In Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden, the author details his life in the wilderness in a narrative way which is meant to evoke thought and reasoning in the reader. Thoreau’s purpose in doing so is to attempt to convince the reader that his lifestyle has merit and value over that of ordinary city life for a number of reasons. Thoreau approaches this task not by disparaging the people who choose to lead traditional and common lives, but by pointing out the many injustices done to those people by the system they willingly make themselves a part of. Throughout his book, the transcendentalist utilizes a variety of techniques and methods to make his points to the reader. Notably, Thoreau makes the shift from his experiences to theory. By using his time at Walden Pond as anecdotal evidence, Thoreau makes a compelling argument for his lifestyle based off of his experiences. One example of this which stands out above others is in paragraph thirteen of Walden’s Conclusion.
Here, Thoreau’s sum argument is well encapsulated in a single paragraph. His appeal to the reader comes not as a demand or cries for change, but simply a request to view their world through his perspective. Thoreau cannot force anyone to share his unusual world view, but he can show others its value based on what he and they have mutually experienced. Thoreau argues that we should not hate our lives no matter how meager, dirty, or uncomfortable they may become. He proposes instead that we live our lives to the best of our abilities and appreciate the gift of life itself. He points out that no matter how amazing, wealthy, and luxurious a life can be, someone will always be able to find faults in it if they are to look for them. Having used his own life as proof, Thoreau tells us that we may find good times and fond memories to be made even in the darkest of places. As he writes:
“It is life near the bone where it is sweetest. You are defended from being a trifler. No man loses ever on a lower level by magnanimity on a higher. Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.”
This is where the move to theory is made. Thoreau uses the example of the poorest townspeople and the freedom that they enjoy to show the reader what is possible if they cast aside their desires for wealth and excess. In doing so, he shows his readers the transcendental value of separation from traditional society and its trappings. An interesting if difficult way to view success and happiness.
Thoreau uses his observations on what we value and what he has voluntarily lived without to make a necessary and powerful statement about what people should seek out in their lives. Pursuit of vanity, wealth, power, and money have no limits. To set one’s life around the acquisition of these things means they will never succeed because they will never have enough. When we die having spent our life in pursuit of the superficial, we die unfulfilled. According to Henry David Thoreau, there is more to living than can be measured in stuff and things. This is Thoreau’s message. That true happiness and appreciation of life is a state of mind which is bound to no aspect of society. Be it class, amount of holdings, or station, all can achieve that state of mind we want if we look past its typical requisites and realize what an amazing thing it is to be truly happy with what we have.