Journal Articles Analysis - Term Paper Example

?Journal "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" 334-351 Throughout Thoreau’s writing in this text he explores a variety of issues related to his time living on Walden Pond. While this might initially seem like a prosaic subject, during his time on this pond Thoreau comes to a number of philosophical conclusions that ultimately underlines a unique and inspirational worldview. The section of the text ‘Where I lived, and What I live for’ outlines the various aspect surrounding Thoreau’s habitat and his general philosophy in moving to Walden Pond. While there is a great amount of narrative information that is supplied in the context of this chapter, without a doubt the most interesting elements are the insights into life and human nature that are interspersed throughout the chapter. One of the first insights Thoreau makes when he states, “a man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone” (Thoreau, pg. 335). This statement is somewhat complex and difficult to discern. While Thoreau is referring to his interactions on the Pond, it’s clear the statement can be extended to the larger context of existence. For me the statement is referring to a sort of wealth that isn’t necessarily linked to money, but is more rooted in wisdom or knowledge. In these regards, Thoreau means that the individual that can go without certain elements in life, has already experienced or gained spiritual insight into their nature and as such can go without them. Another insight I found highly enlightening was Thoreau’s insights into the nature of daily existence and art. In these regards, he states, “We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the day, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep...to affect peoples' quality of life, that is the highest of arts” (Thoreau, pg. 338). This section of the essay is very loaded and complex. In one sense, Thoreau seems to be indicating that the Socratic belief that the unexamined life is not worth living is accurate. He is stating that the individual should wake up every morning with the desire to discover some new truth or an ‘infinite expectation of the day’. Rather than leaving the reader at this stage, however, Thoreau extends this to include the nature of art. He indicates that the greatest type of art should affect individuals’ quality of life. In these regards, Thoreau has gone beyond simply Socratic insights, into stating that the individual should also contribute their intellect to the betterment of society. For me, this underlines the passage and a great deal of Thoreau’s mission. "Reading" 351-362; "Sounds" excerpt 363-364 In the section titled ‘Reading’ Thoreau considers the nature of reading as it relates to self-edification and culture. In his discussion Thoreau considers a number of works, all of which are considered ‘classics’ in the traditional sense. He has a great support for these works and argues that the information contained therein represent the pinnacles of human thought distilled and articulated into literature that has lasted the test of time. In his support of classic literature, Thoreau laments the unwillingness of others to embrace these texts. He states, “A man, any man, will go considerably out of his way to pick up a silver dollar; but here are golden words, which the wisest men of antiquity have uttered, and whose worth the wise of every succeeding age have assured us of;- and yet we learn to read only as far as Easy Reading, the primers and class-books” (Thoreau, pg. 357). While underlining Thoreau’s support of classic literature, this quote also indicates a sort of general displeasure Thoreau has with the general social order. It should be no surprise that an individual who chose to live life for a period in seclusion on a farm should have some general disagreements with the nature of society. As the text progresses, it’s clear that Thoreau’s vision is in large part critical of traditional social assumptions and attempts to present and encourage a more transcendent vision of reality. Still, it’s clear that rather than entirely castrating society, he believes that it’s the responsibility of some to move and inspire society to higher standards of existence. He writes, “We need to be provoked- goaded like oxen, as we are, into a trot. We have a comparatively decent system of common schools, schools for infants only; but excepting the half-starved Lyceum in the winter, and latterly the puny beginning of a library suggested by the State, no school for ourselves” (Thoreau, pg. 361). For me this is a powerful insight as it is indicating that left to their own devices, the majority of society will blindly cling to the status quo, and it is through visionaries that it is motivated to achieve higher states. In the chapter ‘Sound’ Thoreau considers the nature of the sounds in his environment. While there are insights in this chapter, the most important element is perhaps how it reveals the importance Thoreau places on truth in nature. Thoreau argues that in viewing the tendencies in nature, the individual can then apply these elements to their own life to determine the best path for their existence. "Conclusion" 559-572 ?? As one might expect the conclusion of the text pulls together a number of disparate perspectives regarding Thoreau’s philosophy and elucidates them. Rather than considering elements related to his stay on Walden Pond in great part this section makes a number of insights on the nature of humanity and existence. One of the most notable and famed quotes is when Thoreau articulates his perception on war. In these regards, he states, “Only the defeated and deserters go to the wars, cowards that run away and enlist” (Thoreau, pg. 561). This is a highly provocative statement, even in the contemporary world. It clearly indicates that Thoreau is opposed to war, as well as being opposed to the social perspective that esteems individuals that go to war. Instead, it’s clear that Thoreau is proposing a sort of world perspective that transcends traditional social values. One of the powerful elements in Thoreau’s writing is that while he levies strong criticisms against society, he equally adds powerful inspirational elements. Consider Thoreau when he writes, "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 unachievable by others” (Thoreau, pg. 562). While Thoreau does not indicate what evidence he has to support such a claim, as it emerges in the context of the text it has the force of his experience on Walden Pond and the flow of his general transcendental philosophy that gives the insights into human potential great force. Another interesting insight Thoreau makes that has contemporary relevance concerns the nature of language. He writes, “It is a ridiculous demand which England and America make, that youshall speak so that they can understand you. Neither men nortoadstools grow so. As if that were important, and there were notenough to understand you without them” (Thoreau, pg. 563). This is a powerful statement as it indicates that Thoreau is embracing a plurality of speech. In terms of contemporary questions of ebonics or whether English should be made an official language, it’s clear that Thoreau would support the plurality of communication. Thoreau ends the section with a power and poignant discussion on the nature of truth and its centrality to his life to the neglect of all other aspects of existence. Miller, Walter M., Jr. A Canticle for Leibowitz Walter Miller’s ‘Canticle for Leibowitz’ is one of the most renowned works of speculative fiction from the 20th century. The novel explores a number of powerful thematic elements and its expansive fantastical nature pose a number of philosophical questions about the nature of existence and historical progression. With the expansive nature of the plot, it is difficult to consider anyone specific element as central to the novel’s meaning, still there are a number of notable points. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic future, the setting and narrative seems to function as a means for Miller to explore similar historical shifts in the history of the world. Indeed, Miller’s presentation demonstrates history as a sort of cyclical recurrence. In his future world many of the narrative elements mirror historical elements in our own world. For instance, there is a Renaissance that occurs in Miller’s future world. When considering this text in relation to Thoreau’s writing, one notes that there is a similar emphasis on the importance of books and knowledge. Whereas Thoreau outwardly chastises society for neglecting books, Miller’s text takes on the issue from a satirical angle. In the novel society has become all but illiterate, with gangs of marauders attempting to destroy all those who can read. Miller even attributes to this occurrence the ‘Simplification’. It is not stretch to discern the contempt Miller has for this process, and to consider a similar process occurring in the anti-intellectualism that is prevalent in society. In all the text offers a compelling portrait on the nature of existence and history in a post-apocalyptic framework. References Miller, Walter. (2006) A Canticle for Leibowitz. New York: Harper. Thoreau, Henry David. (1964) the Portable Thoreau. New York: Penguin. Read More

 

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