tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post4752558069914476723..comments2023-06-27T10:29:18.615-04:00Comments on Nature and Culture: A Refreshing WalkJim Tantillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520467623399679472noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post-9148200188847916582008-02-19T23:25:00.001-05:002008-02-19T23:25:00.001-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.LJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15908328753786113169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post-64915018567805243532008-02-19T23:25:00.000-05:002008-02-19T23:25:00.000-05:00Katie- Definitely. Reading Thoreau from a modern...Katie- Definitely. Reading Thoreau from a modern viewpoint can be very alienating. I feel the same way (I never got the "Thoreau fetish" either). But it's important to remember that Thoreau is writing in a style developed from previous romantic writers (eg Rosseau).<BR/><BR/>Megan- Very good comment. You mention that Thoreau’s comment “a successful life knows no law” sounds extreme- but Thoreau often writes on the primacy of the individual, notably in Civil Disobedience ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience_(Thoreau) )<BR/><BR/>I’m not sure about Thoreau’s connection to the ideas of Manifest Destiny—certainly the same time period, but the vocal manifest-destiny guys were in Congress, pushing for annexation. It would be a good thing to discuss with Prof Tantillo! I wonder if Thoreau’s enthusiasm for westward expansion was based upon an idea of an intrinsic value of ‘wilderness’ or on use-values (using natural resources for production)?LJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15908328753786113169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post-89347679191519324242008-02-19T12:40:00.000-05:002008-02-19T12:40:00.000-05:00I also had mixed reactions. I’m not sure why, but ...I also had mixed reactions. I’m not sure why, but I felt almost alienated from the “walking” experience because of the lofty requirements he seems to place on a true experience. However, after lecture and the realization of comedic inputs throughout the story (which I’ll admit I didn’t pick up) I felt that my opinion of the essay improved.Katie Bairdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16022658695516272623noreply@blogger.com