In the Thicket of Thoreau

“I had gone down to the woods for other purposes. But, wherever a man goes, men will pursue and paw him with their dirty institutions, and, if they can, constrain him to belong to their desperate odd-fellow society” (244).

This quote, following Thoreau’s arrest for not paying taxes, is telling of his perspective on human society. Though Thoreau is not opposed to having some visitors at his cottage, even if he would prefer to be alone most of the time, he does not wish to be a formal part of society. Instead, it seems he would rather interact with people and avoid the constrains of society, living on his own and not contributing to a state whose morals he disagrees with. That the state will not allow him to live alone on his own terms gives him great contempt for this entity that seems opposed to him. I wonder if Thoreau’s perspective is that other men should do the same and avoid paying taxes and participating in society. If all people were to do this, then the state would not be able to exist. Is this what Thoreau wants? Or does he consider himself an exception to societies rules due to the way he lives?

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