Civil Government Response

    The main idea of the essay was Thoreau's disapproval of the government, their support of slavery and their involvement in war with Mexico. The essay in general talks about the government but also those who support the government's ways. The author seems to be saying or asking if or if not the government controls the lives of the inhabitants. Can or can the inhabitants change in the fact that they support the government by paying taxes. The speaker, Thoreau, also scolds those who sit around and listen to the government telling them what to do and accept it. The authors main question is if the government is corrupt or not in the opinions of the inhabitants.

    The author used expedient constantly through the course of the essay. The meaning of this word is to serve to promote one's interest or to approach a given purpose. This helps in explaining what the author is trying to prove or his purpose in the essay which is self reformation. The author emphasizes in the essay the importance of self reformation and only through self reformation can one change something else; either governmental reformation or social reformation. Another point the author tries to get across to his audience is the definition of manhood. The definition of a man as Hawthorne puts it is someone who "…has a bone on his back which you cannot pass your hand through" (Thoreau) meaning a man is someone who is bold and is willing to stand up for his conscience even if he is in the minority and not one can frighten him to the point of keeping silent. A man must stay true to his conscience even though it means defying the government "under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a man is also prison." (Thoreau)

    The author uses many quotes and examples to support his point. Thoreau uses quotes and examples from many philosophers to support his claims, such as Nicholas Copernicus, Confucius and Shakespeare. The author also gives allegorical examples such as "you many see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder monkeys, and all marching in admirable order over hills and dale to the wars, against their will, ay against their common sense and consciences which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart. They have no doubt that it is a damnable business in which they are … peaceably inclined. Now what are they? Mean at all? or small movable forts and magazines at the service of some unscrupulous man in power?" (Thoreau) The author also uses himself as an example to support his point appealing to ethos and his credibility. He resisted by moving into the woods and not paying taxes and by staying in jail standing up for his conscience.

     One of the major virtues in this essay is evidently Thoreau's uncanny ability to acknowledge the idealism behind his views. In doing this Thoreau uses metaphors. For example Thoreau uses the machine metaphor for the government at least thrice in the essay. This is an example of his acknowledgement of idealism for he goes on to say "machine of the government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth-certainly the machine will wear out." Another virtue in his essay was his constant advice to the government to cease slavery and war with Mexico. This kept the focus of the essay and facilitated the rhetorical strength of the piece by appealing logos.

    Thoreau's tone is truly engaged at the beginning of the essay. This empowers the significance of his message. He initiates the piece mainly in a personal manner, factoring merely how he himself "went to the woods because he wished to live deliberately" (Thoreau) Portrayal of this bias practice is in no way imposing but rather it expresses Thoreau's own opinions. Thoreau appends this with a modest tone moderating his claim with phrases like "it appears to me". This submissive opening tone leaves his audience tolerant of his excessive views. Slowly Thoreau succeeds in capturing his reader his tone becomes more aggressive and confident. His tone becomes more commanding over time "let your affairs be as two or three" (Thoreau) However, in the course of pointing out excesses such as the news Thoreau implements a sarcastic tone.

    Figurative language one of Thoreau's many rhetorical devices. Thoreau never limiting himself to any group of strategy uses a mass of them upon his will to entangle his audience in lovely delicious rhetorical goodness. A lot of these devices are related so discreetly it would go unknown to an average reader. For example "still we live meanly, like ants" (Thoreau) a simile that slurs the existing human condition and lowers it to the level of an ant. Another example is the allusion" with unrelaxed nerves, with mourning vigor, sail by it, looking another way, tied to the mast like Ulysses." (Thoreau) This is alluding to the common awareness the Ulysses also known as Odysseus had to strain himself from the dangerous lure of the siren, Thoreau compares that to the dangerous attraction of the modern world.

    In conclusion Thoreau is a genius who took steps in acting on what he believed in. He uses himself as an example for many who wanted what in their conscience knew were right, but were not courageous enough to act on their stance. He proved himself to be masterful of the metropolitan mind