Final answer:
The effectiveness of paragraph 45 in Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience' is determined by its ability to encapsulate the main themes of individual resistance to unjust laws and reinforce the essay's premise for minimal government intervention, which echoes the principles of nonviolent resistance influential to leaders like Gandhi and MLK Jr.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effectiveness of paragraph 45 in concluding Thoreau's essay Civil Disobedience can be assessed based on its summarization of the essay's main points and its reinforcement of the essay's title theme. Within Civil Disobedience, Thoreau encourages personal resistance to unjust laws and government actions.
The concluding paragraph should ideally echo the thematic focus on individual agency and the moral imperative to act upon one's convictions, especially in matters where the state's actions conflict with personal principles. If paragraph 45 captures this essence, it would be considered an effective conclusion.
In relation to the essay's title, the conclusion should encapsulate the spirit of disobedience as a civil act—an act that is both nonviolent and rooted in a conscientious stand against injustice. This is especially relevant considering Thoreau's influence on figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., who adopted the principles of nonviolent resistance in their own struggles for justice.
The effectiveness of the conclusion is bolstered if it serves as a call to action or a reflection that ties back to the essay's beginning, where Thoreau states, "that government is best which governs not at all." In this way, the paragraph would come full circle, emphasizing the minimal role of government in the lives of the citizens and underlining the essay's argument for self-governance and personal responsibility.