FREE ESSAY ON WALDEN

WALDEN

Manns 1
Ken Manns
Mike Sanders
English 10002
15 February 2001
"To Be Awake is to Be Alive"
Why do so few Americans not see all of the problems in society? Do they simply not care
or are they not able to see them? With Thoreau's statement, "To be awake is to be alive",
he implies that Americans have their eyes closed to these issues. They do not choose to
overlook these issues but they simply pass them by because their eyes are shut. Some
people are not able to grasp the concept in Thoreau's statement and find it to be foreign
or subversive because it threatens the way the see the world. 
Many people who happen to fall into the cultural norms find Thoreau's statement to be
intimidating. The way they view the world is extremely sheltered they do not choose this,
it is jus t the way they are. They have always viewed the world through a screen that
filters what they see. This screen is different for each individual depending on his or
her cultural background and/or home environment. These factors along with many others
create the screen by which they see the world.
Different cultural backgrounds have different taboos. These taboos define what is and is
not acceptable for the people within that culture. Such as India where they do not
believe in interracial marriages while in Western Europe most 
people do not have an issue with them. Home environment is also a major factor in what is
allowed though the screen. The beliefs passed down through a family are commonly not
questioned. The children are taught the beliefs of the family and are expected to carry
on the traditions.
Some people do question their backgrounds by removing the screen. They see the world for
what it is both good and bad and not how they would like to see it. Meanwhile, others
cringe at the thought of removing the screen. These people are so used to the screen they
are afraid of what might lay on the other side. Some are so dependent on this screen they
would even feel that Thoreau's statement is subversive. They feel as though removing the
screen could potentially alter their entire existence. Having this screen is not a
terrible thing but not knowing what lies on the other side is.
Thoreau's statement is not universally true. For some people it is necessary to question
the beliefs passed to them. For those people the screen is a hindrance from the world
around them. Others need the screen to protect them from what they are not familiar with.
They cannot handle ideas that are filtered by their screen. Neither way of viewing the
world is correct, each has its own problems but both can be utilized to view the world.
Bibliography
Works Cited
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. New York: Norton, 1951.