The contrast in the second paragraph of Thoreau's Walden enhances the theme of personal freedom and one's relationship with society, as chronicled in Alex Jones's essay on Thoreau's works. The juxtaposition highlights the importance of Thoreau's message regarding simplicity and self-reliance.
In Henry David Thoreau's Walden, the contrast between two time periods in the second paragraph highlights the theme of personal freedom and the individual's relationship with society. Thoreau's desire for freedom from societal expectations is juxtaposed with his critique of government interference. This establishes a thematic connection between living free in a physical sense and in a societal one. In Alex Jones's essay, The Two Freedoms of Henry David Thoreau, this theme is further explored through the analysis of Thoreau's two major works. By transitioning from Thoreau's political essay to his narrative of living at Walden, Jones demonstrates how Thoreau's personal experiment in living free enhances the broader philosophical and political statement.
Jones uses textual evidence from Thoreau's works to support his analysis. His essay places Thoreau's actions in context, compares the integration of quotations in the narrative, and employs the poetic language and high rhetoric from Thoreau's own writing. The contrast and the use of evidence help to build the student's argument around the chosen theme. Jones's method showcases the importance of Thoreau's advocacy for individual freedom as an interrelated concept with the refusal to be governed by unjust laws or societal constructs.