Henry David Thoreau: Conforming To Society's Norm

"He keeps casting conformity behind him". Henry David Thoreau was never one to conform to society's norms. It is very apparent that this entire play's main idea is nonconformity. That is the way Thoreau lived his life. Many transcendentalists speak of what they wish to live their life as, however, it was Thoreau who went further than just discussing Transcendentalism; he put it into practice when he refused to pay the poll tax that supported the war efforts. He lived in the way he viewed as correct, rather than the way society told him to live. For example, when he completely leaves society behind and goes into the woods to thrive on his own and when he went against the teaching methods of the time period and of religious views. He never wanted to be like anybody else, and this play reflects both his personality and beliefs. If he was told to do something that he seemed unfit or contradicting everything he believed in, then he just wouldn't do it.
Thoreau refused to pay taxes because he did not believe in the government’s involvement in the Mexican war. For this, he was thrown in jail. So instead of paying taxes to what he believed meant he was supporting the war, for something he believed was wrong or unjust, he broke the law by not paying taxes. His refusal to pay a tax that supported the Mexican War was a very individualistic act that, in its non-conformity, brought to light issues that Thoreau felt should not be supported. Thus Thoreau's non-conformity in going to jail to "expresses the very highest respect for the law"--that which follows the constitution--and is an act of individuality brought to light the idea of being chained to institutions is a violation of one's