Category: Walden

Henry David Thoreau lived on Walden Pond for two years and two months during the 1840s (Buell). During this time, he wrote Walden, which was a self recorded account of his time spent living on Walden pond. Thoreau’s writing of Walden was greatly influenced by transcendentalism, which was a philosophical movement concerned with taking a step back from societal norms, and finding your own connection to the universe (Goodman). Therefore, transcendentalism inspired maxims concerning all aspects of life, especially nature, appear consistently throughout Walden. Thorea made countless remarks on both his opinions about conserving the environment, and scientific data entries on the environment of Walden Pond. Although some of Thoreau’s ideas are outdated, Henry David Thoreau’s maxims concerning nature have stayed relevant throughout time by aiding modern-day scientists in understanding global warming, urging people to protect the environment, and stressing the importance of nature to our health.

Thoreau’s Walden contains several accounts of natural aspects around Walden pond that help modern scientists understand the effects of global warming. For example, Michelle Nijhuis wrote an article discussing how Thoreau’s botanical notes have helped several scientists, such as Richard Primack and Miller Rushing, research the effects of global warming. Primack and Rushing used Thoreau’s original botanical notes, which were added to sixteen years after his death by Alfred Hosmer. Together, Thoreau and Hosmer’s notes contained the original flowering dates of more than 700 species in the Walden pond area. Comparing Thoreau and Hosmer’s notes to modern data, Primack and Rushing discovered that certain types of flowers were blooming several weeks earlier than in Thoreau’s time, which suggests warmer modern temperatures pointing to a direct effect of global warming. They also only found 400 present of the 600 plant species recorded by Thoreau, again suggesting the deterioration of our environment, and possibly even the effects of global warming. By providing this botanical data to modern day scientists, Thoreau ensured his relevance and immortality through Walden.

In Walden, Thoreau mentions how the planet is alive. He compares the Earth to living poetry and leaves on a tree. This imagery presents a message. Thoreau stresses the importance of acknowledging that our planet is alive, and treating it accordingly. Our Planet is a documentary series on Netflix that explores all the different regions and natural wonders of our world and discusses the impacts of climate change. Our Planet is relevant to my paper because it helps support Thoreau’s transcendentalist ideas of preserving nature. It also supports Thoreau’s belief in the importance of preserving our environment.

Although some may claim global warming is a myth, there are countless scientific studies that suggest otherwise. Thoreau was ahead of his time in relation to his ideas about climate change and the environment. Janni Yuval provides evidence that global warming is in fact a real thing. Yuval discesses modern data, as recent as 2020. Yuval claims that temperatures will continue to rise due to the increase of greenhouse gas concentration getting put into the atmosphere. Considering Thoreau’s maxims concerning nature, it is important to understand the reality and factuality behind climate change. It is important to remember how essential the environment is. Recalling Thoreau’s words and keeping them in mind would do us great good.

Another point Thoreau makes in Walden concerning nature that is still very much relevant today is the importance of preserving our natural environment. Thoreau describes how he takes home the pleasures of nature without a wheelbarrow, meaning instead of taking a shell from the beach or picking a flower from a meadow, just enjoy the sounds and sights, and take home the memory. Why not take a shell? Why not pick a flower? Why bother preserving the environment? W. R. Kleinman gives a few sensible, realistic reasons. Kleinman notes some of the consequences of not doing so, such as: lack of clean water, inadequate sanitation, unhealthy air quality, and food shortages. Additionally, Kleinman discusses how we can’t manipulate ecosystems, and how we have a moral obligation to protect the environment.

Somehow, Thoreau grasped the concept of how important bodies of water are to the planet. Thoreau noted that heaven is both above and below our feet, referring to the ocean and other bodies of water. He recognized and stressed their importance in his work. Obviously, the ocean is a huge topic today. There are countless organizations dedicated to both preserving and protecting the quality of ocean life. According to Alexandra Sifferlin, eight million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. In a study published in the journal Science, the amount of plastic going into the ocean could increase by ten times the number it is now. Jenna Jamebeck from the University of Georgia estimates by the year 2025 there will be one hundred and fifty five million tons of trash dumped into the ocean. By stressing the importance of the ocean and bodies of water, Thoreau nearly predicted they would be jeopardized in the future; therefore, he ominously warns against deteriorating the environment, which is yet another way his maxims in Walden have stayed relevant throughout time.

What aspect of life is more important than health in our modern day? Somehow, without the help of science and pre-existing knowledge, Thoreau preached about the benefits of nature to human health. Thoreau claims people need the tonic of the wilderness. He also mentioned how he prefered to sit outside in the fresh air because no dust gathers outside. Furthermore, Thoreau claimed the only acceptable drink to intake was water. How Thoreau was so spot on with his ideas, no one knows, but they can easily be paralleled to known, modern facts. Howard Frumkin discusses the links between health benefits and exposure to nature in his research agenda titled, “Nature Contact and Human Health.” Frumkin states that In recent years, the time spent outside has dramatically decreased, but the interest in nature’s health benefits have greatly increased. He also notes that despite the increasing amounts of evidence suggesting nature benefits our health, still a large amount of knowledge concerning this specific topic remains in question. The scientific studies about natural aspects on the human body explored in this source can back up Thoreau’s thoughts and opinions about the outdoors.

