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Critically analyze thoreau's essay civil disobedience
How did henry david thoreau reflect the philosophy of transcendentalism
Civil disobedience by Thoreau comment
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In the passage from "Civil Disobedience," the author, Thoreau, utilizes rhetorical devices to support his theme. Such devices include tone and diction. The theme expressed in the text is that the government is in need of change and acceptance, not a replacement. The author conveys a serious and professional tone throughout the passage. This helps add more to the seriousness of the subject and theme created which is the government needs change and acceptance, not a replacement.
To rebel against the government to defend their beliefs. As he said: ‘’Let every-man make known what government would command his respect, and that will be step towards obtaining it’’. Another point he points out is that treat their bodies as men and not as machines: ‘’The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies’’. The last example he used to influence his audience is that their treated as dirt. While the government is more of a major ruler like earth. ‘’
In Henry David Thoreau’s essay “The Duty of Civil Disobedience”, he achieves his purpose of sparking inquiry in the American public about their government and encouraging them to speak out on what they surmise as morally unfitting. He obtains his purpose through the use of metaphor and through the act of persistently asking questions throughout the essay to engage the brain to ponder on what their government is actually doing. In order to make the public ponder on how their government runs and actually treats them as citizens, he metaphorically references machines. He sparks inquiry by using metaphors to compare humans to machines.
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.
He begins by comparing those who respect the law as powder-monkeys—boys who had the job of carrying gunpowder to the military—who march in “against their common sense and conscience.” This analogy highlights the blind trust that Thoreau believes many people put in the government; and he then reasons that if that complete submission happens, are they even “men at all?” Thoreau then parallels these people to machines—who work without thought—wood, earth, stones, straw, and dirt—which are the lowest of the low—and horses and dogs—who, again, work for a higher power with no free thought or opinions. He reduces this majority of people to nothing but mindless followers. All of these comparisons help to dehumanize and belittle those that respect the law, and associate them with negative, inferior connotations, which then compels the reader to identify with the stronger
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.
Civil disobedience is characterized by the refusal to conform to specific laws or refusal to pay expenses and fines as a way to protest but in a calm manner. These humble, nonviolent protests are examples of civil disobedience. The expectations of protesters as they demonstrate these rallies are to make a social, economic, or political change. Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. where both masters of peaceful protest that contend for the rights to disobey authority if there was unfair treatment. Henry Davis Thoreau was born in Concord on July 12th, 1817.
Government systems are set in place to provide leadership and sustainability for citizens in times of need. The way in which citizen’s view the government depends; on the action taken by the government to make fair laws. They aren’t met to make unjust laws in order to suit themselves. Henry David Thoreau was a citizen of Massachusetts and saw how the government made unjust laws. Thoreau believes civil disobedience is the only way to fight back against the government.
The idea of changing something that a higher power holds against you, is the framework for the civil-disobedient ideas of Henry D. Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. They’re true definitions of civil disobedience are a little different than one another, but they all follow that simple framework. Henry D. Thoreau’s definition of civil disobedience is the original title of his book, Resistance to Civil Government. In this document Thoreau puts forth many rationales such as resisting taxes or passive resistance.
Near the beginning of his renowned essay, "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau appeals to his fellow citizens when he says, "...I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. " This request serves as a starting point from which the rest of "Civil Disobedience" emerges. Thoreau 's essay is particularly compelling because of its incorporation of rhetorical strategies, including the use of logos, ethos, pathos, purposive discourse, rhetorical competence and identification. I will demonstrate how each of these rhetorical techniques benefit Thoreau 's persuasive argument. Thoreau uses logos throughout his essay to strengthen his argument with reasoning.
Throughout all of time, people have needed to live according to their own agendas. Being forced to live a certain way has only caused trouble. That is why Henry David Thoreau supported civil disobedience to help people live according to their own beliefs. In the essay “On Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, the author defined and explained the effect of civil disobedience. Thoreau defined it as, civil disobedience is any peaceful action that demonstrates the disagreement of a person or persons with their 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)
Civil disobedience is the deliberate action against an unjust law to invoke a positive change in government and society. Civilians have the right to refute these types of unjust laws to eliminate inequality and government’s unjust nature by following conscience before laws for moral guidance. As demonstrated in Antigone, this is depicted by the daughter of Oedipus, who disobeys Creon’s law for the greater good because of the laws unjust nature. In Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, a naturalist, promotes this concept as well through his philosophical standpoint of the flaws of the government. Lastly, in Dr. King’s letter he qualifies the idea of civilians disobeying their government through non violent campaigns to stand up against
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.
