Transcendentalism In Walden

Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden is about his time living alone in a small cabin located in the midst of forest in Massachusett. Thoreau’s work is part individual revelation of freedom, social analysis, and a manual for self-reliance. Throughout Walden, Thoreau expresses that life in the 1800s was becoming too commercial, complex, and fast paced and that people need to start resisting conformity and instead strive for individuality. During the time period that Walden was written America transformed from an immature country of agriculturists and frontiersmen into a urbanized monetary powerhouse while at the same time tensions between the north and south were brewing regarding slavery and economic interests that would eventually result in the civil war. I agree with the views that Thoreau expressed in Walden regarding the complexity that was pre civil war American society because the first half of the nineteenth century were among the most disordered and chaotic in the history of the United States. But I disagree with Thoreau’s belief that American society during this time was becoming too fast paced and commercialized due to the fact that by 21st century standards the pace of

Additionally what Thoreau considered fast pace and commericalzed during the 1800s pales in comparison to the globilazed, technological place that is 21st centruy America. The viewpoints and ideas expressed throughout the essay will continue to priovide readers with a front row view to the Transcendentalist movement and the importance of simplicity in an increasingliny complicated global world that we live