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Thoreau’s ideas on Civil Disobedience, Free Will and Self-awareness
The rapid technological events have greatly influenced developments and change in people’s perceptions around the world. The media has specifically played a huge role in promoting both positive and negative impacts in how the world is portrayed. With the combination of the internet, many people have become over-reliant on what is portrayed by others and have completely disregarded their own opinions on what is right and wrong on important life issues such as body image. Several authors and public figures have nonetheless come out to address the vices in the developing world in their novels and articles. Henry D Thoreau is one such author who has been very critical of the situation in the world and has voiced his concerns in his articles and novels over the years on diverse issues including civil disobedience, media and internet effects on people’s outlook on life. The essay purports to examine the contemporary relevance of Thoreau’s writing and ideas and establish the significance of his teachings in today’s world.
One of the major themes that Thoreau established in his novel Walden was the desire to be accepted by others in the society based on “set standards” that many try to conform to. His decision to seek isolation in the wilderness and away from the pleasures and pressures of the world is seen as attempt to advise the greater public that it is possible to survive as a free spirit. He notes, “Most of the luxuries and many of the so called comforts of life are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind” (Thoreau 57). Thoreau was very opinionated and shared his concerns about the shackles that people in the society had locked themselves in. The materialistic society has put a lot of pressure on many individuals’ paths and hence advocated for self-improvement, self-reliance and cultivation of people’s intellectual and spiritual needs. He states “We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep” (Thoreau 125). Thoreau believed that people who are self-aware are also more conscious and have the ability to achieve great things. Thoreau strongly advocated against people seeking acceptance from others in the society and believed that it caused low self-esteem issues. He also advocated for the traditional set up of life where the pressures that comes with societal expectations was non-existent. He notes “No man ever stood the lower in my expectation for having a patch in his clothes. I say beware of all enterprises that require new clo...