《瓦尔登湖》对现实生活的指导意义
毕业论文关键词：梭罗; 瓦尔登湖; 指导意义
Now people are paying more and more attention to Henry David Thoreau and his famous work Walden. Against this background, this paper adopts the method of intensive reading to make an analysis of the guiding significance of Thoreau’s views on nature and life for our practical life as reflected in Walden. First of all, it analyses the reason why Thoreau gave up some decent jobs and chose to go to the deserted Walden Pond. And then it reveals Thoreau’s philosophy that is from the fusion of human and natural environment. The following part is to describe the environmental and spiritual crisis that our modern people are suffering from to prove Thoreau’s ecological ideas are significant to our natural life and spiritual life. Finally, it expounds the theme of this paper. This paper is to appeal people to realize the importance of environment and lay emphasis on inner world.
Key words: Thoreau; Walden; guiding significance
A Brief Analysis of Guiding Significance for Practical Life in Walden
Contents
摘 要 i
Abstract ii
I. Introduction 1
II. The Causes of Going to Walden 2
2.1 The Indifference to Wealth and Fame 2
2.2 The Influence of Transcendentalism. 4
2.3 Pursuit of Spiritual Fulfillment 5
III. An Interpretation of Thoreau’s View on Nature and Life in Walden 6
3.1 Environmental Ecology 6
3.2 Man’s Spiritual Ecology 7
IV. The Guiding Significance for Our Practical Life 8
4.1 Harmony between Human and Nature 8
4.2 The Poetic Life 10
V. Conclusion 12
Bibliography 13
Acknowledgments 14
I. Introduction
Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 - May 6, 1862) is a great nature writer of America in the nineteenth century. His masterpiece, Walden, or life in the woods, was published in 1845. It is based on personal experience in a cabin near Walden Pond where he lived alone for two years and two months. He put his all heart into discovering the relationship between human beings and nature. By immersing himself in nature, Thoreau hoped to have a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. His intention of Walden is to wake up people to understand the importance of harmonious coexistence of all things in the earth and the truth of life. But his theory was ignored and misunderstood by most of people at that time. However, our modern people are facing ecological crisis and spiritual crisis such as lack of faith, anxiety over work, life and future, addiction to internet and so on. Our living conditions are becoming worse and worse. As the representation of harmonious relationship between man and nature, Walden is becoming more and more famous. His views on nature and life are accepted by people in mounting numbers. It encourages people to be closer to nature and to protect it better. And modern people benefit a lot from Thoreau’s philosophy. Actually, his advocacy of a simple life is an effective way of easing spiritual crisis. He is considered as the first interpreter of nature in American history and the first American environmentalist saint now.