Walden Group

Question:

butterfly127
butterfly127
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What does this statement from Walden mean?

"We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us."

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Posted by butterfly127 on Saturday May 16, 2009 at 7:46 AM and tagged with paradox, quotes.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    This is an example of paradox: The statement can't be true, but it is true. When taken literally, it is obvious that railroads do not ride upon their passengers; trains ride upon tracks. However, when interpreted figuratively, there is truth in the statement--Thoreau's truth. He means that we do not control our technology, that it serves instead to control us. In Thoreau's day, the railroad represented modern technology as rail lines were expanded to cross the continent. He viewed this "progress" as being, in fact, a negative--one that acted to destroy the natural world, pollute the environment, and reduce the quality of life by making it more complicated and fast-paced.

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

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    Posted by mshurn on Saturday May 16, 2009 at 1:49 PM