Throughout his life, Thoreau emphasized the importance of individuality and self-reliance. He practiced civil disobedience in his own life and spent a night in jail for his refusal to pay taxes in protest of the Mexican War. (Thoreau was opposed to the practice of slavery in some of the territories involved.)
The is theme and explanation of the story is about the cycle of life,the limits of science, and whether knowledge is truly more valuable than happiness.
