Walden

"Where I Lived and What I Lived For" -- How have technology and the Industrial Revolution damaged humans?
Technology and the Industrial Revolution have damaged humans because they have caused humans to rely upon technology to such a large extent that they have forgotten life without it. Instead of using technology as an added benefit to life, humans have begun to use technology as a necessity for life. An example of this is how Thoreau states that "we do not ride the railroad. It rides upon us." In other words, we have begun to complicate and develop newer technology in our exterior world while failing to acknowledge the more important interior world, which is truly all we need. Basically, technology has caused humans to become increasingly superficial.

"The Village" -- What does Thoreau mean when he says that one must travel through the dark to find one's way?
When Thoreau states that one must travel through the dark to find one's way, he means that human beings are essentially living in an extremely materialistic world, which symbolizes the dark through which an individual must fumble to achieve enlightenment. This enlightenment only occurs when an individual recognizes the futility of material goods and begins to live on the basis of thoughts and inner wisdom, completely abandoning material wealth for a more simplified lifestyle. Thus, Thoreau uses the concept of traveling through the dark to find one's way as a larger metaphor for life itself.

"The Ponds" -- How does Thoreau's imagery and descriptions of the ponds convey a sense of religion?
Thoreau's imagery and descriptions of the ponds specifically describe Walden pond as being green at times and blue at other times. This makes Walden pond seem like a connecting medium between heaven and earth. In this way, the pond essentially connects the physical world to the spiritual world. Moreover, the fact that one's reflection can be viewed in the surface of the pond suggests the possibility of the pond being a metaphor for the human soul. In other words, if we look into our soul long enough, we will be able to transcend into the spiritual world. Because of the highly spiritual and serene sentiments associated with the descriptions of the ponds, a sense of religion and higher thinking can be gleaned by readers.

"Higher Laws" -- How does Thoreau's desire to eat vulture meat and his simultaneous desire to remain strictly vegetarian illustrate the dual nature of mankind? What is the dual nature of mankind?

Thoreau's desire to eat vulture meat along with his simultaneous desire to remain strictly vegetarian are indicative of the dual nature of mankind because they show the early primitive stages of mankind along with the transcendence to higher modes of living and thinking. The dual nature of mankind basically includes the savage side of an individual along with his/her desires for higher ideals. In general, in his writing, Thoreau suggests that the central purpose of life is to attempt to eradicate this naturally savage nature of the individual in favor of a more refined, enlightened existence. In the big picture, Thoreau alludes to this as a moderation between the id and the superego; the best average of the two would simply be the ego.

"Conclusion" -- How does the line "if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours" contribute to the message of the conclusion and/or Thoreau's life as a whole?
Thoreau's message in this line contributes to the central message of the Conclusion mainly by stating that so many individuals in modern day society have so many dreams and aspirations that they have the ability to fulfill. However, since standardization has become the norm in today's society, it has become a sort of "taboo" to pursue one's far-fetched dreams. Thoreau is simply suggesting that human beings muster up the confidence to overcome the conformity that has infested modern society and truly move in the direction of their dreams, which, if heart fully followed, will never lead them astray. If all individuals in society were to truly follow their inner callings and reach for their true potentials, life would become much more meaningful and fruitful. Such is the message that Thoreau attempts to get across in the conclusion of his piece.