Transcendentalism In Henry David Thoreau's "Civil...", when looking at Thoreau's intended audience for his essay "Civil Disobedience", he is primarily addressing those who identify as abolitionists or progressive-leaning thinkers ahead. This is true since he often spoke about how slavery was an injustice to the human race since all humans should be treated the same, but during his lifetime the theme of a race's inferiority compared to to another was common. (Banion, 190) Additionally, the target audience would feel an emotion of patriotism and hope since they hope to see an American reborn where everyone is treated with dignity. (Banion, 190) Besides the audience and the emotional connection, the use of metaphors is used in the essay to compare the government to a machine (Banion, 190) The use of this metaphor, for example, is to show the reader that the government continues even if it makes a mistake. Thoreau wants the government to be more humane and to recognize its mistakes. The Definition of a Classic “An art form considered to represent an exemplary standard; traditional and long established in its form or style. (Oxford Dictionary, Classic) Thoreau's essay "Civil Disobedience" is a classic since it indeed has exemplary standards since through his life story and his work in the transcendentalist movement, he made people think about the themes of the essay on his thinking and redefined what the

Navigation