ipl-logo

The Difference Between Henry David Thoreau And Frederick Douglass

644 Words3 Pages

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. It is hard to tell which one really made the …show more content…

He really innated the use of logos. They idea did not come across immediately but one the reader had though on the issue from some time the idea has become clear. He also used his writings as a tool to guide the way people think. Thoreau seemed more focused on reason; why is slavery wrong? Why should we give them freedom? Is giving them freedom better or worse for them, they have no education, no home no idea how to live? Could they adapt? These examples and many more were questions were raised by Thoreau’s writing even though it was not necessarily about slavery. Using an indirect approach makes it more adaptable to any circumstance. Unlike Douglas, Thoreau did not have a personal experience that he could incorporate into his writings. He was white, never owned slaves and had never been owned yet he knew that it was wrong. He used his intellect to show people how to think about slavery. In his except “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”, he talks about finding a nice place to live, he goes through questions about how his action will change the world around him and really thinks about his decision. This thinking process is exactly what he wanted people to apply to the issue of slavery,
Thoreau and Douglas seem to be the exact opposite, Thoreau was a free, white, Harvard educated man while, Douglas was a black, escaped, self-educated slave however, they both and the same moral compass. They as well as many other knew slavery was wrong and use their voices and talents to speak out against this injustice. Their writings as well as their actions make the perfect pair. Douglas more personal while Thoreau more philosophical yet they tie together so flawlessly that they can be associated together without even being written on the same

Show More
Related
676 Words | 3 Pages

Douglas was born forty years before Washington. Despite the age difference they managed to meet each other later in life. These two black American men are famous for their successes in life. They were both slaves. However, they differ in their relationships to their families, how they gained freedom, and how they

Read More
245 Words | 1 Pages

Both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were important political figures, and they still are. It is important to remember them for what they have done for the Unites States of America. They both have greatly impacted our lives today in creating diversity for younger generations. Even they had their own friendly relationship with each other. But it was not very friendly when first starting off when they met.

Read More
284 Words | 2 Pages

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are two icons of the abolition of the slavery, although they had different life background and different public role, they fought for the same goal at the time of the emancipation. Abraham Lincoln born in America, he was a politician and believed that slavery was immoral and a social evil, he also was elected as President of The united Stated and during his tenure he lead the civil war, proclaimed the emancipation. On the other hand Frederick Douglass was a fugitive slave who later became a writer and a reformer activist, he also was an abolitionist who hates the slavery and believed that no one is the owner of other person. Both, Lincoln and Douglas each one with their own s political and social position

Read More
265 Words | 2 Pages

Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. Both were grand figures in history, noted for their contributions to the end of slavery, although both came from radically different backgrounds. For instance, both their childhoods were incredibly different. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery, and was also illiterate due to the strict rules prohibiting slaves from becoming educated. He spent much time as a child learning to read from the poor white children, whom he gave food in return for their teachings.

Read More
247 Words | 1 Pages

Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass both have interesting ways of writing. There are similarities and differences in their writing. They each have their own personal preference toward their style, tone, and perspective. Each story was a remembrance of boyhood written in first person. As evident, Twain’s story takes place as a boy in a town on the Mississippi River.

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

Both men had the same ideas, and were preaching pretty much the same thing we well, that “liberty or slavery must become the law of the land”. Although never have met before both men already knew who the other one was. Douglass however had mistrust towards Lincoln due to Lincoln being an “opportunistic politician”. Fredrick Douglass was so consumed in in the general elevation of blacks that he wouldn't even notice when he would contradict himself.

Read More
268 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
691 Words | 3 Pages

Lincoln’s and Douglass’s views differed from Davis’s because they did not consider the slaves as a chattel. Lincoln declared slavery illegal in the Confederate States in the famous Emancipation Proclamation. There is a famous quote form Douglass: where justice is denied and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Also, their views differed from Lydia Maria Child’s. Lincoln and Douglass believed the Constitution should be a protection against, rather than a sanction for slavery.

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
895 Words | 4 Pages

However, Thoreau writes to the common American people because they are directly affected by the government. He is trying to connect with the people willing to take a stand and speak out against the government with him. Also, he is writing to the people who oppose the Mexican war and slavery. Regardless of who King and Thoreau were writing too, they both delivered their arguments in an effective

Read More
897 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
515 Words | 3 Pages

Both men were pro civil disobedience, However the two had different ways of showing civil disobedience. For example on page 395, in the first paragraph which explained that even when peaceful revolution it used a problem will always be encounter. Gandhi protested tax on salt by marching as seen in paragraph 3 and Thoreau protested tax on the voting poll according to page 395 paragraph two. Another difference between the two is that gandhi hurt people around him because he persuaded people to strike with him, according to paragraph four in the last sentence. Thoreau stood only for his beliefs, so once he ran into the law it was on him.

Read More
472 Words | 2 Pages

Thoreau and Gandhi have a similarity, they both were locked up in prison. The reason why Gandhi and Thoreau were locked up is because people thought it had to do something with the government. The government would see Gandhi and Thoreau as a threat to society, because they think both Gandhi and Thoreau is trying to overthrow the government. Gandhi’s writing happens before the protest begins, and Thoreau’s writing happens when he is in jail for not paying the poll tax. Another similarities with Gandhi and Thoreau is when they wrote their expressions against the laws.

Read More
435 Words | 2 Pages

Frederick Douglas and Booker T. Washington worked both hard to help their race, but had a variety of similar and differing experiences. They both were born slaves, well known speakers, and writers. These great men and a large and positive impact on

Read More
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”.

Read More

More about The Difference Between Henry David Thoreau And Frederick Douglass

Related Topics

Open Document