Thoreau's Objections To Fashion And Obedience

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Thoreau thinks that “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”, meaning they appear content yet are constantly in a state of distress which they put upon themselves; attributing this to the way in which humans obsess themselves with certain things (Thoreau, 7). I associate Thoreau’s objections to fashion, architecture, philanthropy and red meat with a line from the Economy chapter, which reads, “So much for a blind obedience to a blundering oracle…”, reminding one of the fact that we simply follow the actions of others without ever pausing to question society or think about what is truly necessary (6). This has a strong connection to the way in which Thoreau sees fashion. Simply because others start wearing something, we follow in suit

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