Comparing Henry David Thoreau's Life And Teachings

Henry David Thoreau
(1817-1862)

Matthew Smith
US History AP
Mr. Thomas
Hueneme High School Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817 and has always been a unique individual. One of his first memories is looking into the stars and trying to see God behind them. Thoreau is infamous for his transcendental beliefs and for being an antislavery activist. Also, he is widely known for his philosophical books Walden and Civil Disobedience. Henry David Thoreau grew up with his parents John and Cynthia Thoreau. John was a small-town businessman and shop-keeper. Henry was the third child, having an older sister, Helen, and an older brother, John Jr. He also had a younger sister named Sophia. In 1818, the family moved from Concord to Boston for John’s work. In 1823 the family moved back. It was here, in Concord, that John began operating a pencil factory. This brought the family to financial stability.
In 1828, Henry David Thoreau was sent to Concord Academy and was recognized by his teachers for his intelligence.
After graduating from the academy, Henry began his studies at Harvard in 1833. He studied Greek, Latin, German, Mathematics, and Intellectual Philosophy. John Jr. taught school to help pay for Henry’s tuition. Henry and John were very close, and unfortunately, John died of lock jaw in his brother’s arms. Henry eventually had to drop out of Harvard due to financial factors. Henry worked for several years as a surveyor and a pencil maker with his father. In fact, Henry created the modern pencil by using clay to bind the graphite and wood. His new, smear free pencil spurted the company’s success, eventually causing it to become America’s number one pencil producer. By age 28, Henry David Thoreau had his sights set on writing his first
book. After leaving the pencil factory, Thoreau spent much of his time with nature. He isolated himself by living in a cabin which he created. This cabin was built next to Walden Pond, which is a lake located in Concord, Massachusetts. He began living there in 1845 and stayed for 2 years. Meanwhile, he made money by selling homegrown beans and doing various odd jobs. He spent his free time observing nature and writing essays. Thoreau was said to have found more joy in life than most people in his time. In 1854 Henry David Thoreau published his main work, Walden. But it wasn’t until he thought it was perfect, as there were 7 full drafts made before publication. The intent of Walden was to answer the questions people have asked about why he lived alone in a cabin for 2 years. His response was the fact that he wanted to find the true fundamentals and necessities of life. As many people don’t know, Thoreau was an antislavery activist. Thoreau, living in a cabin, had no income tax, and didn’t own enough land to be charged with property tax. But he was required to pay a poll tax – a capital tax that applied equally to all members of a community. At the time, tax revenues contributed to slavery, therefore, in July of 1846 Thoreau refused to pay the poll tax. In relation, he was sent to jail. Thoreau was supposed to remain in jail until a fine was paid, but refused to pay that as well. However, his relatives covered the debt without Thoreau’s knowledge or approval. This frustrated Thoreau, but also granted him freedom. In May of 1849, Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience - an analysis of his night in jail. In the essay, Thoreau focuses on why people obey governmental law even when they believe it is unjust. Henry David Thoreau was an antislavery activist, philosopher, and an experienced botanist. Thoreau wrote literature and philosophical work in a time when “writer” wasn’t a specialized profession. His essays contributed to the transcendentalist movement and he is now considered a literary classic.
Works Cited http://thoreau.eserver.org/wendy.html http://www.gradesaver.com/walden/study-guide/short-summary/