I figured it out! (Non-literature geeks can skip this one.)

[missroserose]

I spent the latter half of this semester turning over the various pieces of Thoreau's Walden in my mind, trying to figure out how they fit together. Ever since I read it I have had this niggling feeling in the back of my mind that there was a point to it in there somewhere; but it's such a circular and tightly webbed piece of work that I couldn't find the end to unravel it by and therefore reveal the main argument. Except all this time I've been trying so hard to impose a linear structure on something that doesn't need to be (and very much isn't) linear.

Thoreau's not trying to persuade anyone of anything. He's not really even trying to write an informative treatise. Walden is simply a record - an account of his journey towards spiritual fulfillment, which took a much different form than most people's.

This also explains why it is that I liked it in spite of not understanding it for so long - I agree with a lot of what Thoreau has to say, especially about self-determination and finding one's own relationship with God (or nature, or just searching for happiness).

And suddenly, it all makes sense...

Comments

[rapier.livejournal.com]

current music: Sarah Brightman - He Doesn't See Me

Love that song. Haven't read Walden in forever -- should pick it up again.

And also? Every time I see your name scroll up on my f-list, that Lisa Loeb song called "Furious Rose" pops in my head. That's another good one right there.

[borismarkovich.livejournal.com]

If you thought Walden was hard to figure out...Try Annie Dillard's "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek." *tries to keep from dry-heaving*