Henry David Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Thoreau's essay "Resistance to Civil Government" is informative and persuasive because he uses many of his own personal experiences and beliefs in concrete detail. The author points out that, throughout the paper, Thoreau uses sarcasm and irony delivered through narrative devices. The paper concludes that Thoreau writes about the evil of complexity as if he was writing to the people of our society in 2006: Simplicity still provides an easy way out of tough situations.

From the Paper:

" Thoreau also includes many metaphors and similes. In one of the beginning paragraphs, Thoreau states that the government is a sort of "wooden gun to the people themselves". In this he is describing how a single man can bend it to his will. Thoreau also states that the standing army is only an arm of the standing government. In this he is expressing that the objections brought against the standing army alone will make an impact, but a very small one on the overall government. Thoreau also explains the State as being half-witted, that is was timid as a lone woman with her silver spoons. Throughout this essay, Thoreau uses diction, his choice of words, strongly to provide a more effective explanation of his theories."

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