Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian, two of his greatest works are: "Resistance to Civil Government" (also known as "Civil Disobedience") and "The Mask of Anarchy". His ideals can be summarized by this statement: “the Government should not have more power than the bestowed by its citizens”.
Henry David Thoreau was even imprisoned for refusing to pay taxes in protest for the Mexican-American War and the slavery.
Thoreau was an idealist; he opposed the oppression and tyranny from the government and I think that more people like him should exist for we need more free thinkers to defend the common citizen from the oppressive government we sometimes have.
In the first Chapter of Walden, "Economy," Thoreau explains how and why he wanted to live alone and why simplicity would help him to be more free. With less luxuries, less property, and less material things, a man is more free to do as he pleases.
The attitude toward society that is best reflected by Thoreau’s actions in Walden is:
A.a desire to retreat from society when necessary
