In the Thicket of Thoreau

In economy, there is a section that sticks out to me. After detailing the money he spent on materials to build his temporary house on Walden, he has a strange aside. Thoreau writes: “I intend to build me a house which will surpass any on the main street in Concord in grandeur and luxury, as soon as it pleases me as much and will cost me no more than my present one” (149). It is not intrinsically problematic, though it exists in sharp contrast to the minimalism that  Thoreau promotes up until this point. The same, it is interesting that he is so invested in one-upping his fellow man.

To add insult to injury, Thoreau on that same page provides reasoning for his boast: “If I seem to boast more than in becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself…” (149). Throughout class, I and my fellow classmates have expressed issue we have with Thoreau’s often arrogant tone. It is comforting that he is self aware enough to address this but I do not think that his reasoning is is sufficient. I don’t see how Thoreau’s boast about his wealth and carpentry skills does not somehow include all of humanity–just him.

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