A NATURALIST- HENRY DAVID THOREAU

a picture of Henry David Thoreau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_
David_Thoreau_1862.jpeg

Henry David Thoreau.

WHO IS HE???

One naturalist that I really love learning more about is named Henry David Thoreau. He is known as an American writer, thinker, and naturalist.  His main focus was exploring deeper interest in nature. He kept a journal whilst exploring a place called Walden Pond, and later created a book called, Walden. His words were extremely powerful, and he ended up being one of the most powerful voices for the natural environment (Walden.org). The main thing that motivated him was nature. He believed that nature could soothe all people much like different religions. He spent 2 years at Walden Pond, and showed throughout his writing how transcendentalism can impact a human being. Transcendentalism teaches that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its members hold progressive views on feminism and communal living. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were central figures in this practice. Transcendentalism is a system developed by Immanuel Kant, based on the idea that, in order to understand the nature of reality, one must first examine and analyze the reasoning process which governs the nature of experience. A core belief of transcendentalism is the inherent goodness of people and nature. Adherents believe that society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual, and they have faith that people are at their best when they are truly "self-reliant" and independent, (wikipedia.org/Transcendentalism). Henry David Thoreau was a master of transcendentalism because he was able to completely rely on himself within 2 years living at Walden Pond. 

WHAT WAS HE A PART OF???

a picture of Walden Pond
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tin_
Brook,_Walden,_NY.jpg

Thoreau was known mostly for his written masterpiece, "Walden Pond". His concept of living wild shows that he was not part of many things. He lived a secluded 2 years at Walden Pond, and when doing that, he wrote his book. His book was the main environmental contribution that he was a part of, without a doubt. Most writers have a difficult time in trying to pinpoint his political standpoint. Thoreau stood to refuse following any rules of ANY authority, especially when authority is oppressing another person or group. He said himself, "I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually". I would talk about some of the things that he was a part of, but he was not a part of much. His main focus was advocacy for the life of freedom and had an overall appeal of living life completely free and detatched from the government and overall policy. This quote shows how he felt: "It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders. I must get off him first, that he may purse his contemplations too," (Reform Papers 71).

WHAT ELSE DID HE DO???

another photo of walden pond
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4853457

Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law as a part of the Compromise of 1850. This makes it a crime to assist escaping slaves. In defiance of the law, Thoreau hides escaping slaves at his family's Concord, Massachusetts home, (shmoop.com). Thoreau's essay on his experience in jail is published May 1849. In addition, to spark a slave rebellion, abolitionist John Brown leads a raid on a U.S arsenal at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Brown is captured and later hanged. Thoreau writes a speech in his defense, A Plea for Captain John Brown, which is later published.  Overall, Thoreau did not like slavery very much. Who in their right minds would? Thoreau's anti-slavery views and his overall criticism of both slavery and the Fugitive Slave Act reflect the American Romantics' preoccupation with democracy and freedom. Thoreau believed that we should all be free, regardless of skin color. (shmoop.com). In the grand scheme of things, Thoreau was an amazing advocate for rights of slaves, and I completely support everything that he stood for. This was an amazing quote from his book, "Slavery in Massachusetts": Much has been said about American slavery, but I think that we do not even yet realize what slavery is. If I were seriously to propose to Congress to make mankind into sausages, I have no doubt that most of the members would smile at my proposition, and if any believed me to be in earnest, they would think that I proposed something much worse than Congress had ever done. But if any of them will tell me that to make a man into a sausage would be much worse—would be any worse—than to make him into a slave—than it was to enact the Fugitive Slave Law, I will accuse him of foolishness, of intellectual incapacity, of making a distinction without a difference. The one is just as sensible a proposition as the other. ("Slavery in Massachusetts"). How does this relate to the environment? Well, because of the fact that Thoreau believed in the right of freedom, this connects with his experience in Walden Pond. Transcendentalism is a big part of the thought and feeling of being free, which is something that is reflected in his writing as a whole. 

WHAT CAN WE DO???

a replica of Thoreau's house
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Replica_of_
Thoreau%27s_cabin_near_Walden_Pond_and_his_statue.jpg

In Keene, we cannot necessarily do what Henry David Thoreau did by secluding ourselves in a wooded area nearby and not follow any rules. But, we can advocate for our own beliefs, and we can chose what to fight for, just like Thoreau did. There are a lot of club on campus that we have a right to sign up for that advocate for the environment, and our own health; much like Public Health Club, Environmental Club, and Yoga club. I am a part of all of these, and can proudly say that I am President of Yoga Club. I think joining these clubs or any club in general is very similar to writing a book. You tell a story by doing the things that you enjoy and you can freely talk and share with people that think like to you do. I know Thoreau was not a part of any clubs, but he did write a book regarding living 'wild'. I feel like I am advocating my own beliefs in Keene by joining these clubs. By just standing for what you believe in by doing what you love is the perfect potion of living freely. Especially living in Keene, you are surrounded by nature. One of the things I love when having a car on campus is going on hikes.