Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Henry David Thoreau sets the tone throughout the document "On Duty of Civil Disobedience" by maintaining a very serious tone. Thoreau states his opinions regarding how the United States government should be run. He also points out how unjust occurrences and regulations stifle the minds of the US citizens.
Thoreau's utopian government is one, which enforces very few parameters. "I heartily accept the motto, 'That government is best which governs least'" "I believe--'That government is best which governs not at all'; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have " (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) Thoreau makes it clear that all men should oppose every unjust law or guideline, which contradicts the conscience within each citizen who is under the government's control.
"The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right" (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) The repetition used in the document exemplifies how much compassion …show more content…
Thoreau has pertaining to every citizen's independence from an imposing government. Thoreau states that one-day people should be able live in a society where they can govern themselves through self-control without any structured regime.
A government without the compassion that a single individual would possess is a government, which implies regulations without the moral justifications necessary.
Thoreau states in the text that this exact lack of scrupulous intentions would affect the decision-making and state of mind of any individual citizen. "If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." "It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support." (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) Thoreau explains that every citizen has the obligation to oppose all unjust occurrences and has his or her own individual responsibility within their own
government.
Henry David Thoreau uses the overall atmosphere of invasion on the government's part to explain how overwhelming the government is on its citizens.
"The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its own way" (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) With this in mind Thoreau points out the certain category of individuals, which had a helping hand in the corruption of his ideal government. These people who serve the state politicians, taking part in the armed services, and becoming a felon. Thoreau explains that these corrupt citizens make decisions relating more to the devil than to God. However, Thoreau's opinions shift as he was jailed for a period of time; here his tone changes to include compassion towards felons. At this time, instead of contradicting his previous opinions it actually emphasizes his argument. By declaring a respect for a certain number of convicts that were incarcerated. He looks at the convicts as people who had firm beliefs, which contradict the free politicians who had misleading ones. Thoreau leaves the reader with an overall feeling of having been taken advantage of and of invasion in one's life through strong compassionate opinions and comparisons to a more ideal way of life. By maintaining a serious tone throughout "On Duty of Civil Disobedience" Henry David Thoreau implies to the reader that this subject is of the utmost importance to the style and way of life currently in the United States.
Thoreau's utopian government is one, which enforces very few parameters. "I heartily accept the motto, 'That government is best which governs least'" "I believe--'That government is best which governs not at all'; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have " (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) Thoreau makes it clear that all men should oppose every unjust law or guideline, which contradicts the conscience within each citizen who is under the government's control.
"The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right" (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) The repetition used in the document exemplifies how much compassion …show more content…
Thoreau has pertaining to every citizen's independence from an imposing government. Thoreau states that one-day people should be able live in a society where they can govern themselves through self-control without any structured regime.
A government without the compassion that a single individual would possess is a government, which implies regulations without the moral justifications necessary.
Thoreau states in the text that this exact lack of scrupulous intentions would affect the decision-making and state of mind of any individual citizen. "If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." "It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support." (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) Thoreau explains that every citizen has the obligation to oppose all unjust occurrences and has his or her own individual responsibility within their own
government.
Henry David Thoreau uses the overall atmosphere of invasion on the government's part to explain how overwhelming the government is on its citizens.
"The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its own way" (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) With this in mind Thoreau points out the certain category of individuals, which had a helping hand in the corruption of his ideal government. These people who serve the state politicians, taking part in the armed services, and becoming a felon. Thoreau explains that these corrupt citizens make decisions relating more to the devil than to God. However, Thoreau's opinions shift as he was jailed for a period of time; here his tone changes to include compassion towards felons. At this time, instead of contradicting his previous opinions it actually emphasizes his argument. By declaring a respect for a certain number of convicts that were incarcerated. He looks at the convicts as people who had firm beliefs, which contradict the free politicians who had misleading ones. Thoreau leaves the reader with an overall feeling of having been taken advantage of and of invasion in one's life through strong compassionate opinions and comparisons to a more ideal way of life. By maintaining a serious tone throughout "On Duty of Civil Disobedience" Henry David Thoreau implies to the reader that this subject is of the utmost importance to the style and way of life currently in the United States.