Passage (pg) 7
When we
consider what, to use the words of the catechism, is the chief end of man, and
what are the true necessaries and means of life, it appears as if men had deliberately
chosen the common mode of living because they preferred it to any other. Yet they
honestly think there is no choice left. But alert and healthy natures remember
that the sun rose clear. It is never too late to give up our prejudices. No way
of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof. What everybody
echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood
to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion, which some had trusted for a cloud that would
sprinkle fertilizing rain on their fields. What old people say you cannot do,
you try and find that you can.
Rhetorical Analysis
In today’s societies, it is true that most
people take the safe route of life. They get their education, get a job in
their field choice, and just live life the way they feel it should be. Then
there are a selective few that decide that life just isn’t enough, they
actually wanted to live it. So they take risk such as bungee jumping or
skydiving. Those are the type of people that Henry David Thoreau would find
great interest in because they step out of life’s comfort zone and are truly “awake”.
In the passage above, Thoreau’s use of diction and realism further intensifies
his strong feelings toward individual’s life styles and how they can enhance
them.
Thoreau switches topics numerous times
throughout all of Walden and majority
of the time his diction switches with it. In this particular passage, Thoreau,
in my opinion has a more excited tone and that reflects his diction. He uses
words like “deliberately”, “prejudices”, and “falsehood”. Although those words
have negative connotations, I don’t believe that Thoreau’s intentions were to
portray anger but more of passion about what he is talking about. He really
wanted to get his point across to his audience that just because an idea has
not been put into action yet, doesn’t mean it can’t be. Most people are just
afraid to try new things due to what their elders instilled in their minds. Thoreau’s
diction may be strong but it gets his point across very well.
Thoreau’s comparison of man and nature is
repetitive throughout his entire novel. “But alert and healthy natures remember
that the sun rose clear” is an excellent example of how Thoreau intertwine
reality with nature. When he says, “alert and healthy natures”, he is really
referring to alive and able men that get the most out of life. He really
stresses the point that solid proof needs to be present before any individual
can say, nothing can be done. The reality is that not many people will take
that chance to either find the proof or prove the proof wrong. Thoreau also
touches briefly and discreetly on the concept of times. He recognizes that times
can change and so can ideas. With time comes advancement and with advancement
comes knowledge. That’s what I think Thoreau was getting at when he says that
some things may be true now but “falsehood to-morrow”.
Mankind should never be afraid to take
safe risk, especially if it will further enhance their lives. Thoreau was a
very strong believer of this concept and displays it consistently throughout
his book. His use of diction and realism further demonstrates just how strongly
he feels about mankind trying to better themselves without hindrances. This
selective passage makes its audience stop and think about how they are living
their lives and what they need to do in order to change it.
