The First Person Perspective in Walden
By Matthew Cox

Walden was an essay written by author Henry David Thoreau. The book covered Thoreau’s two year stay at Walden Pond in Massachusetts between 1845 and 1847. It featured the writer’s observations of the natural order and a deep appreciation of Transcendentalism. This philosophy taught that nature made up a Supreme Being. Walden taught that people could improve themselves by not conforming to society’s rules and living independently. Thoreau used examples of being self reliant by growing hi own food, not paying taxes that supported slavery, and observing how people treated each other. The essay was written in the first-person perspective. This was from the narrator’s or speaker’s point of view. Henry David Thoreau expressed his beliefs on Transcendentalism through the first person narrative in Walden.

Literature has been written from different points of view. Often times there is a narrator or speaker who tells what goes on from their perspective. A narrator is the story teller (Holman and Harmon, p. 320 and 386-387). They may be the protagonist or a minor character in the first person. A second person narrator was a teacher or shows the reader how to do something. The third person was told from an “onlooker” perspective of someone who witnessed the action. In third person omniscient, different characters acted self consciously by recounting and commenting on a story from. In the third person limited perspective, the reader only knew what the main characters could immediately see or hear. Likewise, the third person objective view or self-effacing author, the reader did not see the narrator’s thoughts, only what they perceived straight away. The naïve narrator saw things in an innocent or inexperienced way (319). Often times, they did not see hidden dangers or were not good judges of character. Unreliable narrators deceived readers through lies or errors in judgment (518). They did not give accurate pictures of characters or events in stories.

Henry David Thoreau wrote Walden as an essay in 1854 (Kifer). The work was semi-autobiographical and written in the first person point of view. It contained Thoreau’s views and not objective scientific facts about his observations at Walden Pond between 1845 and 1847. Thoreau’s perspective reflected Transcendentalism in a vision quest to understand both spiritualism and the environment. He explored both his identity and how it fit into the world.

The first four parts dealt with how people interacted with each other and their surrounding under the concept known as “Economy.” For example, “Economy, Part I” criticized the self-defeating behaviors of his townspeople in Concord, Massachusetts. Also, Thoreau pointed out that individuals could improve themselves by making the right choices. He discussed his own lifestyle and decision to retreat to Walden Pond in “Economy, Part II.” The writer’s reasons included that when people worked to get the bare necessities (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, and fuel), they thought about their own personal or spiritual growth. He also pointed out that people had the right to live as they chose in a free society. Thoreau talked about “Economy, Part III” building his own cabin. The writer also used this to discuss the cost of living, attack the cost of living, and find fault with modern improvements such as the railroad. “Economy, Part IV” described how Thoreau criticized farming methods and people’s misunderstanding of the poor. He also discussed his diet, planting techniques, furniture, and property.
“Where I Lived, What I Lived For” involved why the author chose the cabin at Walden Pond his choice not to own property; he felt that private ownership lead to selfishness. The chapter also pointed out his purpose in life and challenges for self-improvement. “Reading” referred to books that the author felt that people could read to make their lives better. Thoreau described living in the woods and the noises he heard in “Sounds.” This chapter also pointed out his disagreements with the railroad and commerce. “Solitude” discussed good health and being alone. The writer talked about his way of entertaining visitors including escaped slaves, woodchoppers, a simpleton, and others in “Visitors.” He recounted some of their peculiarities. “The Beanfield” explained Thoreau’s work with growing his own food, its costs, and the alternatives.

Through the perspective of an anthropologist, Thoreau described Concord in “The Village.” He described the community “gopher hole” for their bickering and selfishness. A highlight included getting arrested for not paying a poll tax which supported slavery. The writer was released the next day. Thoreau described the plants, animals, and features of Walden Pond in greater detail with “The Ponds.” He also provided information about other water bodies including Flint’s Pond and its selfish owner. White Pond another body of water was similar to Walden Pond. “The Baker Farm” discussed a fishing trip that Thoreau took. On the outing, he met a farmer named John Field who lived a life of luxury. He persuaded John’s family to lead a simpler, unmaterialistic life. The narrator used the animals living around Walden Pond as a metaphor of human society in “Brute Neighbors.” The most notable included ant colonies fighting a war. “Higher Laws” discussed the ethic of hunting, eating meat, and the need for purity. Thoreau was a vegetarian, but ate fish.

In the chapter “House Warming,” the author discussed on the coming of fall. He built a chimey for warmth and plastered the cabin’s wall to keep out the cold. Henry expressed his appreciation of fire and wood. “Former Inhabitants and Winter Vistors” talked about guests in winter they included the people who lived in the cabin before Thoreau moved in. The author also had other visitors including Amos Bronson Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson. “Winter Visitors” told about the animals including mice, owls, and squirrels that Thoreau saw after baiting them with food. The author described a fox hunt that he saw. “The Pond in Winter” recounted how 100 laborers cut ice out of the pond and shipped them to the Carolinas. Henry measured the depth of the pond and discovered an underground outlet. Thoreau depicted how the Pond thawed out in “Spring.” The writer also wrote about green plants growing, geese returning home, and a hawk flying. He felt reborn as nature was.

The “Conclusion” was important because it summed up Thoreau’s thoughts. He criticized American’s rush to succeed, acquire wealth, and look for happiness in the material world. Furthermore, people needed to think for themselves, not go along with society’s rules, and find happiness within. The author summed up his book with the quote "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away (Kifer)."

Henry David Thoreau expressed his beliefs on Transcendentalism through the first person narrative in Walden. The book recounted the author’s stay at Walden Pond between 1845 and 1847. Living simply allowed Henry to understand transcendentalism. This notion taught that the living environment was a spiritual entity. Thoreau expressed his belief that individuals could improve their lives by being self reliant and not conforming to society. Living away from civilization let him observe not only nature, but how people interacted with each other. The first person point of view let readers understand the writer’s ideas.


Works Cited

Holman, C. Hugh and Harmon, William. Handbook to Literature, A. 5th ed.
New York: MacMillian, 1986.

Kifer, Ken. Analysis and Notes on Walden Henry Thoreau's Text with Adjacent Thoreauvian Commentary 7 October 2003. 16 February 2008.
http://www.kenkifer.com/Thoreau/index.htm