Chapter 5 Transcendentalism in Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”
5.1 Historical Background
5.5.2 Self-Reliance in Three Levels
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will be rewarded with political security; however, their tacit support of injustice eventually makes them complicit in injustice. Thoreau describes such people as possessing a “manifest lack of intellect and cheerful self-reliance” (152). Thoreau urges his contemporaries to avoid becoming unqualified citizens, cautioning them that doing so will bolster injustice and weaken their Self-Reliance.
5.5.2 Self-Reliance in Three Levels
Thoreau’s discussions of Self-Reliance are widely dispersed throughout “Civil Disobedience” and, for clarity’s sake, I break the notion down into three levels, each characterized by a specific spirit and concrete action. The basic self-reliant spirit is to be self-sufficient and responsible for one’s life and decisions; the corresponding political action is to vote. The intermediate self-reliant spirit is to be self-motivated and proactive in initiating changes and exerting influence on others; exemplary actions include contributing to society and joining the side of righteousness. The advanced self-reliant spirit is to be defiant; exemplary actions include engaging in civil disobedience.
5.5.2.1 Spirit and Action of Elementary Self-Reliance
In this section, I examine the spirit and action of basic Self-Reliance. At the basic level, the self-reliant spirit demands that individuals be as self-sufficient as possible and the corresponding political action is voting during elections. This level of Self-Reliance is the most fundamental and practicable one; if an individual accomplishes Self-Reliance at this level, he or she is better than many others who remain unwilling to take these steps.
5.5.2.1.1 The Elementary Self-Reliant Spirit: Be Self-Sufficient
I contend that the basic level of Thoreauvian Self-Reliance involves
self-sufficiency. In “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau complains that the state lacks the spirit
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of Self-Reliance and always demands its subjects to solve its governmental problems without any sincere intention. Thoreau claims: “It must help itself; do as I do” (162).
He reproaches the state for its irresponsibility and a lack of Self-Reliance. He then uses the seed as a metaphor to show that even tiny plants know more about the principle of Self-Reliance than governments. A seed’s survival demonstrates an attitude of self-sufficiency: being able to take care of oneself, count on oneself, and make decisions independently. This responsibility meets the basic requirement of exerting Self-Reliance:
I perceive that, when an acorn and a chestnut fall side by side, the one does not remain inert to make way for the other, but both obey their own laws, and spring and grow and flourish as best they can . . . If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man. (162)
Thoreau uses this natural imagery to illustrate one dimension of his conception of Self-Reliance: self-sufficiency. If a seed cannot rely on itself and take care of its life, it dies. He thinks that human beings and governments should learn from the seeds.
Seeds thrive on their own internal power and meet their needs without external assistance; instead of depending on others to make plans for them, they manage their lives responsibly.
5.5.2.1.2 The Elementary Self-Reliant Action: “Cast Your Whole Vote”
I argue that the elementary self-reliant political action is voting––the basic responsibility of citizens in any democracy. The purpose of elections is to choose more capable or representative officials to address public issues; to pick ideal
candidates, every citizen should vote on election day. Thoreau thus claims: “Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence” (157). Thoreau asserts that ballots are more than pieces of paper; they represent individual political
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power. Some people may rationalize not voting by maintaining that their votes have little influence and that other, more avid voters will ensure proper electoral outcomes.
However, if everyone thinks that way and therefore avoids the polls, ideal candidates may lose the elections. The voting system endows people with the right and the responsibility to express their political opinions. Thoreau contends, therefore, that citizens should vote every time an election occurs. Of all the self-reliant political actions, voting is the simplest and takes the least time.
5.5.2.2 Spirit and Action of Intermediate Self-Reliance
I propose that intermediate Self-Reliance has both spiritual and physical
dimensions, too. The spiritual dimension involves being self-motivated and proactive.
The physical dimension entails contributing to society and joining the side of justice.
5.5.2.2.1 The Intermediate Self-Reliant Spirit: Be Self-Motivated
Thoreau uses leaven as a metaphor to show that as long as an individual is good, he or she can exert unimaginably great influence on others. I categorize this idea as the intermediate Self-Reliance: self-motivation. Thoreau uses a Biblical allusion to compare self-reliant people to active yeast; he claims that they represent “some absolute goodness . . . that will leaven the whole lump” (150). Just as yeast effectively leavens dough, an individual can work to create change in society. Creating change is not the privilege of those in power; it also belongs to common people. As long as self-motivated people take proactive action, their efforts will have larger effects. Thoreau enjoins his readers not to fear humble beginnings: “For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is forever” (157). Truly self-reliant individuals act unwaveringly to create changes, because realizing one’s vision is more important than achieving worldly appreciation. In short, like the leaven that causes the dough to rise, self-motivated individuals can exert influence throughout society.
