Analysis Of Civil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau

Nineteenth century America was an eventful time in history. It saw the second conflict between both the British and the American armies in the War of 1812, the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, the agreement that Manifest Destiny was a legitimate reason for westward expansion, the heated debate on the African slave trade that culminated in the American Civil War, the loss of one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history, Abraham Lincoln, and, more fittingly for this paper, the emergence of American transcendentalist writers. One writer in particular was Henry David Thoreau, who many historians consider to be the inventor of nonviolent protest as a means of reforming a government. This concept is explained in detail in his piece, Civil†¦show more content†¦Another instance of him using the word â€Å"man† is when he writes, â€Å"A man has not everything to do, but something; and because he cannot do everything, it is not necessary that he should do something wro ng† (Thoreau 312). Given this quote, he is expanding on his earlier point that people are not obligated to reform society for the masses, which hints at the philosophy of ethical egoism, or, as Stanford University explains, â€Å"Ethical egoism claims that it is necessary and sufficient for an action to be morally right that it maximize ones self-interest† (â€Å"Egoism†). Simply put, the only morality that exists is one that which ultimately benefits one’s self-interests, and not the interests of the group, or in this case, society itself. In this respect, Thoreau is clearly defining the main goal of the American transcendentalism movement and, as said earlier, instilling a sense of individuality in his audience by rarely using the plural version of â€Å"man,† therefore making Thoreau highly effective and charismatic in getting his readers to agree with his main point. A third and final time to mention of him utilizing repetition of the word †Å"man† to further his argument is when he writes that, â€Å"What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot today . . . There are nine hundred and ninety nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man† (Thoreau 309). Yet again, Thoreau successfully utilizes repetition in this quote, which serves as a reminder that people should stillShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Civil Disobedience, By Henry David Thoreau713 Words   |  3 PagesHenry David Thoreau, author of â€Å"Civil Disobedience† and Walden, has become one of the most influential authors of all time in the eyes of many. Though some might be led to believe his essays and writings, including â€Å"Where I Lived, and What I lived For†, make him a down to earth and even rugged author, as he spent some of his life in the forest. 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