In Thoreau's "Civil Obedience" metaphor and parallelism are utilized to support his notion that the government fails to be one that is satisfactory. Thoreau's usage of metaphor expresses the uselessness that the government is. He writes, " It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves..." Here, Thoreau compares the government to a wooden gun, saying that it is as useless as one. He believes that the government is but a wooden gun to the people meaning that it is as useful for the people as a wooden gun would help a person, not useful at all.
Thoreau uses rhetorical strategies to establish
This poll tax was for prosecuting war on Mexico, which Thoreau disagreed with, therefore, he did not pay it. In the passage, Thoreau used many different rhetorical devices and appeals, such as anaphora and repetition to emphasize the
Thoreau believes that while his neighbors and himself are creating movement in opposite directions, they are drawing attention to an issue. This is evident in paragraph 16 where Thoreau states, “Action from principle,—the perception and the performance of right,—changes things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary, and does not consist wholly with anything which was. It not only divides states
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
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.
Thoreau uses a disappointment and critical tone to get the reader to focus on his seriousness and to demonstrate the importance of having an unjust government. For instance, “His vote is of no more worth than that of any unprincipled foreigner or hireling native, who may have been bought ” (Thoreau 4). Thoreau critics the electoral process to demonstrate that leaders are not much different from people like slaves because they are all human and that is all that matters, which means they have no authority and should not disrespect people of color. Letter from a Birmingham Jail was written in a calm, polite, passionate, informative, humble and frustrated tone towards the end. For example, “I beg you forgive me: If I have said anything that understates the truth.”
Thoreau, knowing the widely accepted value of justice, says "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. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine. " His goal here is to inspire individuals to break unjust laws, to ultimately achieve the perfect idea of a government. By convincing his audience that civil disobedience is ethically and morally right, he achieves that goal.
Henry Thoreau’s Guide to the Presidential Election Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience inspired many political leaders, such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., and as a result is considered by many to be one of the most influential political pieces ever written by an American. Such an influential piece can be applied to many political issues from all ages since its origin in 1849, even today’s overwhelming presidential election. All of the components of the ongoing election have been unorthodox and, at times, insane. Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience gives insight to the issues regarding the upcoming presidential election, as well as possible solutions. First, Thoreau makes it evident in Civil Disobedience that a vast majority of the government is
Thoreau believes “that government is best which governs least” and “that government is best which governs not at all” (Thoreau 1). Thoreau has exceptionally low expectations toward the government, he does not believe in the government because “they have persuaded the majority to alter them” ( Thoreau 1).Just like the armies also viewed as machines are programmed to function, the government has also managed to have their citizens alter them. Thoreau criticizes they way the government manages their issues because the government's remedy to issues is worst than the evil, they claim to take care of an issue but in reality they make it worst which expands to the issue that government is not capable of being equitable because it is filled with unjust individual who are brainwashed to do the task they are programmed to do. Individuals usually pursue the crowd, but Thoreau desires that one individual will wrangle to bring change to society.
In the second paragraph, Thoreau asks, "This American government- what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity?" This passage identifies the disparity between the purpose of the "American government" and its endeavor not to become "impaired" throughout history. Thoreau later addresses the issue of majority rule by raising a series of rhetorical questions with the objective of underlining the contrast between the professed motives of the government and its practices. Thoreau identifies that the conscience, which ought to guide the "majorities" does not articulate itself in legislation. Thus, majority rule does not succeed in guaranteeing justice because of the mediation of the legislative apparatus.
Individuals lay the foundation of America. The Founding Fathers of this unique nation broke their allegiance with Great Britain to create an improved governing body. They desired an individual-centered authority as opposed to Britain’s monarchy, which ruled with tyranny. These Founding Fathers experienced a neglectful democratic monarchy that cared little about the ethical treatment of its people. The domineering actions of Britain challenged these historic individuals to form a new cultural identity.
You can’t walk in the woods and see a leaf that doesn’t quite know if it wants to fall to the ground or stay on the tree. Thoreau noticed this, and thought that if people could be decisive in the same way that nature was, then they could “live deep and suck out all the marrow of life… live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put as to put to rout all that was not life… cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner…” (Walden 771) This is something that Thoreau highly valued. He wanted to live as his own person, which was, in his mind, best accomplished by living in nature and not being involved with the government.
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)
In the United States, people always talk about freedom and equality. Especially they want elections could be more democratic. In American Democracy in Peril, Hudson’s main argument regarding chapter five “Election Without the People’s Voice,” is if elections want to be democratic, they must meet three essential criteria, which are to provide equal representation of all citizens, to be mechanisms for deliberation about public policy issues, and to control what government does. Unfortunately, those points that Hudson mentions are what American elections do not have. American elections do not provide equal representation to everyone in the country.
