Changes of philosophy that Thoreau went through
Civil disobedience written by Thoreau explains the need rise against dictatorship and bad
governance. He criticizes the American social institution and policies which include the
involvement in Mexico American war and slavery. He explains that the government is not that
useful as it draws its strength from from the majority who supports it, not because it is popular or
well governed.
He believes that peoples should do what is right and not to follow laws dictated by the few in
the government and supported by many in the country. Transcendentalism rejects the idea that
knowledge can be fully derived from experience and observation of the physical world; rather,
an individual should examine the way she comes to know things.
Thoreau argues that when the government answers to majority, they are answering to he desires
and of the people in power and those with a say in the government. Here he uses passive voice to
so as to present the interest and the views of the people who are discriminated by the current
government.
A Plea for Captain John Brown is an kind of speech delivered by Thoreau during a funeral
service of a captain. Here he states that the Captain obeyed the constitution and had faith in the
permanence of this union.He permitted no profanity; no man of loose morals was suffered to
remain there, unless, indeed, as a prisoner of war. ’I would rather,’ said he, ’have the small-pox,
yellow-fever, and cholera, all together in my camp, than a man without principle.”
Here he uses aggressive voice as he shows that the Captain died fighting for the right of his
people and that all should rise and not do as he did.
