What is Thoreau's Explanation of himself?

With the metaphor of the drummer ­ the nonconformist who marches to the beat of a different drum ­ Thoreau explores and defends his own choices in life from the conformist attitudes of society. In some ways, his defense of the nonconformist, who must be free to explore his own truths, and the "once-and-a-half-wit" whose insights society fails to recognize are defenses of his own writing.