Henry David Thoreau is an American writer living in the 18th century and writing about the social issues of that time. “Civil Disobedience” written by Henry David Thoreau (1980) was first published in 1849.
The essay of Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” challenges the American social institutions and policies, mainly slavery and the Mexican American War. For him, people should be free from ruling by various groups. Thoreau wrote that “a minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority”. It is seen that he claimed that majority is the strongest group that can ask for changes within the politics and society. People should not allow the government to rule their consciences. As such, he proposed that governments do more harm than help in dealing with injustice.
However, Thoreau was not against the government but for justice. This is because this essay was written in the most unfair period of the American history. He pointed out “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.”. This implies that the American government should rethink their policies to improve outcomes. As for Thoreau, the exiting polices were ineffective. The essay depicts that during the 18th century social injustice was flourishing in the U.S., demanding the changes.
The United States in the 18th century was the place of practicing slavery and experiencing the Mexican-American war. Thoreau stated, “I saw to what extent the people among whom I lived could be trusted as good neighbors and friends; that their friendship was for summer weather only…”. He meant that the whole country was corrupted with injustice and false equality. Therefore, there was a need to change the existing system. Moreover, the maintenance of the social order was required to bring the justice in the country.
Thoreau write the essay to call people for the action. Additionally, not allowing the government to manipulate with their reasoning. He demonstrated that “the state never intentionally confronts a man’s sense, intellectual or moral, but only his body, his senses … I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest”. By this, the author tried to awaken people from ignorance and show how democracy should work. It seems that Thoreau was also for reforms in political institutions.
Work Cited
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden and “Civil Disobedience”. New York: Signet Classics, 1980.