Rhetorical Analysis on Thoreau’s Walden-Chapter33

Rhetorical Analysis-Reading in Walden Walden is a personalised essay of Henry David Thoreau, as he goes into wood and writes his personal experiences by immersing himself in nature. By detaching himself from the society, Thoreau tried to gain a more than accusatory understanding of society through personal introspection. His thoughts of understanding society or finding the faithfulness argon discussed on the third chapter Reading. This chapter constitutes a com ment of what Thoreau has gained from training and an exhortation that the reader should seek for the vein of spiritual truth.Thoreau discusses the benefits of incorrupt literature then argues that people of fit in should focus on bragging(a)s didactics. He moans that nigh of the educated men in Concord disregard the classics of English literature and argues that townspeople should have spent property on building Lyceum instead of a townhouse. By utilize dichotomies, Thoreau differentiates himself from the townsp eople, and then he strengthens his argument by deifying the work of swell poets.Thoreaus chartering of classical literature or his attempt to find the truths is preponderating in chapter Reading, but his thoughts atomic number 18 especially well-presented in the start-off paragraph of the chapter. Thoreau begins his paragraph with personal thoughts saying if men were more study in choosing their pursuits, they would all become students and observers, because that it is in their nature and destiny. By choosing scientific words, such as observers, students, and nature to describe his personal thoughts, Thoreau risks charges of elitism.Science is a study of nature and it is based on observation and experiment, whereas philosophy and literature is a study based on personal thoughts and insights. This is contrast to what other most writers argue. Most other writers and philosophers argue that while it is possible to think we sack out the truth in a situation, it is impossible to be reliable. Since we rotternot be certain of the truth, it is very difficult or even so impossible to define what the truth is.However by stating that literature and philosophy can be answered in a definite way like science, Thoreau implicitly tells the readers that he is following the remediate track as other immense poets have followed. This elitism is recurrent throughout in Walden, as he pleads the difference between groovy literature and the common reader later in this chapter. Thoreau contemplates that most people look out to read only for convenience and they are only satisfied with one(a) great book, the Bible. He even ridicules the townspeople by comparing them to 4 years old children with a copy of Cinderella.It is possible that Thoreau purposely utilise the techniques in a planned way. If Thoreau had bluntly blamed the educated part in Concord from the beginning, his readers, whom are mostly likely educated men from Concord or elsewhere, would have undoubtedl y been offended. On the next sentence, Thoreau continues his boldness by introducing the theme of immortality through literature. Once again, he defies the work of great poets by stating that we are mortal, but in dealing with truth, we are immortal. (94, Thoreau) Thoreau implies that by writing or publishing great works, one can reach out immortality with his work.To further understand Thoreaus concept on mortality, one moldiness understand his background graduation. Walden was written in1845, three years after his pricey brother John, an amateur ornithologist. Suffering from his brothers loss, Thoreau went to woods and started his life as a writer by writing Walden. Faced with the terminal of his brother, Thoreau probably needed to find an answer for mortality and Walden is his attempt to immortalize himself through writing. Continuing from mortality, Thoreau uses another metaphor, divinity. Thoreau mentions roughly Egyptian and Hindu philosophers and their divinity.It is arouse to see that Thoreau uses other religions, instead of use Christianity. It was written in mid-nineteenth century, and the tralatitious Christian beliefs were starting to crumble. Thoreau, coming from New England where Puritan religion is prevalent, would of fertilise be familiar with Christianity and Bible. Other evidences in this paragraph also arouse that Thoreau was affected by this. As I mentioned on the last paragraph, Thoreau mentions slightly immortality and afterlife, which cannot be achieved in Christianity.Another example is the use of word veil in this paragraph. Throeau states still the trembling robe remains raised, and I gaze upon as fresh a glory as he did. (94, Thoreau) When people first think of Veil in religion, most people would think of Islamic women wearing hijabs, but considering that this was written in mid-nineteenth century, Thoreau probably was not considering Muslim. In fact, covering the hair is also religious commandment for Christian Women and it was meant to sieve womens hair from eyes of sinful men.Human beings can only discriminate the divine through their senses in Christianity belief, while Thoreau, as a transcendentalist, suggests a more spiritual way to connect with divine by reading great literature. Thoreau then concludes this paragraph with a resemblance statement of great literatures immortality. He says That time which we really improve, or which is improvable, is uncomplete past, present, nor future. (94,Thoreau) Again he mentions immortality of the great literature and he is stating that these works are the truth. Thoreau does not contemplate townspeople in this paragraph as oftentimes as the rest of chapter. Instead he focuses praising the great poets and even defies their work. This is part of his effort to convince readers his argument before he can criticize other townspeople. By doing this, he wishes for townspeople to become more educated. He wishes that Concord spend money on arts and educati on as patrons in European nobles, but only finds that townspeople are spending money on farming and trade. By using wave-particle duality between townspeople and the great poets, he successfully distinguishes himself from townspeople.Then by using metaphors and comparison with Christianity, Thoreau asserts his opinion on education and tells his thoughts on finding the truth. By boldly putting himself to the same position as the other great poets, Thoreau successfully shows his strong will on reforming education. Yet, he risks his essay for elitism by simply stating that townspeople dont care much about the literature and thus must be not interested in finding the truth. ? Work cited. 1. Henry David Thoreau, Walden. New York The Modern Library, 1992. Print. 2. Walden Pond state Reservation