smash the head of the man who perpetrates injustice and to get your own head smashed in the process.” he states that the ultimate end is to have one's head smashed. This is not to be taken in a literal sense, but it is meant to be viewed as a means to an end. Rebellion would lead to death or being arrested instead of an actual head smashing, but the metaphor is used to communicate the amount of severity that injustice would cause. These men both have very similar goals, and they wish to make the people realize the truth and take a stand for their wellbeing. Although they came from opposite sides of the world, they are both connected with the interest to put an end to unjust

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King Kamehameha I born 1758-1819 was the first chief to ever conquer all the island of Hawaii. He won against all the chief of the islands. Adolf Hitler born in 1889-1945 was a Germany soldier in 1914 at age 25. He fought for his and his people’s right even if other believed it is wrong. Even though they are unknown to each other, that make them so similar or different?

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While Thoreau’s admiration for the true human spirit and self-reliance is admirable it is also problematic because it is from a privileged viewpoint. Thoreau is also a hyper intelligent, able-bodied man in the early 19th century. And Fredrick Douglass might also represent a privileged viewpoint because he was able to recognize forms of the system that was constructed around him because of his hyper intelligence. While reading and exploring thought elevated his self-reliance and independence it was his own personal intelligence and determination to be able to dismantle his social barriers. While I do not believe Douglass is the only slave to push back on his physical and mental bondage, it can be assumed that it was not the norm of American Slavery because then slavery might

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In my opinion Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. have very similar purposes in their writings. Both author 's are writing to protest unfair laws. But they also have very different audiences. In Civil Disobediance, Thoreau writes how those who break unjust laws should suffer the consequences as a protest to the laws.

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Thoreau vs. Ben Franklin Henry David Thoreau and Ben Franklin are both very different in beliefs but are still both considered great writers in American History. Their religious views for one were very different but both were wise for the world they were in. They also had some similarities on the nature of man and society. Henry David Thoreau believed in Transcendentalism, which is coming one with nature and humans should be self reliant.

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Fredrick Douglas and Henry David Thoreau have the same ideas yet different experiences which shine through their writings. The main idea is that I would have had no idea that Thoreau was an abolitionist from this writing alone. This excerpt from Thoreau is extremely philosophical, as were most of his other writings, and could only loosely be applied to the issue of slavery while Douglas’ writing was strictly an autobiography. This simple difference goes a long way in highlighting their differences as rights activists. Douglas is direct and evokes change through his actions and words while Thoreau is indirect, yet he makes you think about your decisions and how they affect the world around you.

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Thoreau 's views on the government by comparing the government to a machine. He states, ”When the machine was producing injustice, it was the duty of conscientious citizens to be ‘a counter friction’ (i.e., a resistance) "to stop the machine.” The two major issues being debated in the United States during his life was slavery and the Mexican-American War in which were major reasons he wrote his essays. In the mid to late 1840’s slavery has been indoctrinated into American society in which caused rifts between Americans.

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Civil Disobedience In the dictionary civil disobedience is the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest, but Thoreau and Martin Luther King have their own beliefs to civil disobedience. In Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” he writes about the need to prioritize one’s conscience over the dictates of laws. Martin Luther King uses civil disobedience as something that effectuates change in the government. Both Thoreau and Martin Luther King has similar yet different perspectives on civil disobedience.

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90 Words | 1 Pages

Kamehameha and Gandhi were both effective leaders because they both made a bold move, they both made the society better, and they both helped their own country. However, some differences were that they were born in a different level of class, Kamehameha fought physically when Gandhi didn’t, and lastly, the two leaders wanted different things. While Kamehameha wanted to rule, Gandhi wanted peace. Even though Kamehameha and Gandhi were effective leaders, they both had a different plan and strategy to fight. On the other hand, they were both amazing leaders.

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The main similarity in the writings of Thomas Jefferson and Henry David Thoreau is the idea of revolution against an abusive government. The main difference is the context in which each document was written, the Declaration of Independence as the colonies were rebelling against Great Britain and forming their own government, and Civil Disobedience as criticisms of the government developed within nearly seventy-five years after the signing of the Declaration. Both Jefferson and Thoreau share ideas of revolution, although overthrowing the government is seen in many cases as illegal. Both documents share a common theme of revolution, and both authors believe the best way to move toward a better government is civil disobedience. Jefferson and Thoreau believe that whether it is the struggle for independence or being freed from injustices of the government, civil disobedience and revolution are necessary in order to live in a society based on freedom.

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Both Civil Disobedience and the Gandhi article are alike based on the fact they both discuss civil disobedience, attending prison, and standing for one’s beliefs. Civil disobedience can be seen as a good thing and a bad thing depending on to what extent one is breaking the laws. Some people may break the law because they feel that it is unfair to them but others break the for the simple fact of doing what they want in order for it to benefit themselves. Laws are meant for the majority which means even if they are not pertaining to certain citizens. Thoreau targeted laws that pertained to him, Gandhi went on strike for the better of his country and people.

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Gandhi once said “It is the acid test of non-violence,” “that in a non-violent conflict there is no rancor left behind and, in the end, the enemies are converted into friends.” For example, Gandhi expected Britain to allow India’s independence after World War I, but it did not happen,

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Transcendentalist writers were focused on the belief of the divinity of the individual soul, the inner voice, (Crawford, Kern & Needleman, 1961) to overcome social stereotypes and to avoid conformity. It is highlighted the importance to return to nature to enhance the quality of humans beings by living simply since being apart of common social rules is the only way to be in communion with nature’s wisdom. Those transcendental characteristics could be seen in Emerson’s ¨self-reliance¨ or Thoreau’s ¨Walden ¨ bearing in mind that although, Emerson’s ¨Self-reliance¨ adheres more descriptive examples to illustrate metaphors and Thoreau’s ¨Where I lived and what I lived for¨ introduces metaphors creating much more imagery, both make a critique of the modern individual using

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472 Words | 2 Pages

A big reason different from Gandhi and Thoreau, is Thoreau talks about his opinion on the government and laws. Thoreau mostly talks how he wants to fight back against the laws that are not right. Gandhi is speaking to everyone and how to change things. Gandhi is trying to change by not creating violence. Gandhi believed in peaceful protest to gain access to having freedom.

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748 Words | 3 Pages

He wrote “The mass of men serve the State thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, &c.” (Resistance 753). This comes from Thoreau’s thoughts about the government. He feels that one cannot live deliberately while still serving the government, and that those who do serve the government are machines. They don’t make their own decisions because the government makes their choices for them.

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658 Words | 3 Pages

Thoreau had completely different views and perspectives than Gandhi. Thoreau believed in breaking the law if it is unjust or abusive. In the essay Civil Disobedience it says “I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest”.

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