I can't find much that goes into detail but overall the victims of slavery would use starvation as a way of suicide to avoid further punishment. The men then force fed the victims and if they didn't survive they would be thrown overboard sorry this wasn't much help edit: I just read they could also be tortured until they gave in to eating
Answer: to throw things off a ship to lighten its load
It is a Christian allegory.
Thoreau's actions reveal that he believes the society to be corrupt. That is why life in the woods is the best possible option for any human being. Reconnecting with nature and abandoning cities.
