Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience

Henry David Thoreau’s essay, Civil Disobedience, goes deeply into the presence of unjust laws, and what can be done to combat these in the growing and rising United States. In the section of the essay which begins with “Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them…”; David Thoreau has a valid point in the need to make changes through persuasion, if at all possible, and it not, by force. Some people may think of using force to change laws as rebellious and unpatriotic, but if the laws are unjust to begin with, may it be of the people’s interest to do something about it? Thoreau put emphasis on citizen participation in the government- without citizen participation, he paints a picture of tyranny and unguided power within the nation’s government.

“Why does it always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels.” Arguably the most heavy and important line in all of David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, he takes a swing at those challenging his anarchist idea’s by showing that the United States itself was formed by people, like Washington and Franklin, who challenged the government of the United Kingdom, and used force to overturn unjust laws and begin a nation that caters to change and that is open to reform. Not only does he show the need for force in the cases of changing unjust laws, he connects it to the foundations of the nation. By showing some of the world’s wisest and most important people, such as Christ and Copernicus as rebels and disobedient citizens, David Thoreau proves a valid point to people that unjust laws do indeed exists, and change needs to be

Although his essay, Civil Disobedience did not turn into legislation, and did not become a founding document for the US, it was still a critical influence in guiding the developing nation into what it is today. With the help of David Thoreau, the United States was turned into a nation based around just laws and a democratic process that allowed citizen to decide the fate of their nation rather than a monarchy or dictatorship where few people determine life and laws for the many. The section analyzed was the strongest in persuading readers to keep checks on their government and to keep it in line. There is no stronger language within the rest on Civil Disobedience than “Why does it always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels.” This line gives a connection to many people during the time the essay was written by comparing their highest prophets to the type of individual the essay is convincing the reader to