The Book Walden by Henry David Thoreau is not a novel, a narrative poem, or a play; there is no clear story line, and no plot line. Nor is it an autobiography, although much of it is based on Thoreau's life at Walden Pond. The question of its structure is it's a diary of Thoreau's life at Walden. Walden is a work of many contradictions, a work that seems to make the reader feel lost. New Hampshire is the sight of Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau spent two years of his life. His goal was to rethink his life and reflect on society. It was a grand aim, but having read his book I can honestly say he does both justice. Walden is an extremely personal account of his day-to-day life around the pond and, more importantly, the thoughts behind them. As stated by Thoreau, the theme of Walden is self-realization and self-fulfillment. Self-actualization is attained through human unity with nature. Every aspect of Walden is focused on this idea.
             In Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau describes what is wrong with the American culture and society and how isolation can make the human pure. He believes that the soul needs to be whipped clean in order to learn the real meaning of life and be able to take pleasure in it. Too many people are happy with the surface of life and just following tradition. Thoreau believed that to many Americans are overloaded by their many positions. During the readings, Thoreau's choice of financial imagery demonstrates how tremendously our vision of life is subjected by commercial values. The American society is really overwhelmed with material things and they often seem to think that is what matters most. Thoreau calls for an "ideological revolution to simplification" in our lives. This concept and feeling is in great conflict to how we actually live our lives in the year 2003. More and more people have been cut off from spiritual development and the cultivation of the mind and body. Often times the...