Materialism In Walden
“Few people are capable of expressing opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment.” (Albert Einstein) Many people choose not to speak up in public because they feel their own point of view might not be widely shared. Although this may be true, there a few individuals are willingly able to express their thoughts on social issues. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden demonstrates how an individual, like himself, has the ability to confront the problems that manifest itself within a flawed society. Thoreau’s novel Walden chronics the two years he spent living in a cabin near the woods, next to Walden Pond. Many readers may assume that Walden is based on naturalism due to his surroundings in the wilderness, while others might interpret it as a journey towards a simple
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life. Perhaps this artistic masterpiece is read as an autobiography. All these assumptions are correct, but they all inevitably emerge with an aspect that is social criticism. Throughout the novel, Thoreau judges several views and ideologies of his generation. This is demonstrated through his views on technological progression, the need for materialistic things, and his thoughts on spiritual freedom.
Since many readers did not have any prior understanding of Thoreau’s personal life, he was often seen as an anti-technology person. In reality, Thoreau was fascinated by technology despite his interests in nature. As noted in his novel Walden,Thoreau experienced many life changing inventions take place during his time such as power looms, railroads, and the telegraph were made during his generation. Though these inventions were products of a larger movement, he believed it was a destruction of nature. From Thoreau’s perspective, technological progression was counterproductive because it distracted people for more important matters. A clear example of Thoreau’s refusal for technological progress is shown when he expresses his concerns about trains. "To do things 'railroad fashion' is now the by-word; and it is worth the while to be warned so often and so sincerely by any power to get off its track. …Every path but your own is the path of fate. Keep on your own track then.” (Thoreau 111-12). Thoreau’s resentment towards trains is explained through this quote, as he feels it represents an allusion of control.
Although in a train station people can choose their own destination, they are ultimately not free to choose their own path because they must deal with the inconvenience of following train schedules and routes. Thoreau also makes another reference to the negative effects of trains, but discusses it from a different context. “I have learned that the swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot. I say to my friend, suppose we try to see who will get there first. The distance is thirty miles; the fare ninety cents. That is almost a day’s wages.” Though travelling by train might be an efficient way, Thoreau wants readers to understand how technology can negatively affect our experience. Though his example here only considers transportation, his point in general talks about how technology as a whole can affect our decisions. In addition, since he developed an interest in transcendental philosophy, transcendentalists like him disliked technological progression due to its effect to people in the workplace. “As with our colleges, so with a hundred ‘modern improvements’; there is an illusion about them. . . Our inventions are wanted to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.” (49) Since everyone wants new and affordable technology, people have to spend too much time working to earn money to afford technology and that technology tends to distance us from the natural environment.
Furthermore, Thoreau addresses the problem of materialism in Walden. Materialism is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort rather than spiritual or intellectual things. Thoreau's main concern is that the accumulation of wealth, and the desire to obtain it, distracts humans from recognizing their true essence, which is spirituality.“ If he is employed the greater part of his life in obtaining gross necessaries and comforts merely, why should he have a better dwelling than the former?” (32) Thoreau illustrates how men are constantly working to get extra things in life and losing their freedom. Men are constant competing with one another to obtain more valuable thing without understanding the problem in doing so. To Thoreau, the necessities of life are only food, shelter, fuel, and basic clothing. Items otherwise are not needed. Thoreau also claims that “Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.” (13) This passage also demonstrates how people are more concerned about accumulating nicer things and improving their social status that their own destinies.
Thoreau then contemplates about how the products and the interests of his generation are attracting the attention of people towards the sensation and the ever growing gossip chattering news media, instead of achieving a more practical and simple life. “And I am sure that I never read any memorable news in a newspaper. If we read of one man robbed, or murdered … we never need read of another.” (89) By staying in Walden Pond and being away from a civilized society, Thoreau does not have to worry about crimes being committed or the politics of the country and is separated from a materialistic life. Though Thoreau is against materialistic culture, he ultimately wants people to recognize the importance of spiritual freedom. In the chapter Where I lived and what I lived for, he talks about his experience with a poet who decided to live on the farm. Thoreau believed the poet was much richer than the farmer and says “Why, the owner does not know it for many years when a poet has put his farm in rhyme, the most admirable kind of invisible fence, has fairly impounded it, milked it, skimmed it, and got all the cream, and left the farmer only the skimmed milk.” (196) Many readers tend to overlook what Thoreau is saying and miss what message he is trying to get across. In this passage in particular, Thoreau is trying to convey the importance of spiritual freedom. He puts emphasis on spiritual freedom above all, advising others that they should live freely, while being uncommitted for as long as possible. Thoreau also explains his main motive for coming to Walden Pond was to live away from a civilized environment and living in the woods, he is free from obligations, free from social boundaries, and does not have to be concerned about the constant pressure that entails with it. He is proud of his achievement, his escape from society and his new, self-reliant life. In his self-built cabin he can easily acquire his spiritual freedom that he wished for so much. Not depending on anyone but himself, he even claims that he is free from time now as well as from matter, which “Time is but the stream” he goes “a-fishing in“(201). He is now “above” time, choosing if he wants to participate in its flow, or not.When Thoreau first moves into the cabin on Independence Day, he begins to examine his life and review it, attempting to get closer to nature. “I found myself suddenly neighbor to the birds; not by having imprisoned one, but having caged myself near them.” Unlike others, Thoreau refuses to be a slave and time of society and seeks the tranquility of the wilderness. In his surroundings in the forest, he is able to gain a closer connection towards nature and reaches spiritual freedom in the process. In conclusion, Thoreau is making an attempt to awaken readers to matters that exist within his society. Through his novel Walden, Thoreau is sending a message that the world that his people are living in are changing and it is reminding them not to forget what is important. Society has the ability to misguide people and making them lose sight of real values. Regardless of whether people disagree with Thoreau’s view or not, they cannot ignore it. It is a sign for all to not get lost in technological advanced or materialism. The ultimate goal in life is to live freely and deliberately as human beings.
life. Perhaps this artistic masterpiece is read as an autobiography. All these assumptions are correct, but they all inevitably emerge with an aspect that is social criticism. Throughout the novel, Thoreau judges several views and ideologies of his generation. This is demonstrated through his views on technological progression, the need for materialistic things, and his thoughts on spiritual freedom.
