elzig

Thoreau left Walden because he wanted to stay in the jail after he realized that he had many more things to look forward to in life, rather than just focusing on the simple things and the simpler life in nature. I think that it was a bold decision at the end for Thoreau to want to stay there and to leave Walden. After being such a strong advocate for protesting the Mexican War, he changed his mind about what he was going to do with life. I really was not expecting him to do this. I thought that his stay at Walden was a lot like the plan that Benjamin Franklin had with his moral perfection project.

Throeau went to jail because he did not pay his taxes. We find this out from Sam when he says "Naturally it don't occur to you to think much about taxes" (59).  I think this act of conscience is both right and wrong of him. He doesn't want to pay taxes to something he doesnt agree with, which is right of any person to think. And because he doesn't live in the city like everyone else does, he doesnt want to pay for something he is not a part of. But you have to do it. Even if it is making a point, it is a responsibility and I think Thoreau for got his responsibility to abiding by the law opposed to the responsibility he has to transcendentalism.