Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” was written at a time of slavery- something Thoreau had many problems with. He not only did not like the idea of slavery but he attempted to inspire people to make it come to an end. Thoreau speaks to people who want to rebel against the government and are too scared too, and people who are sitting back waiting for people to make a change so they don’t have to.
Thoreau believes the government should stop being immoral and wants to open the eyes of his audience. Wanting to improve the government, he discusses how they use logic over morals and argues that American citizens (at least in his current era) should prioritize the beliefs of their conscience when dealing with legal or political matters. Prioritizing their conscience, he may motivate his audience to make a change and stand up to be able to change how the government rules us.
In his essay, he includes an anecdote of when he went to jail because he pay the tax. Using the anecdote he is able to give credibility showing his audience how he personally has rebelled and went against the government to not only prove a point but become one step closer to making a difference.He also uses metaphors and describes generals as ‘wooden men’ and explains that, “Such command no more respect than men of straw, or a lump of dirt.” This comparison between soldiers and straw men/dirt is meant to outline how Thoreau views morality, as well as the lack thereof within the United States. He views soldiers as beings who have had their individuality and free will stripped from them, making them seem dull and morally lifeless just like dirt or straw. He argues this is because these soldiers have too much respect for the law and not enough obligation or thought to do what is right.
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