Thoreau and Emerson’s Ideas
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I do agree that it would be challenging for a Modern American to live as Thoreau did because it would be harder for a modern American to give up their prize possessions, cells phones and other commercial items. Thoreau did give up what the basic comfort abilities of a home was. Back in Thoreau’s day there was hardly any use of technology like there is today. On page 374, he says, “I went to live in the woods because I wish to live deliberately,” in an unhurried and thoughtful manner, “to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” Also on 375, he says, “For my part, I could easily do without the post-office.” As if, that was the only way to communicate, nowadays we have cell phones and computers Thoreau only got a few letter in his lifetime.
The ways I agree with Thoreau and Emerson’s ideas on simple living are just going away and living unhurried and not in a rush. Giving up stuff, would be easy and yet really hard. Giving up TV’s and social media would be the easy part for me, but I would love to still stay in contact with family members and friends. So I’d say I agree and disagree on giving up things. We don’t need technology. I’d be cool with just letters to stay in touch with family and friends.