Similarities Between Civil Disobedience And Transcendentalism

Proving Points

"Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them . . . or shall we transgress them at once." Popular transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, believed that obeying “unjust” laws would hold people back and they should not be okay or “content” with following them. He thought that civil disobedience was an important concept and that people must “transgress” civilization and make their own laws and restrictions to remain happy. Civil disobedience and protest against society was a large contribution towards the Transcendental movement that began in New England in the 18th century. It urged Americans to not give in and do what society saw right but instead, encroach civilizations laws by following their own rules. In addition,

the idea that being materialistic was holding a person back from being happy was also instated in this movement.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and The Catcher in The Rye by J.D. Salinger demonstrate civil disobedience. Though written in two different centuries, these both similarly have main narrators that grow tired of their societies restrictions and set out to find themselves as long as a sense of adventure. Huck Finn travels down a river with a runaway slave during the Antebellum Era for much of the book and deals with a large inner turmoil. He battles with his conscious about whether or not he should follow society's rules and turn the slave in or chose his friendship and help him escape. He fears that he will be judged harshly by his town if he gets caught, but eventually decides his friendship has more importance. Similarly, Holden becomes tired of his school and all the restrictions and sets out on his own in New York City. He constantly ruins his future by failing out of school just to prove he does not have to follow the rules. As a result of their similar struggles against society and retaliations, these characters can be easily compared. Predominantly, both narrators explicate civil disobedience when they do the opposite of what civilization wants. Additionally, the protagonists minimum interest in money and other materials exposes their non materialistic personalities. Furthermore, through Huck's and Holdens similar transcendental beliefs and experiences, others are inspired to practice civil disobedience and become non materialistic to remain happy and find themselves.
Primarily, the two narrator's show similarities in their transcendental ideology of civil disobedience.

Growing up in a racist town, Huck was taught that showing slaves affection was wrong and that they were lesser individuals. Huck feels remorse as he begins to like Jim, the runaway slave, and worries what his society would think of him for helping him escape. Deciding to turn Jim in, Huck writes a note about his whereabouts, however, changes his mind moments later. Hucks climatic decision becomes obvious when he tears up the note giving Miss Watson information on where Jim is. Trembling, Huck “ . . . decide[s], forever, betwixt two things . . . [he’ll] go to hell, and [tears] the note up” (Twain 210). Finally, Huck ends his battle “betwixt” his two conflicting choices. Even though Huck believes he will go to “hell” for violating the regulations of his tow,n he no longer cares about what society has to say. He makes the bold decision to go against everything he was taught growing up and rips up the symbolic “tie to society's expectations” hereby associating himself with the transcendental principle of civil disobedience. Similar to Huck, Holden simply wants to prove that he does not have to follow the rules if he does not want to and demonstrates this belief by continuously failing out of schools. He struggles with ruining his future to go against society by flunking and doing the opposite of what civilization thinks he should do. Feeling lost and wanting comfort, Huck

goes to one of the only people he trusts, Mr. Antolini. The teacher, however, has heard about Huck's situation and appears disappointed. Mr. Antolini expresses his grief briefly when he explains, ‘“the mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for once”’ (Salinger 188). Mr. Antolini's words to Holden illustrate that he can see Holden destroying his future in protest against the tight restraints of society. As an “immature man” Holden wants to be “noble” for a single cause such as civil disobedience. By failing out of all his schools even though he has the intelligence to pass, he illustrates his transcendental civil disobedience. Furthermore, the narrators are no longer interested in doing what civilization sees fit and each act on it in their own unique, yet similar ways. Thus, Huck Finn and The Catcher explicate protagonists that deal with their inner turmoils while transgressing society's restrictions and expectations.
Moreover, much indication of similar transcendentalist beliefs becomes visible through the main characters almost identical non-materialistic personalities. Huck has a large amount of money that he has gathered but does not use. When his gold-digging Pap comes to town, Huck willingly gives all of his money to the judge knowing Pap will try to take it. The narrator hands out his money without expecting anything in return because it has little value to him at all. Running to the the judge quickly, he exclaims,“ . . . I want you to take it; I want to give it to you- the six thousand and all” (Twain 25). Even though Huck could have used the money on himself he does not care for it and willingly gives it away for free. He says he wants to “give it” to the judge, suggesting that he does not want anything in return because the money happens to be a gift, not a loan. Money has little importance to Huck for he does not care about materials, therefore exposing his transcendental beliefs. In comparison, Holden often caries money but it has no meaning to him. In fact, Holden thinks that money may too often be the the cause of sadness. During Holdens brief encounter with the nuns, he gives them ten dollars and later feels upset that he did not give them more. and feels bad that they are poor. He walks away solemnly as he thinks about how “goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell” (Salinger 113). Holden states that money makes a person “blue” or sad in the fact that often people do not have enough money and struggle to stay happy through all their money issues. Holden's negative attitude towards money demonstrates his non materialistic personality and his strong connection with transcendentalism. His ability to easily give away his money and still want to give away more reflects Hucks willingness to hand his money over without hesitation and shows the connection between the two narrators. Conclusively, similar transcendental principles can be easily expressed through Huck's and Holden’s comparable anti-materialistic nature.
As a result of Huck’s and Holden’s analogous transcendental views, readers are motivated to use his Thoreau's philosophies to find happiness and peace in their lives.

Primarily, the antagonists exhibit civil disobedience as they disregard society and do what they want. Moreover, the former and later have no interest in materials such as money, thus divulging the non materialism running through their veins. Civil disobedience is a belief that continues to be exemplified today. Many African Americans, such as the ones at Yale University, are lashing out against society's racism. Tired of the unfair treatment and stereotypes, many young black people are acting on civil disobedience by smashing portraits or windows of African American slaves. Not to mention, surveys done at San Diego State University record that twice as many teenagers nowadays have less motivation to work hard and are less happy compared to surveys done in 1976. If a person wants to be truly happy in his/her life, then he/she should use transcendentalism as a road map to this success. Creating their own restrictions and freeing themselves from a materialistic life will benefit people who are looking for peace and composure. In conclusion, the key to happiness may not be to obey “unjust laws”, but the “transgress” them

entirely.