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5.5.2.2.2 The Intermediate Self-Reliant Action: “Constitute a Majority”
I believe that the intermediate self-reliant political actions involve contributing to society and joining the side of righteousness. First, people who are financially and mentally capable should always dedicate themselves to the community. Thoreau claims: “The best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor” (159). The word rich does not refer to a specific income or the millionaire class exclusively; it refers to relative levels of prosperity and means. Young people may have certain ideas that they wish to carry out as they mature and become more affluent; however, after reaching financial and physical maturity, many forget their youthful ambitions. Thoreau hopes that the people who develop the means will remain faithful to their earlier wishes and extend their hands to those in need. At this level of Self-Reliance, people should take responsibility not only for themselves but also for those who may need help.
I contend that joining the side of righteousness is another intermediate self-reliant action. Thoreau guarantees that lone achievers will build a spiritual majority.
As long as individuals do the right thing, they “have God on their side” (156).
Thoreau transforms the notion of the visible minority into that of the spiritual
majority: “Moreover, any man more right than his neighbors, constitutes a majority of one already” (156). Despite acting as part of the visible minority, those who join the right side and act according to their consciences participate in the spiritual majority.
Taking the side of righteousness is thus one form of intermediate self-reliant action.
5.5.2.3 Spirit and Action of Advanced Self-Reliance
Like the previous two levels, advanced Self-Reliance has both spiritual and physical dimensions. I assert that, from the spiritual perspective, advanced Self-Reliance involves embracing defiance, and, from the physical perspective, it involves
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engaging in civil disobedience. Due to potential illegality, this level is controversial;
however, it can arouse considerably more attention than the previous two.
5.5.2.3.1 Advanced Self-Reliant Spirit: Be Defiant
This level of spiritual Self-Reliance is characterized by undaunted and
unyielding defiance and allows for unlawful action. I believe that Thoreau develops the highest Self-Reliance by imagining resistance against injustice in terms of how counter friction resists the machine. Thoreau mentions that, when the state-machine works poorly and oppresses people, it is time to fight against it: “I say, break the law.
Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine” (155). For Thoreau, if a law accorded with his conscience, he would abide by it; however, if he viewed a law as unconscientious, he would not follow it – he regarded breaking such laws as a necessary means of combating injustice. Thus, resisting injustice characterizes the advanced self-reliant spirit.
5.5.2.3.2 Advanced Self-Reliant Action: Civil Disobedience
In my view, the advanced self-reliant action involves civil disobedience. Thoreau suggests two ways of asserting Self-Reliance at this level: 1) refusing tax duties and official positions and 2) adopting any non-cooperative and peaceful mean of resisting the state. These methods are individually plausible, publicly challenging, and they bring no physical harm to anyone.
Thoreau claims that by paying taxes and holding positions as public servants people make themselves complicit in injustice; to avoid such complicity, he argues that they should “at once effectually withdraw their support, both in person and property” (156) from the government. More specifically, Thoreau advises that “public officer[s] . . . resign [their] office[s]” (158) and that ordinary people “not . . . pay their tax-bills” (158). By withholding financial and physical support, individuals exercise
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their power against the state. In Thoreau’s view, while not “violent and bloody measure[s]” (158), such non-cooperative actions can still immobilize the state.
Thoreau argues that, together, small acts of disobedience become a powerful weapon.
Apart from withholding physical and financial support, any other forms of peaceful non-cooperation with the state also qualify as civil disobedience. For Thoreau, “to refuse allegiance to and to resist the government” (149) is a right that belongs to everyone; whoever exerts this right, in Thoreau’s view, achieves a revolution. Embracing the spirit of advanced Self-Reliance enables citizens to carry out individual revolutions – civil disobedience – and challenge injustice without waiting for or counting on others. Thoreauvian civil disobedience can thus be understood as an individually plausible means of acting against injustice; it involves embracing a defiant spirit in a manner that arouses public awareness without bringing anyone physical harm. Any form of non-cooperative and nonviolent action that promotes justice and righteousness constitutes civil disobedience. For example, Thoreau’s articles and tour lectures were acts of civil disobedience; he not only affected his contemporaries but also enlightened the people of subsequent
generations. The lasting influence of Thoreau’s work both testifies to the success of his individual revolution and defines one form of civil disobedience.
5.5.3 Self-Reliance: Self-Sufficiency, Self-Motivation, and Civil Disobedience