Question

Which of Thoreau's descriptions or criticisms of modern life seem most relevant to today's world? In what way? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your ideas.

Answer 1

In his book Walden, a reflection on the act of living as simply as possible, Thoreau spoke at length on the impact of technology on our daily lives and humanity as a whole. He believed that technology was leading to a degradation of our relations with one another and with the natural world. He cited the construction of a telegraph line from Maine to Texas, saying,"We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph line from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate." We can see them same in our modern day quest for the "next big thing"; snapping up the latest iPhone for hundreds of dollars, posting ever more on social media, with many having nothing important to contribute to a wider world despite access to that world at an unprecedented level. As a society, we have at our fingertips the lessons and work of all the world's great thinkers and scholars, and yet a great number of people use the potential at hand to watch funny cat videos. I believe that this is a sign of the degradation that Thoreau spoke of made manifest.