Question

Review the third paragraph of Part 1:

Thoreau believed that a government that supported slavery was corrupt and immoral. He was also deeply suspicious of government. For these and other reasons, Thoreau refused to pay his poll tax for a number of years. The poll tax was a legal tax owed by every person. It was basically a tax on one's body. After not paying for years, he was at last arrested. He spent only one night in jail, however, as a relative paid the tax for him. He was reportedly furious that any tax was paid on his behalf.

How does the final sentence in the paragraph show the change in the way Thoreau is described?

It emphasizes the strength of his beliefs.
It implies he was unpredictable.
It suggests he wasn't such a nice man.
It suggests he really didn't like jail.

Answer 1

it emphasized the strength of his beliefs

Answer 2

It emphasizes the strength of his beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The final sentence shows us that Thoreau believed so much in what he was preaching that he was not angry for being arrested, he was determined not to pay for an injust tax. He got angry beacuse his relative payed the tax, meaning that in the end, he in someway had supported the corrupt and inmoral government. His ideas and beliefs were the ones that were being tested here, not mattering the consequences they could have. Thoreau, a rational man, had a very emotional response because his cause was interrupted.