Thoreau’s Walden has been echoing throughout the generations, it all comes down to when more people will start to listen. Considering global warming, the increasing importance to preserve our environment, and current health concerns, Henry David Thoreau’s maxims concerning nature have stayed relevant throughout time by aiding modern-day scientists in understanding global warming, urging people to protect the environment, and stressing the importance of nature to our health. Although Walden was written in 1846, Thoreau’s words ring true and relevant today. Mark Cocker beautifully illustrates the relevance of Thoreau by writing, “Walden blossoms as a holograph of the planet and of one human life, lived as a prism refracting the sunlight onto the page.”

Standing up for what one believes in is an ideal that most grow up with. A just and fair system is one that is expected, but most often not the reality. The question that emerges then, is what one will do about that. Will he or she let the unjust reality guide their life, or will they try to amend the reality to one that is fairer? While many would like to think they would stand up for themselves, and the greater society, it is often very hard to put one’s money where their mouth is. Many claim that they would take action, but never actually do. Contrary to popularity, Henry David Thoreau did put his money where his mouth was and stood up for what he thought was just and fair. The question one must ask themselves as they read Walden, is if Thoreau’s ideas were correct and something they agree is worth standing up for.

In Thoreau’s book, Walden, he discusses the time, from 1845-1847, in which he lived on the Northern shore of Walden Pond in Massachusetts. This experiment was set up by Thoreau to prove his idea that when one lives their life with simplicity, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” (74), and not chasing honor and what others have, one’s life will, in turn, be more simple. Thoreau argues that man complicates his life by “running with the fast crowd”; he says “for he [man] considers, not what is truly respectable, but what is respected” (18). Man becomes so focused on what others have and how they can “one-up each other” and make themselves look that best, that they forget to focus on what is truly important. When one always wants what’s bigger and better, he will never be satisfied with what he has. This will prevent him from being able to relax and enjoy the world around him.

Further, Thoreau argues that man spends too much time enhancing the physical and material aspects of life, that he has no time to improve himself; “While civilization has been improving our house, it has not equally improved the men who are to inhabit them” (28). One does not need to agree with everything Henry Thoreau says, but this idea is certainly true. Often, people spend a lot of time on a minute matter to avoid the thing that is truly important. According to a psychological study done in 2007, 80 to 95 percent of college students procrastinated on a regular basis, particularly when it came to completing assignments and coursework. While Thoreau is not talking about this in terms of procrastination, it certainly can be applied here as well. Man will “beat around the bush” and busy himself with insignificant matters simply because they are easier to complete. The real struggle is putting in the work when it matters. For college students that means getting the assignments done in a timely fashion, and for Thoreau, that means improving one’s true being. It may be easier to not burden oneself with ideas of self-improvement, but then one must ask themselves what they are really accomplishing? Thoreau would say nothing.

Henry Thoreau takes this a step further, by saying that one’s obsession with the biggest and most eye-catching material things, takes away from basic rights and beliefs that many naturally assume to have. In the Economy chapter, Thoreau says, “This town is said to have the largest houses for oxen, cows, and horses hereabouts, and it is not behindhand in its public buildings; but there are very few halls for free worship or free speech in this county” (47). When one is too obsessed with ensuring that their animals, and beyond, have the most luxuries living accommodations, they may forget to become involved in things that matter to not only them but society at large. What makes Thoreau’s point even stronger, is that American’s gained Freedom of Speech in 1791. Given that Thoreau wrote Walden in 1854 it means that so shortly after gaining this freedom, that many worked so hard to get, people were easily dismissing it to things that seemed more important. Money and material wealth are things that are easy to chase; one may not possess them, but the drive to acquire it is easy to fulfill. Thoreau is telling his readers to stop focusing on the short term gain, and instead direct their attention to that which provides long term success. Money will come and go, but Freedom of the Speech (and the like) are here to stay…if society puts in the effort.

Another thing that is interesting to note is Thoreau’s almost adamant opposition to change. When the railroad was first being introduced in America, Thoreau was not in support of it and was even critical of the system. He feels that this advancement won’t help him in any way, and will just be a way for people to move around faster and more easily, again running away from anything important. In addition, it can be said that Thoreau views the train system as one that complicates the everyday life that man was accustomed to before. With the advancement of the railroad system, one will be tied down to a schedule. This schedule no longer makes one in control of themselves, as they are now being controlled by a larger system. This leads one to think they are gaining freedom when in reality they are just becoming enslaved to a new authority. In turn, this makes life more complicated. Thoreau’s drive to make life more simplistic is challenged by the railroad system, a system that helps make life complicated more easily. Beyond the actual railroad system, Thoreau hated what is symbolized; advancements in technology and more complications in society.

Henry David Thoreau is a man with many thoughts and ideas. When viewed in isolation, one can agree that a lot of what he says is true and almost ideal. The problem is that these ideas don’t stand in isolation. Throughout Walden ideas of living a simple life are stressed. While many would love to live like this, it is hard to be so different than everyone around you. One doesn’t need to always be “keeping up with the Jone’s” to want things a little nicer than clothing that is patched up due to tears and holes (18). While most don’t live the way Thoreau did, it can certainly be beneficial to think about how one can improve their lifestyle and begin focusing on things that may be more important than the material wealth people often chase.