Walden Pond, Concord, MA, USA. Photo Credit.
Walden and Civil Disobedience - Henry David Thoreau
Ah, Walden. How long this book sat unread on my bookshelf. Such a shame to neglect such great thinking.
--Summary--
Walden is a composition of ideas, thoughts, and experiences from Thoreau's time in the woods in the nineteenth century. The novel is written through themed chapters with experiences encompassing the entire experiment. In each chapter, Thoreau presents his thoughts on progress--namely his interest in the simple life, philosophical and intellectual progress, and holding his government accountable.
Civil Disobedience is Thoreau's famous essay that influenced many great change agents in history. His argument is for all people to withdraw themselves from a corrupt government by refusing to participate. To him, simply voting for abolition was not enough because paying taxes funds an unjust system.
--Thoughts--
Since these two masterpieces have been studied beyond my capacity, I'm going to avoid the risk of stating incorrect facts and mainly discuss my thoughts and reactions to reading the book.
Until I dove into Walden (figuratively) there had yet to be a book which compelled me to study it's words with religious fervor. Line after line of this work recites such beautiful language and thoughts. Thoreau's ability to capture so much thinking and feeling in one sentence is beyond words, especially mine. Only he could summarize his excellence in one sentence. I'm not even going to try.
I find this book begging to be thoroughly re-read and studied. Once through comprehension does not do it justice; my first time through only scratched the surface. These words deserve meticulous study as a theologian to scripture. I'm compelled take my time, to pause between each sentence and truly contemplate the fine words like a sommelier of the written English language. Gross, what kind of cliche have I become?
Walden is a masterpiece, but it resonates so powerfully with me because I share his beliefs of the values our modern lives are missing.
There have been points in my life when I have paused and thought, "What in the hell is the point of this?" One of the first times I can specifically recite as a memory was the time I became an automobile owner. I was lucky enough to have supportive parents who helped me into my first car, but there was a clear understanding that it would be funded by my industrious efforts--whatever those may be. So, I had a job in order to have a car. It's as simple as that. Of course there were a few small expenses like food and the cell phone bill, but most of my income went into the gas tank. Needless to say, at some point I reflected on my situation as I was driving to work. I thought, "Why do I HAVE to go to work? Last year I wasn't tied down by this obligation. Is this thing really worth the free time I'm sacrificing?" Of course, at the time, having a car was the material possession that provided priceless intrinsic joy--there was no price tag on my status.
Fast forward through college and into the transition stage between formative life and reality. I now sit here, all debts paid, in a state of limbo. As many of my peers continue on, pursuing their professional ambitions, I find myself wanting to go backward. If I continue with the standard operating procedure, I'll be dedicating the next 30 years of my life to the things standardized in society as measurements of success. Retirement, savings, real estate, STUFF, etc... I'm saddened by the idea that I should spend most of my days as such; 8 hours sleeping, 8 hours working, 8 hours commuting, shopping, fixing, holding, waiting, thinking about going back to work, all other responsibilities outside work, and enjoying myself. But if I don't follow the procedure, I risk the feeling of worthlessness, laziness, ineptness, not to mention homelessness and indebtedness because I hadn't properly prepare for retired life.
Our modern society has presented a double edged sword. While proliferating the great amenities that make us fatter, lazier, and greedier, violated human rights, and destroyed the environment; modernity has provided us with access to a vast wealth of information, scientific breakthroughs that help us live longer, and many more things that give us genuine pleasure. So my quandary is; how does one apply Thoreau's 1850s ideology of simplicity and minimalism to todays developed world? Knowing society won't turn back on progress, where is the balance between a 30 year sacrifice and zero contribution?
All you suckers can waste your lives working your asses off, I'm going into the woods.
No comments:
Post a Comment