Since many readers did not have any prior understanding of Thoreau’s personal life, he was often seen as an anti-technology person. In reality, Thoreau was fascinated by technology despite his interests in nature. As noted in his novel Walden,Thoreau experienced many life changing inventions take place during his time such as power looms, railroads, and the telegraph were made during his generation. Though these inventions were products of a larger movement, he believed it was a destruction of nature. From Thoreau’s perspective, technological progression was counterproductive because it distracted people for more important matters. A clear example of Thoreau’s refusal for technological progress is shown when he expresses his concerns about trains. "To do things 'railroad fashion' is now the by-word; and it is worth the while to be warned so often and so sincerely by any power to get off its track. …Every path but your own is the path of fate. Keep on your own track then.” (Thoreau 111-12). Thoreau’s resentment towards trains is explained through this quote, as he feels it represents an allusion of control.
Although in a train station people can choose their own destination, they are ultimately not free to choose their own path because they must deal with the inconvenience of following train schedules and routes. Thoreau also makes another reference to the negative effects of trains, but discusses it from a different context. “I have learned that the swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot. I say to my friend, suppose we try to see who will get there first. The distance is thirty miles; the fare ninety cents. That is almost a day’s wages.” Though travelling by train might be an efficient way, Thoreau wants readers to understand how technology can negatively affect our experience. Though his example here only considers transportation, his point in general talks about how technology as a whole can affect our decisions. In addition, since he developed an interest in transcendental philosophy, transcendentalists like him disliked technological progression due to its effect to people in the workplace. “As with our colleges, so with a hundred ‘modern improvements’; there is an illusion about them. . . Our inventions are wanted to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.” (49) Since everyone wants new and affordable technology, people have to spend too much time working to earn money to afford technology and that technology tends to distance us from the natural environment.
Furthermore, Thoreau addresses the problem of materialism in Walden. Materialism is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort rather than spiritual or intellectual things. Thoreau's main concern is that the accumulation of wealth, and the desire to obtain it, distracts humans from recognizing their true essence, which is spirituality.“ If he is employed the greater part of his life in obtaining gross necessaries and comforts merely, why should he have a better dwelling than the former?” (32) Thoreau illustrates how men are constantly working to get extra things in life and losing their freedom. Men are constant competing with one another to obtain more valuable thing without understanding the problem in doing so. To Thoreau, the necessities of life are only food, shelter, fuel, and basic clothing. Items otherwise are not needed. Thoreau also claims that “Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.” (13) This passage also demonstrates how people are more concerned about accumulating nicer things and improving their social status that their own destinies.
Thoreau then contemplates about how the products and the interests of his generation are attracting the attention of people towards the sensation and the ever growing gossip chattering news media, instead of achieving a more practical and simple life. “And I am sure that I never read any memorable news in a newspaper. If we read of one man robbed, or murdered … we never need read of another.” (89) By staying in Walden Pond and being away from a civilized society, Thoreau does not have to worry about crimes being committed or the politics of the country and is separated from a materialistic life. Though Thoreau is against materialistic culture, he ultimately wants people to recognize the importance of spiritual freedom. In the chapter Where I lived and what I lived for, he talks about his experience with a poet who decided to live on the farm. Thoreau believed the poet was much richer than the farmer and says “Why, the owner does not know it for many years when a poet has put his farm in rhyme, the most admirable kind of invisible fence, has fairly impounded it, milked it, skimmed it, and got all the cream, and left the farmer only the skimmed milk.” (196) Many readers tend to overlook what Thoreau is saying and miss what message he is trying to get across. In this passage in particular, Thoreau is trying to convey the importance of spiritual freedom. He puts emphasis on spiritual freedom above all, advising others that they should live freely, while being uncommitted for as long as possible. Thoreau also explains his main motive for coming to Walden Pond was to live away from a civilized environment and living in the woods, he is free from obligations, free from social boundaries, and does not have to be concerned about the constant pressure that entails with it. He is proud of his achievement, his escape from society and his new, self-reliant life. In his self-built cabin he can easily acquire his spiritual freedom that he wished for so much. Not depending on anyone but himself, he even claims that he is free from time now as well as from matter, which “Time is but the stream” he goes “a-fishing in“(201). He is now “above” time, choosing if he wants to participate in its flow, or not.When Thoreau first moves into the cabin on Independence Day, he begins to examine his life and review it, attempting to get closer to nature. “I found myself suddenly neighbor to the birds; not by having imprisoned one, but having caged myself near them.” Unlike others, Thoreau refuses to be a slave and time of society and seeks the tranquility of the wilderness. In his surroundings in the forest, he is able to gain a closer connection towards nature and reaches spiritual freedom in the process. In conclusion, Thoreau is making an attempt to awaken readers to matters that exist within his society. Through his novel Walden, Thoreau is sending a message that the world that his people are living in are changing and it is reminding them not to forget what is important. Society has the ability to misguide people and making them lose sight of real values. Regardless of whether people disagree with Thoreau’s view or not, they cannot ignore it. It is a sign for all to not get lost in technological advanced or materialism. The ultimate goal in life is to live freely and deliberately as human beings.