The Paradox of Language in Henry David Thoreau’s "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For." Anonymous College

Henry David Thoreau’s Walden embarks on a philosophical experiment with full intention in provoking conventionality. As an advocator of simplicity, Walden is ironically complex in terms of its sophisticated language and ratiocination, and the exactness in the execution of every observation makes it difficult to pass Thoreau’s thoughts off as coincidences. Such a complex position regarding language is revealed by a close examination of Thoreau's classic chapter on nature, "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For."

In the chapter, "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" , Thoreau focuses on the exquisite intertwining of consciousness and nature as he writes with the noblest intention to promote frugality, resounding with the honest writing that he demonstrates throughout his entire quest for universal truth. Thoreau focuses on the intricate sense of interconnectedness between nature and humanity, as he fills his monologue with intense symbolism and imagery to illustrate this parallel. Through the likening of “reality” (Thoreau) as “a hard bottom and rocks”, and “opinion, and prejudice, and tradition” as “mud” and “alluvion”, Thoreau employs abstract symbols in conscious efforts to synthesise landscape and soul as one. The mixed sense...