Book Report on Walden

Thoreau lived alone in a crude hut by Walden Lake for approximately two years and two months, presenting the world an eternal book about pure spiritual life. The book was finished during Industrial Revolution when everything was developing and accelerating. With material accumulating, people’s material desire surged and they lost their spiritual pursuit during chasing for the superior. Under that circumstance, Thoreau felt the necessity of departing from excessive substances and interpersonal affairs and move to a place near the nature and his own inner world.

   Anchoret ethos has a long history in all over the world, especially ancient China. As a Chinese, I am quite familiar with the lives and opuses of those recluses who deeply love the nature and show less interest in the ordinary world. Undoubtedly, tranquil life away from metropolises is effective for promoting inspiration, because it seems evident that the literary and art works by hermits have a magical power to calm down the readers and guide them to a land of idyllic beauty. Just like the Peach Blossom Valley created by Tao Yuanming, Walden has the same features that beatific life is harmonious with nature, simple in material but rich in spirit.

   Moreover, we have to realize that living in solitude does not necessarily imply withdrawing from society. Thoreau firmly opposed slavery and advocated freedom that he had helped lots of slaves to escape and had published plenty of social discourses such as Civil Disobedience and Slavery in Massachusetts. It is a benevolent tradition for the literati to show solicitude for the people and the society. For example, Kong Zhigui, who was known as an anchoret, wrote the famous rhythmical prose North Mountain Denunciation to criticize the falsification of bureaucrat selecting.

2020-07-05

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