In Walden, Thoreau includes chapters about both the solitude of being far from society and the occasional company of the visitors he recieves. Out on the pond, Thoreau is far from the town and the buzz of everyday life. He is able to think for himself, and do what he wishes with his time. He can take time to sort through his thoughts and take in the beauty of the nature all around him, without worrying about a job or money or other people or the latest news. He is able to take advantage of the solitude that we all need in our lives, even if we can only afford small amounts of it. However, he doesn’t simply cut himself off from all of society. Thoreau doesn’t seek to get rid of all people, but to be able to talk with them and discuss things and have company once in a while. His location on the pond is almost the perfect spot for what he wants: he’s far enough away from everyday society that he can have time and peace alone to think and ponder, but close enough to recieve the visitors who are most interested in his company. Through the two chapters about Solitude and Visitors, he shows a balance of the two that he wants and that he has achieved on Walden pond. He acknowledges the need for time alone and time with others to live a healthy life, to be able to cultivate one’s own ideas alone and spread them to others (while recieving new ideas at the same time) in conversation.

Advertisement