In the first chapter of Walden, Henry David Thoreau introduces his reasons for moving to Walden and writing his novel. He explains to his readers the value of simplicity and nature and the way life should truly be lived. Thoreau states, “Finding that my fellow- citizens were not likely to offer me any room in the court house, or any curacy or living anywhere else, but I must shift for myself, I turned my face more exclusively than ever to the woods, where I was better known. I determined to go into business at once, and not wait to acquire the usual capital, using such slender means as I had already got. My purpose in going to Walden Pond was not to live cheaply nor to live dearly there, but to transact some private business with the fewest obstacles; to be hindered from accomplishing which for want of a little common sense, a little enterprise and business talent, appeared not so sad as foolish.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: Economy, page: paragraph: line: ) After explaining his reasons for going to Walden, Thoreau invites his readers to become one with nature so they may commune directly with the Divine in nature.
Thoreau makes many references to the innocence of nature and God throughout his novel. “Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: What I Lived For, page: paragraph: line: ) and “Only nature has a right to grieve perpetually, for she only is innocent. Soon the ice will melt, and the blackbirds sing along the river, which he frequented, as pleasantly as ever. The same everlasting serenity will appear in this face of God, and we will not be sorrowful, if he is not.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: ) He also spoke much about Nature and dreams. “It was very queer, especially in dark nights, when your thoughts had wandered to vast and cosmogonal themes in other spheres, to feel this faint jerk, which came to interrupt your dreams and link you to Nature again. It seemed as if I might next cast my line upward into the air, as well as downward into this element which was scarcely more dense. Thus I caught two fishes as it were with one hook.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: )
These references allow the reader to see into the mind of Thoreau and observe everything Thoreau believes that nature entails.
Thoreau also inserts parables and metaphors into his work to make his ideas easier to understand. For example, Thoreau tells a parable of an Indian and a well-known lawyer to prove his point of living in a way in which you do not have to sell anything to be able to survive. He states that he does not like the strict business habits of the world. Through these parables, Thoreau is trying to share his experiences and knowledge with others. He also does this in Chapter 10: The Baker Farm. Thoreau meets a poor Irish immigrant, John Field and tries to explain to him that if he lived life more simply, he would not have to work as hard. However, John Field and his family are not willing to give up the luxuries such as tea, coffee, milk and butter. After this incident Thoreau states, “There are no larger fields than these, no worthier games than may here be played. Grow wild according to thy nature, like these sedges and brakes, which will never become English bay. Let the thunder rumble; what if it threaten ruin to farmers’ crops? That is not its errand to thee. Take shelter under the cloud, while they flee to carts and sheds. Let not get a living be thy trade, but thy sport. Enjoy the land, but own it not. Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling their lives like serfs.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: )
Throughout Walden, Thoreau frequently speaks of water. Water becomes a major symbol in the novel as it reflects both heaven and earth. Thoreau begins talking about water in Chapter 2: Where I Lived, and What I Lived For. In this chapter, Thoreau states that he bathes in the pond in the morning to wake himself up. The awakening is one of the most important things to do and Thoreau speaks extensively about this topic in this chapter. In Chapter 5: Solitude, Thoreau refers to water again stating rain is good somewhere, for something, even if it causes floods where he lives and forces him to stop working. He is sympathetic and finds the rain, wind, thunder, and lightening beautiful. They are more examples of the Divine’s power shown throughout nature. In Chapter 9: The Ponds, Thoreau expansively describes the color and states of ponds. He also describes how the level of the pond has changed over the years. These descriptions demonstrate how Thoreau pays such close attention to small matters that anyone else would not be likely to notice. Thoreau expresses the importance of water and describes it as the intermediate form between earth and sky. “it is the same liquid joy and happiness to itself and its Maker, ay, and it may be to me. It is the work of a brave man surely, in whom there was no guile! He rounded this water with his hand, deepened and clarified it in his thought, and in his will bequeathed it to Concord.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: ) In Chapter 11: Higher Laws, Thoreau states that water is the only suitable drink for people and he expresses his opinions about the gluttonous desires of society. “We are so degraded that we cannot speak simply of the necessary functions of human nature.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: ) These many statements and comparisons display the importance Thoreau places on water. He later on refers to it as the “earth’s eye.”
In Chapter 16: The Pond in The Winter, Thoreau discusses the deepest point of the pond and goes on to wonder if there is some type of formula that will solve all of the questions he has about the pond. He states, “If we knew all the laws of Nature, we should need only one fact, or the description of one actual phenomenon, to infer all the particular results at that point. Now we know only a few laws, and our result is vitiated . . . by our ignorance of essential elements in the calculation. Our notions of law and harmony which results from a far greater number seemingly conflicting, but really concurring, laws, which we have not detected, is still more wonderful. The particular laws are as our points of view, as, to the traveler, a mountain outline varies with every step, and it has an infinite number of profiles, though absolutely but one form. Even when cleft or bored through it is not comprehended in its entireness.” (Thoreau, Walden,
Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: ) In this lengthy quote, Thoreau explains that one fact should explain many occurrences in nature. However, few laws are made and our final result is impaired. This also shows how many of Thoreau’s questions about life involve nature itself. He is always questioning something.
Thoreau ends his novel by describing his overall change as a person and offers more advice to his readers. He again falls into detail describing the presence of the Divine in nature, “As I stand over the insect crawling amid the pine needles on the forest floor, and endeavoring to conceal itself from my sight, and ask myself why it will cherish those humble thoughts, and hide its head from me who might, perhaps, be its benefactor, and impart to its race some cheering information, I am reminded of the greater Benefactor and Intelligence that stands over me the human insect.” (Thoreau, Walden, Chapter: , page: paragraph: line: )
Throughout Walden, Thoreau states the importance of simplicity and noticing the things that usually go unnoticed. He implies that the Divine is everywhere, from a drop of water to the largest pond. The Divine is in all things. Nature is the key to happiness and the key to understanding. If one would observe nature continuously and frequently, they would find the answers they are searching for. The answers of how to live life and what life is about.
