Question

Read the excerpt from "Civil Disobedience."

As they could not reach me, they had resolved to punish my body; just as boys, if they cannot come at some person against whom they have a spite, will abuse his dog.

Based on his transcendental beliefs, Thoreau most likely believed that the state

A.was angry it could never truly imprison him.
B.had the authority to force him to pay the poll tax.
C.was preparing to imprison others to teach him a lesson.
D.could imprison him but could never confine his soul.

Answer 1

D.could imprison him but could never confine his soul.

He says in the excerpt, "As they could not reach me, they had resolved to punish my body". He shows that the government was not able to change his mind or his opinion about paying taxes, so they had to punish his body by imprisoning him. The excerpt goes on to compare it to children. When they cannot hurt a person emotionally, they go after the person's dog instead. This is also a transcendentalist view because it separates the mind from the body as two different entities.

Answer 2

After reading the excerpt from "Civil Disobedience." represented above I can clearly see the right answer that will defnitely fit the task and help you with your homework. Based on his transcendental beliefs, Thoreau most likely believed that the state D.could imprison him but could never confine his soul. I am pretty sure that te last option from the attached scale is the only correct answer.