Thoreau's Walden: A Critique of American Society

Henry David Thoreau, an American philosopher, transcendentalist, and abolitionist, was in many regards well ahead of his time. Few of his works highlights his genius as well as Walden, or Life in the woods. Thoreau writes Walden for himself hoping readers will come to similar conclusions when given Thoreau's personal experiences to think about. This is unlike a preacher telling others how to live, for Thoreau is not preaching, but simply observing. Thoreau’s Walden argues against the barbaric structure of American society, a society that pursues an illusion of progress through exploiting Indians, Africans, and the poor; while he cannot himself end slavery or subjugation Thoreau instead offers self reliance, and living on less, as solutions

for an individual to lead a fulfilling life, a life uncommon throughout 19th century America.
America was still trying to find it’s identity in the 1800’s.

Utopian communities were formed such as Shakers, Brook farm, and Mormons; the revival of religious fervor began the second great awakening, this allowed preachers such as Alexander Campbell, and Richard Allen to become nationally well-known (OpenStax). Many groups rejected the status quo and looked to produce a lifestyle that was better than any other. This atmosphere was ripe for Thoreau’s input. Thoreau was a prominent transcendentalist, another 19th-century social movement. Transcendentalism focused on the individual, nature, and emotional reasoning, rather than cold logic. Walden promoted much of the transcendental philosophy, and less dares, but rather invites the reader to try living with less, understanding their place in nature, and going “beyond the sensory world in order to reach a deeper understanding of their reality. While Thoreau offers a lifestyle he feels compelled to comment on the current class structure advocating for those who are enslaved to it both literally in the form of African slavery, and figuratively in the form of the poor, and middle class who rent homes from and work for the upper classes

benefit.
The societal structure of America is focused on acquiring wealth, and political power by exploiting Indians, Africans, and the lower classes. Thoreau directly comments on slavery by labeling it frivolous, and gross (Walden 9). He also saw slavery as more than a southern institution of enslaving blacks. “so many keen and subtle masters that enslave both north and south. It is hard to have a southern overseer; it is worse to have a northern one, but worst of all when you are the slave-driver of yourself” (Walden 9). The slavery of Africans was obvious, but the enslavement of poor classes in the north was far more subtle; worst of all was the enslavement of one's self by self-imposed limitations. The last of the three being a unique transcendental belief.
The mistreatment of Indians, Africans, and the poor are all apparent almost immediately after the arrival of Europeans in the new world. Massasoit, leader of the Wampanoag helped early settlers, but when no longer needed the pilgrims sought to take advantage of their resources (beaver in this case) in order to become rich (video). Almost two centuries later Americans, Thomas Jefferson, and William Henry Harrison attempted to steal, or in their case “buy” the lands of Ohio river valley Indians. Tecumseh, an almost mythical Indian leader attempted to stand against the American intrusion, but was simply under-equipped to hold off the entire nation of the United States (and he was abandoned by the British twice). After the factory system weakened the Indians through alcoholism Tecumseh's brother, The Prophet, brought together Indians from across the modern Midwest, and parts of the south under the leadership of Tecumseh. Again the Indians attempted to resist the encroaching Americans, but found it impossible with the flimsy British support, and a far smaller army. (Zinn) Indians were clearly targeted by the United States, but Poor whites were subdued in much more subtle ways.
Poor whites came along as indentured servants to a wealthy landowner with promises they would get something in return after their tenure. While they did receive what was agreed upon often times they were just used as a buffer between Indians, and the wealthy whites who abused them (Zinn). The systems that were put in place hundreds of years later where the wealthiest people own the land and factories, poor whites found themselves in perpetual debt or squalor working conditions. Even though on paper they were no longer indentured, in practice they still remained a mistreated servant of the wealthy. Even lower than the Indian, or Poor white was the black slave.
While Indians and poor whites were subjected Africans were enslaved, brought along to increase production of cash crops to unheard of levels. The triangular trade Columbus brought to the world would see the largest scale system for slavery in history. (OpenStax) Dutch, British, North, and South America would all be perpetrators in one of history's most atrocious events. There were some dissenters of slavery in the western world, but it took about 400 years to end the slavery in the northern hemisphere. “Progress” was the reason for all this suffering though, without it, we wouldn't have the blessings we do today; not according to Thoreau.
Progress of the civilized world is an illusion, just because we can live in grandeur doesn't mean we should. Thoreau describes how Darwin found the clothed European is cold next to a fire while almost naked “savages” are sweating relentlessly much further away. Later Thoreau discusses how man will only desire “warmer clothing, larger fires” more, and more (Walden 14). Instead of being content and able to sprout we root ourselves in the ground and collect more and more of the soils nutrients without ever bearing fruit. “In the savage state, every family owns a shelter as good as the best” displays that Indians have a housing system that works for all equally, and does not use more than is needed. “In the large towns and cities, where civilization especially prevails, the number of those who own a shelter is a very small fraction of the whole” (Walden 25). While these houses are far superior, “offering the benefit of the improvement of centuries” They are owned by the “poor man” while the wigwams are owned by a “rich savage.”
Thoreau defines poor and rich as meaning something different to all individuals. “Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul” (Walden 244). Philosophers such were of the poorest class, however were of the richest in soul. Thoreau often cites philosophers: Confucius (110), Plato (80), Cato (48) in attempts to bring more validity to his own observations and thoughts. He often has to experience the righteousness of man. Thoreau is told by a local farmer “You cannot live on vegetable food solely for it furnishes nothing to make bones with” while he and his plow are pulled along by a grass eating oxen, “despite every obstacle” (Walden 10). When he finds a poor man in a small shelter he attempts to persuade him on how to rise out of poverty, instead, the man rejects Thoreau’s efforts, continuing his fall into obscurity.
Self-reliance is paramount to improving society, and the lack of it contributes to further subjection, dissolution, and poorness of thought. It is apparent after interactions with locals that Thoreau realized that he couldn't just tell others how to live, but had to provide them questions, and real-world examples in order to plant the seeds of change. Later on, he uses established philosophers in order to validate his own thinking, all the while making his arguments more convincing. After two years of living in the woods, he realized that having no outstanding debts to others, and relying on himself to make it through every day was more satisfying than anything he had done beforehand. “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life” (Walden 69). The fact he had to rely on nobody else made him capable of sprouting fruit to help others, instead of being subject to a wealthy landlord who tormented Indians, or slaves in order to further enrich themselves.
Walden is essentially the transcendentalist bible.

Thoreau uses the experiment as a way of testing his beliefs. Through his experience with others and himself, he validates his own hypothesis of what transcendentalist living should bring. Happiness truly came to him from residing in the woods, relying on himself for all his needs. Finding himself as one with nature, rather than above or outside of it. Understanding that true wealth came from the soul and experiences, rather than possessions. He had to share his revelations, but knew he couldn't force others to think as he did, especially if they had never lived

deliberately.
Henry David Thoreau was a great American explorer. Instead of exploring the vast lands of the west, he explored the far larger space of his own conscious. In Walden, he was able to write about the injustices of “civilized” society, and how “Progress” rode on the backs of the Indians, African slaves, and poor whites. He gave some agency to Indians by begging the question if they were in some regards more civilized than Europeans because, they are self-sufficient, live with nature, and for the most part are entirely equal society. The book acts as a way for him to advocate for transcendentalism without sounding like a preacher; Thoreau is purely a man who found meaning in life, and desperately wishes to share his findings with anyone willing to listen.