Thoreau's Walden: A Look at Hidden Tactics for Persuasion

In the work of Thoreau, as in Emerson before him, the main focus of a work is not limited to the telling of a tale, or to journalism. Thoreau is setting down in writing, largely in the form at of person journal entries, thoughts and observations which he feels are valid in the course of his daily life. Many of these journal entries are refined, combined, and extrapolated upon to find their way into essays, lectures, and books. In the first chapters of Walden, Thoreau presents an account of his time during an experiment in his life. Through this new medium, Thoreau captures the attention of the reader while slipping in new ideas and concepts wherever possible.

The first two chapters of Walden focus largely on why Thoreau chose to build and live in his cabin, how this was accomplished, and less obviously, the solidity of the ideologies that led Thoreau to decide on this experiment. It is apparent from the beginning that the work is autobiographical, and that it is not merely a recording of thoughts, but of actions. As the first chapter, "Economy", continues, the reader is given specific and minute details about how Thoreau built his cabin and from what, what he ate and where it came from, and where he felt that he had deviated from his plan, or made a mistake. This lends an air of credibility and respect to the work.

However, many things are supposed throughout the chapter. It is supposed that owning a home, however crude, is better than renting one, and that work is only to be done if it secures basic needs while being productive and enjoyable. It is important, says Thoreau, to determine what your basic necessities are, and how to obtain those necessities with the least possible disruption to life. Many necessities can be obtained by growing or creating them yourself. By producing only what you can use, you are not trapped into the cycle of bartering with your unused goods for things you do not need.