Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Lives of Quiet Desperation
. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 4 page paper discusses Henry David Thoreau's classic book "Walden" and the ways in which Thoreau sought to insure that his life was not one of "quiet desperation." Bibliography lists 1 source.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVQuiDes.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
self-examination, and an observation of society, among others. This paper considers Thoreaus comment that "[T]he mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation" (Thoreau, 1960, p. 10); the evidence he
gives for it and in what ways he chooses to live his life differently. Discussion Early in the book, Thoreau says something remarkable: he calls into question the common belief
that old age brings wisdom. Instead, he suggests that old people may have lost sight of possibilities and opportunities, and turned instead to habit-even when it no longer works: "What
old people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can. Old deed for old people, and new deeds for new" (Thoreau, 1960, p. 10). He goes on
to say that the old have no advice of any importance to give the young because their lives have been "miserable failures," and he has never gotten a syllable of
good advice from an older person (Thoreau, 1960, p. 11). We can surmise, therefore, that one of the things that Thoreau will do is to ignore any advice given him,
and make his own way in the world. This flies in the face of most of our cherished beliefs, but Thoreau is truly an individualist and maintains his independence from
other people, and from the conventions that bind us together. We might also consider the way in which Thoreau considers his house, and how that differs from others. He
writes that at a certain time in our lives, "we are accustomed to consider every spot as the possible site of a house" (Thoreau, 1960, p. 59). This is the
way most of us still think; that at some point we will stop renting ("throwing our money away") and get into the housing market. But Thoreau doesnt share this passion
...