Comparing Jerome Lawrence And The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail

Everywhere in society there are standards being set. Expectations of people's behaviors are upheld and

those who aren't conformed to them are cast out. In Emerson's maxims, he states that "Nothing is at

last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." Emerson asserts the idea to rise above the standards of

others and that the individual should care only for his or her own standards. One's self standard is

"sacred," just like their thoughts, ideas, and "mind." He compares to "nothing" else besides that.

This is further emphasized in Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's play "The Night Thoreau Spent in

Jail." The life that Henry goes through, the events he experiences, and the decisions he make all reflect

upon this maxim. He states that he "want[s] to be as much possible like Ralph

Waldo Emerson"
(Lawrence 8). Henry diverges from society and tries to create his own path, such as when he follows
Waldo, his mentor, and his mentor's shadow.

While at Waldo's home, Lydian comments that Henry

"doesn't want anything" (Larence 55). Waldo responds with "Perhaps he wants too much" (Lawrence

55). He sees that Henry has enormous ambitions from his rebelling to how he is trying to be a leader.

These ambitions show that Henry makes the effort to worry for only himself and what he cares about

like being against the war. The ambitions he's created stemmed from his thoughts, insisting that the

"integrity" is of his own mind is genuine.

Further in Henry's life, while caring for Waldo's son, Edward, he stumbles upon an escaped slave,

Williams. Henry suggests to him that since Williams is now a free man, he must have a new name.

Williams chooses the name "Henry Williams" to which Henry disputes "You don't belong to anybody,

sir. Except yourself. Least of all to me" (Lawrence 83). Henry wants Williams to diverge, to think of a

name for himself. Instead, Williams decides to follow instead of lead and chooses Henry's name,

essentially putting him to the standards of society as Henry is a free man.

During this time period, rules were very strict, shown in laws such as slavery and the maturity of

America
as a starting nation. Individuality had consequences, like being thrown into jail, but to some it was worth it.
People didn't need to conform to others, they only had to had to conform to themselves.
Page