Walden
Although Walden may seem really different than any other articles written by Henry David Thoreau, since it is just a description of his journey to Walden Pond; however, it strongly demonstrates the core beliefs of Transcendentalism. First of all, Thoreau stated that the reason why he think he should live in the cabin located at Walden Pond is because that he does not want to follow the conventional way of living. Thoreau believes that if he live in the city just like everyone else, he would not get rid of the idea on relying on others. He also believes that mankind are being enslaved by the tools and equipment we used in our daily lives, although it may seem like humans using the tools to help them. In reality, humans are helpless and became useless without these tools and technology, therefore he decided to build his own shelter and find his own resources by himself. This idea also greatly bonds with Emerson's passage on Self Reliance, one should never rely on others or else they would loss the ability to survive on their own.
Thoreau also encouraged people to stay in contact with nature, because he believes nature is a good companion that could help one evolve into a better mankind that would conceive the idea of self reliance. Another reason that Thoreau gave in the passage of living in the woods is because he wanted to escape from the complexity of the world and simply enjoy the easiness and the loneliness of nature.
Thoreau also encouraged people to stay in contact with nature, because he believes nature is a good companion that could help one evolve into a better mankind that would conceive the idea of self reliance. Another reason that Thoreau gave in the passage of living in the woods is because he wanted to escape from the complexity of the world and simply enjoy the easiness and the loneliness of nature.