Henry David Thoreau

Harrison Newkirk

English 48A

Journal for Thoreau

October 27, 2011

Author Quote: 
He who gives himself entirely to his fellow-men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and a philanthropist.  
How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave's government also.


Outside Quote: 
He was a lifelong abolitionist delivering lectures that attacked the Fugitive Slave Law while praising the writings of Wendell Phillips and defending abolitionist John Brown


Summary of Author's Quote: 
This quote consists of two pieces.  The beginning is a a seeming paradox, how can a man, by giving less of himself, be considered greater than someone who gives all of himself.  The second stems for Thoreau's staunch belief in antislavery and he resisted government was because he did not believe in slavery and felt that he could not in good conscience take part in a government that supported it.


Response:

Both of these quotes are trying to impart the feeling that society should be treating slaves as men not as property.  The opening paradox occurs because many would believe that the more of yourself you give the higher you should be regarded.  However, the definition of “gives himself” does not mean “willingly” give yourself.  It, it fact, refers to how much of a life someone is forced to give up in society.  In the case of the slave owners, they were only forced to give a little bit to the rest of humanity, taxes, voting, maybe a civil duty. But slaves were forced to give everything.  They “gave” themselves fully to their masters and were thought of as useless, as property.

The second part of the quote attempts to further drive that point home. He asks how is a man supposed to react to a government that endorses such things.  By man, he is referring both to slaves and owners, as Thoreau believed they were equals.  A slave surely cannot be a part of such government, but Thoreau is chastising the rest of man saying that they should not either.  He further goes on to say, that until the government recognizes slaves as people and therefore slaves are able to recognize it as their government, that he does not recognize it.  He is essentially, including himself as a slave.