Walden Group

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gladys09
gladys09
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In Walden, what is Thoreau's attitude toward individuality and conformity?

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Posted by gladys09 on Wednesday March 25, 2009 at 12:18 PM and tagged with conformity, individuality, themes, walden.

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  1. troutmiller Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Thoreau goes to Walden for solitude.  That is the overall summation of what he believes and what he represents.  He feels that we don't really need any holy men to teach us, and we don't need institutions to know God.  If we are "true to ourselves" then we will know God. 

    Along with that, one of Thoreau's most famous quotes is

    ‘‘If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.’’

    This shows that he does not believe in conformity.  We should all be individuals and independent.  He shows this theme of individuality in the very fact that he leaves society to spend time alone in nature.  He needs to be, think, and live alone for awhile to understand nature as deeply as he can.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/walden/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/walden/themes

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    Posted by troutmiller on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 4:40 AM