ipl-logo

Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience'

154 Words1 Page

Throughout Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience,” it is evident that his stance on wealth is firm. He believes that “the rich man…is always sold to the institution which makes him rich” (Thoreau 9). The rich are said to be the ones less likely to practice civil disobedience because they have conformed to the government, prospering under it. On the other hand, Thoreau is not entirely hateful towards the wealthy. He explains that “the best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor” (Thoreau 10). Because the rich are normally those who have power, his stance on that particular matter put him in a dangerous position. Thoreau had great influence on future leaders.

Show More
Related

  • Henry David Thoreau On Civil Disobedience

    801 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout all of time, people have needed to live according to their own agendas. Being forced to live a certain way has only caused trouble. That is why Henry David Thoreau supported civil disobedience to help people live according to their own beliefs. In the essay “On Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, the author defined and explained the effect of civil disobedience. Thoreau defined it as, civil disobedience is any peaceful action that demonstrates the disagreement of a person or persons with their government.

    Read More

  • Thoreau's Use Of Rhetorical Devices In Civil Disobedience

    953 Words  | 4 Pages

    Civil Disobedience directly targets the feelings of Americans and human beings alike. Thoreau continually compliments the American people, and puts America's success into their hands as opposed to the government's hands. He questions the legitimacy of the government in a way that persuades the reader to do so as well. Most of all, he appeals to the want for a successful country and freedom to be an individual which America had come so far to attain. In one of the most powerful statements of this piece, Thoreau states, "The character inherent of the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way."

    Read More

  • Henry David Thoreau Rhetorical Analysis

    474 Words  | 2 Pages

    In reading Henry David Thoreau, I was halted by the views he shared. Thoreau was a suspicious man that felt there is not a reason to be taxed if person did not agree with usage of funds or need government protection. Thoreau lived in the woods, mostly self sustainable. He came into town to have a shoe mended and found himself confronted by a city official to pay a poll tax. He refused and the sheriff put him in Jail.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience

    897 Words  | 4 Pages

    Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience heavily criticizes the government for being too corrupt and also argues that the people have the right to refuse allegiance to the State. Because the government is unjust and corrupt, Thoreau calls for a change in how the government operates rather than abolishing the government entirely. Thoreau’s idea of a better government is a government that governs the least. This claim is elaborated as Thoreau states in his essay that the individuals with consciences should rule instead of the government officials that lack said consciences. For example, in part 1 paragraph 4, he mocks individuals such as soldiers and privates for showing respect to the government through marching admirably because they are going

    Read More

  • Thoreau's Impact On Civil Disobedience

    1168 Words  | 5 Pages

    The government's flawed state can be corrected by the action of an individual. Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience heavily reinforces this idea by presenting novel concepts regarding the role, responsibilities, and options of individuals, as they pertain to government, throughout the course of the text. The text was written in 1894 during the time of the Mexican American war when the US government, and the people it represented, found itself in a turbulent, uncertain state. Thoreau’s mission was to inform other transcendentalists and civilians in the United States about the actions they could and should have taken against government when unacceptable forms of rule arose. Although many Americans believed achieving reform was impossible through the actions of individuals, Thoreau’s belief was that independent and just strides could be enough to make considerable change; this becomes clear when Thoreau says, “It is not as important that many should be as good as you, as that may be some absolute goodness, for that will leaven the lump”

    Read More

  • What Is Thoreau's Resistance To Civil Government

    530 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are a couple of thoughts from Thoreau 's words; first, they are fascinated by the way he perceived how the administration was ruled. From his point of view, he saw himself as the villain and he was administered by the force of men and it was not in the slightest degree controlled in a common manner. Additionally, Thoreau was against the government, and he needed individuals to perceive how the legislature is brimming with force, but not in a persuasive manner. …” They who have been bred in the school of politics fail now and always to face the facts.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Walden

    441 Words  | 2 Pages

    Furthermore, his use of tone to exemplify his argument is also effective as he condemns people for living rushed, unfulfilled lives for the sake of prosperity and materialistic possessions. When Thoreau says that ”when we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have any permanent and absolute existence, that petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of the reality,”(279) he employs a critical tone by stating that people are blinded by these petty things that misconstrue

    Read More

  • Resistance To Civil Government Rhetorical Analysis

    199 Words  | 1 Pages

    The purpose of Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government" is to make an argument between what is right and what is convenient. He describes the dangers of listening and agreeing with everything a government says, or any large group of people, instead of paying attention to one's own conscience. Thoreau relates this idea to one personal experience he had when he was forced to spend a night in jail for refusing to pay a poll tax. He describes how the instance made him feel and how it differentiated from the way he saw his village. Before he understood how his everyday actions were similar to his knowledge of a larger democracy and government.

    Read More

  • Thoreau's Rhetorical Devices In 'Civil Disobedience'

    269 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the passage from "Civil Disobedience," the author, Thoreau, utilizes rhetorical devices to support his theme. Such devices include tone and diction. The theme expressed in the text is that the government is in need of change and acceptance, not a replacement. The author conveys a serious and professional tone throughout the passage. This helps add more to the seriousness of the subject and theme created which is the government needs change and acceptance, not a replacement.

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience By Thoreau

    422 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or

    Read More

  • Thoreau And Civil Disobedience

    1198 Words  | 5 Pages

    What Thoreau means by the Civil Disobedience is that every person should be govern more by his own moral compass that gives him much clearer answer to his deeds, rather than some laws of a government. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward.” (1)

    Read More

  • Figurative Language In Emerson's Self Reliance

    1332 Words  | 6 Pages

    Thoreau’s view on the society as he states, “In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well” go to show that it was harder to have individuality and to refuse the governments ways. Now-a-days the practice of civil disobedience has allowed citizens to practice non-conformity with the protection of amendments but back then while the nation was just growing they had to have more power and that, “so long as the interest of the whole society requires it, that is, so long as the established government cannot be resisted or changed without public inconveniency, it is the will of God that the established government be obeyed, and no longer" as quoted by Paley. The society was most likely pushed towards acceptance of the government and weren’t as self-reliant to make change in their

    Read More

  • How Does Thoreau Use Ethos In Civil Disobedience

    540 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the writing “Civil Disobedience”, Thoreau spoke often of the idea he supported, which was “That government is best which governs least;” In his text he talked about not paying the government’s poll tax for 6 years, causing him to be thrown in jail. A poll tax is a tax of an equal amount of money for each individual paying it. This poll tax was for waging war on Mexico, which Thoreau disagreed with, therefore he did not pay it. When talking about his time in jail, Thoreau used many different rhetorical strategies, including an intense appeal to Pathos, as well as major uses of imagery and symbolism in order to achieve his purpose of persuading his audience that the best type of government is one one of laissez-faire.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Henry David Thoreau's Resistance To Civil Government

    2124 Words  | 9 Pages

    Mr. Thoreau argues that people should not allow any government to control or atrophy their thoughts or beliefs. Mr. Thoreau was an also remained a devoted abolitionist and has written

    Read More

  • Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

    1371 Words  | 6 Pages

    Individuals lay the foundation of America. The Founding Fathers of this unique nation broke their allegiance with Great Britain to create an improved governing body. They desired an individual-centered authority as opposed to Britain’s monarchy, which ruled with tyranny. These Founding Fathers experienced a neglectful democratic monarchy that cared little about the ethical treatment of its people. The domineering actions of Britain challenged these historic individuals to form a new cultural identity.

    Read More

More about Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience'

Open Document