In his essay, “Walking,” Henry David Thoreau discusses a number of ideas on wilderness and society, and makes several bold claims about society’s detrimental effect on the “wild.” He begins by expressing his affinity for taking long walks on which he “saunters” outdoors. Thoreau explains that not everyone is equipped with the necessary disposition for these types of journeys and says, “no wealth can buy the requisite leisure, freedom, and independence which are the capital in this profession.” He doesn’t appreciate the fast pace and development of society, but rather prefers the world in its natural state. It’s fascinating to me that Thoreau doesn’t seem to be at all interested in money or social standing, the things that most people are obsessed
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In fact, “walk” does not accurately describe Thoreau’s travels, and he quickly explains that “saunter” is a more accurate word. He saunters outdoors with no particular mission or destination in mind. I appreciate the fact that Thoreau doesn’t go because he needs to be somewhere, instead goes out into nature simply to exist and observe. Society constantly tells us to be somewhere and do something, and I think it would do many people good to take time to do as Thoreau does and just “be.” Later in the essay, Thoreau makes another bold claim. He states, “in short, all good things are wild and free.” Note that he doesn’t say all things that are wild and free are good, he says that for a thing to be “good” it MUST be wild and free. In other words, wild and free things do not just fit into the category of good, they constitute the entire category of good. To a certain degree, I can agree with this claim by Thoreau. There is something intriguing about things that are completely wild and free to do as they please. Perhaps this is why so many people enjoy being out in nature and taking vacations to places where they can see wild plants and animals. People like seeing areas that man has left alone. They enjoy seeing nature that has not been tampered with or tamed. They like seeing it in it’s natural, wild state. People visit these areas because they understand that wild is good, and they want to experience
In fact, “walk” does not accurately describe Thoreau’s travels, and he quickly explains that “saunter” is a more accurate word. He saunters outdoors with no particular mission or destination in mind. I appreciate the fact that Thoreau doesn’t go because he needs to be somewhere, instead goes out into nature simply to exist and observe. Society constantly tells us to be somewhere and do something, and I think it would do many people good to take time to do as Thoreau does and just “be.” Later in the essay, Thoreau makes another bold claim. He states, “in short, all good things are wild and free.” Note that he doesn’t say all things that are wild and free are good, he says that for a thing to be “good” it MUST be wild and free. In other words, wild and free things do not just fit into the category of good, they constitute the entire category of good. To a certain degree, I can agree with this claim by Thoreau. There is something intriguing about things that are completely wild and free to do as they please. Perhaps this is why so many people enjoy being out in nature and taking vacations to places where they can see wild plants and animals. People like seeing areas that man has left alone. They enjoy seeing nature that has not been tampered with or tamed. They like seeing it in it’s natural, wild state. People visit these areas because they understand that wild is good, and they want to experience