Economy, first chapter of "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau explores the writer's spiritualistic realization. This presentation is about the major themes of Economy which covers the main theme of Walden.

1. Economy (from Walden)
-Henry DavidThoreau
ENG 416: American Literature
Department of English
Hamdard University Bangladesh
Prepared and presented by:
Gobindo Deb
Lecturer
Department of English
Hamdard University Bangladesh

2. Economy
from Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Themes
 Importance of self-reliance
-influenced by Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance”
-Thoreau’s philosophical ideals were meant into practice
-independence and neediness in financial and interpersonal
relations
-Idea of supporting himself by producing more than he
consumes
-Both spiritual and economic Self-Reliance
-Transcendentalist thought- the self is the absolute center of reality;
everything external is an emanation of the self that takes its reality
from our inner selves.

3. The Value of simplicity
-A feeling of dissatisfaction with one’s possessions can be resolved in two
ways: one may acquire more, or reduce one’s desires.
- Thoreau selects the second one.
- Irony of his writing style which is not simple
Illusion of progress
- Outward improvement can’t bring inner peace and contentment.
- Anti consumption in the time of capitalist expansion
- Criticism of train (“Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”)-mythical
roaring beast
- Like Tolstoy in Russia, Thoreau in the United States dissents from his
society’s enthusiasm for this innovation in transportation, seeing it rather as
a false idol of social progress.

4. The individual-centrality and independence
-"In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted. . . . We commonly do not
remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should
not talk so much about myself if there were any body else whom I knew as
well.“
- Purpose of his sojourn
- He moved to Walden on July 4, 1845 (Independence Day of the USA)
- Chimney in his house is exceptional in structure (symbol of individualism)
- Being criticized as ‘selfish’
- Civilized life (church, the marketplace, government, the political arena) as
the imposer of their own values and curtailer of individual’s freedom to
think independently.
- The reform of society rests within the individual.
- The individual's need to maintain independence

5. Transcendentalism
Ideas
• Individualism
• Self-Reliance
• Quest for truth
• Must rely on intuition
• Dislike of materialism
• Strong connection to Nature

6. Quotes from Transcendentalists
• "Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth." -H.D.
Thoreau
• "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead
where there is no path and leave a trail." -Emerson
• "Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live.“ -Margaret Fuller
• “Unless your heart, your soul, and your whole being are behind every
decision you make, the words from your mouth will be empty, and
each action will be meaningless. Truth and confidence are the roots of
happiness.” -Emerson

7. Thank You!