Thoreau and Transcendentalism Essay -- Civil Disobedience, Transcenden

Followers of the Transcendentalist movement stressed the religious, philosophical and ideological importance of life. Henry David Thoreau was a staunch supporter of the movement. Thoreau matt-up that a individual lived a good life by following his deterrent example sense and instincts. He also felt that materialism was a sure focus to distract a person from leading a good and moral life. Thoreau proposed for the government to be involved in as little of a citizens life as possible he felt too lots government control just complicated a persons life. Like about Transcendentalists, Thoreau believed there was a direct connection to God through personality. If a person appreciated reputation he would gain a higher(prenominal) understanding of God. Finally, Thoreau encouraged individuality versus conformity to the status quo.Thoreau challenged his readers to experience nature first hand he felt to truly experience nature was a way of experiencing God and marveled at the happi ness it can bring. In his novel Walden he writes of the happiness and capacityment he feels while listening to the birds in the chapter titled Sounds. His happiness is short-lived when it is interrupted by the telephone set of a train driving through the countryside. The reader gathers that, like galore(postnominal) Transcendentalists, Thoreau is against the Industrial Revolution taking place in America. He felt this industrialization would poison nature and complicate life even more than than it already was. The poisoning of nature would effect the connection a person could have with God as well.Thoreau wrote about living a bare(a) and uncomplicated life in Walden. He argues against the things that mark status in American partnership, owning land, dressing in fashion, and earning a high pay. Thoreau reasoned th... ...be content with just being average. He states that each person who explores themselves will be individual from one another. Each person should be conce rned with barely his business and motivations. Individuality was grand to Thoreau. He had no concerns of what other lot thought about his actions or ways of living and felt this make his life less complicated and simpler to concentrate on more important things.Thoreau was truly a Transcendentalist. He focused on the individual and the kindred he has with himself, nature, and God. He felt living simply and plainly would forego him to gain a greater understanding of the world around him. taking into custody of the world around you could only come after gaining a greater understanding of yourself. Once a person let get of the constraints of society were they free to begin to explore themselves and the world.