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| 58012 |
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
Has anybody read Walden?
Thoreau argues that if you focus on what is truly meaningful in your life, whittling away all of the non-essential dross that our culture convinces us we need, but which we really don't, we can create a simple abundance in our lives. We could "live deep and suck all of the marrow out of life."
How might you do this? What would you eliminate from your life? What is essential that you are depriving yourself of at present? If you are familiar with Walden (or have the time to read it now), what do you think of Thoreau's solution? What do you think of the fact that he abandoned his experiment after two years, two months and two days? Does this mean his experiment was unsuccessful? Why or why not?
What questions does Walden raise for you?
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Language pair: English; All
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| 58549 |
Re:Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
Hi Mark,
I wish I've read Walden, it sounds interesting to me and also it looks interesting to discuss it.
Though I didn't read it, I hope in general I understand what Thoreau does mean. I wish I had a little example.
I guess that's the old question for the sense of life, and even if I don't think that you really get a universal answer for it till your life ends up, I think everybody must intend it on his own. Is any kind of diversion and fun meant to take the significance out of your life? Even if I'm not a superficial (I don't know if you use this term in English) person, I think that some fun belongs to a fulfilled existence. What stands for fun you have to decide on your own once again.
Is it really our culture or society that convinces us that we need some things? How can it be, if we are free to choose what to buy or what to do in our spare time? I think, when people say that it is the culture that gets them to do something, they only want to reject the responsibility for their own lives. Most people don't want to think about a deeper meaning of some things or don't want to hear let alone speak or do the truth.
I hope I expressed that understandable, I don't have so much time right now and my English is not so well ;-).
Bye, Gudi
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This is a reply to message # 58012
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| 63650 |
Re:Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
I am not very fresh on walden, having read it over a year ago, but here goes.
You asked whether thoreau was successful even after abandoning the project, my answer is if
he got what he wanted out of the attempt it could not fail but be a success.
Many years ago my mother did something very similar, she moved her 5 children ages 1-10 on to a piece of property with no electricity
and no running water, a drought also occurred that year, despite all that it remains the freest time in my memory.
It seems to me as if society with all its good also imposes unneccessary constraints on its members.
Your thoughts on this would be welcome.
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Language pair: English; All
This is a reply to message # 58012
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