Walden - A Treatise on Transcendentalism - Term Paper Example

Walden - A Treatise on Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau delivered his magnum opus to America which he baptized with the title Walden. The book is all about Thoreau’s experience in a cabin located near the Walden Pond surrounded by woodlands which is owned by his affiliate and teacher Ralph Waldo Emerson in nearby Massachusetts. The book was written to illustrate how Thoreau detached himself from the society for the objective of finding a bias-free understanding of it. In the cabin where he lived on for two years, he practiced with humanly motivation the life of an ascetic.

His existence in the simple abode was portrayed with minimalism and naturalism; yet it is important to note that the cabin was not situated in a wild environment but in the fringe of the municipality which is not so far away from his family’s quarters. Although not on the face of an extremely formidable and callous nature, Thoreau observed meticulously a primordial lifestyle exemplified with the fundamental human needs which were food, shelter, clothing, and fuel. He knowledgeably applied his skill in economy by diligently recording his expenses and savings.

Living with a meager amount of income, he built a home and enjoyed the most rustic freedom available to mankind. Moreover, Thoreau alleged in the tome that over- dependence on literatures was never an effective conduit towards transcendence or the ideal conception of one’s spiritual condition against the lure of worldly facets or sensual perceptions; spiritual success can be attained through individual intuition or experience. The magnificent natural surroundings endowed to us by Mother Nature is goading us to live simply and to concentrate on the elemental sounds of nature such as the rustling hum of the leaves, the chirping of migratory birds, the ringing of the chapel’s bells, the jangling and muffling of wagons, the farm animals moaning, and the tiny creatures flirting.

The last chapter of the book condemned the American preoccupation on success and excessive affluence that were vestigial to their pursuit of happiness. Thoreau compassionately encouraged humanity to alter their lives for the wellness of the spirit and not for the mounting of wealth and material possessions. He epitomized these advices by means of passages interspersed in the book such as “sell your clothes and keep your thoughts,” and “say what you have to say, not what you ought.” Furthermore, Thoreau denounced conformity because this administrative demand hinders the genuine journey of humanity towards happiness and contentment; individuals, as he accepted, should follow what their hearts and minds utter because only though self-discretion will a person obtain a blissful subsistence.

The masterpiece of Thoreau generally criticizes the debilitating fixation of the Western culture towards consumerism and materialism which in the long run will spawn the obliteration of nature. The venture of Thoreau towards simplicity has three objectives; primarily, the endeavor was performed to elude the global weakening effect of the Industrial Revolution and its threat against the pastoral and agricultural life; likewise, he abridged his expenditures and augmented the amount of time dedicated to leisure time so that he could accomplish much on his writings about how one’s lifetime should be lived, whether materially or else.

Lastly, he utilized the philosophical treatise of Transcendentalism which will offshoot into an experience guided by the Divine through nature. Thoreau’s triumphantly achieved his dream of a life grasped through the lens of stoicism and a life free from the commonplace hedonistic activities of mankind. Materialism is an apparent outcome of the constant evolution of societies and the steady advancement of technology which made production of surpluses hence profit attainable. As Thoreau eloquently put it, individuals should make use of their free will in directing the path of existence that will best suit them; it is not spiritually enticing to follow the current trend of civilizations which is the steadfast creation of myriads of worldly substances for the satiation of human superficial needs.