The, Wildlife, And The Natural Land, By Henry David Thoreau

Just years after the Industrial Revolution, a time at which engineering and the economy became the main concerns of the population, many of the American people forgot the importance of the land that provided the resources that sustained them. In a time where there was believed to be nowhere but society to reside in, few refuted the idea that the wilderness was really so uncivilized. In his 1845 memoir, Henry David Thoreau describes his experiences living in a quaint cabin, â€Å"in the wilderness†, alongside Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts. Presenting his findings of being self-reliable, Thoreau depicts what his life was like alone in the woods with only nature to ease one’s mind and solitude to provide company. With detailed†¦show more content†¦He accordingly conveys this idea by stating that society only believes in intrinsic value and only once one can seclude themselves from the portrait of society can one come to find instrumental value. Continuing with his descriptions of the Walden Pond during winter, Thoreau presents the idea of overconsumption and sustainability throughout the book. While observing the ice cutters at Walden Pond, Thoreau comments on human effort to exploit nature, arguing that the actions are in vain as nature regenerates much faster than it can be threatened, which is very debatable due to the knowledge that there is only a finite amount of resources on the planet. Thoreau thoroughly believes in his idea of self-reliance and states that there are only four necessities that should determine one’s ability to survive: food, shelter, clothing, and fuel, many of which he believes nature provides graciously. This refutes the idea that prosperity is dependent widescale economic surplus. Thoreau makes his argument clear, writing that any attempt at luxury is likely to prove more as a hinderance that an aid to one’s individual improvement as in Economy when he writes â€Å"Most men, even i n this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are soShow MoreRelatedHenry David Thoreau : Idealism And Existentialism1311 Words   |  6 PagesIdealism and Existentialism consolidate together in Henry David Thoreau’s work, Walking. His ethic is no other than of a man that has come to his full- senses, seeing the world from the most narrow space that society have to offer, he expanded that space and went into a journey that every man should take, a journey of self-discovery and understanding of nature. Thoreau’s Walking solves the question that we all may consider of doing before making an action. 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