Joanne HaGreen11/15/14

Final Thoreau/Crane EssayWalden, by Henry David Thoreau, and Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, by Stephen Crane show similar opinions on philanthropy, but disagree on the topic of material goods and self- reliance. In Walden, Thoreau speaks about his life at Walden Pond in extreme isolation and a simplified lifestyle. In the chapter, Economy, he relays his ideas about the behaviors and standards of people. In Maggie, A Girl of the Streets, a young girl of late 1800s New York is forced to grow up in a destitute household and harsh neighborhood. After a bad relationship, Maggie ends up as a prostitute and commits suicide. The two books are different in style and genre, but address many of the same topics from the view of a Transcendentalist, Thoreau, and a Naturalist, Crane. Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane would agree on their views of philanthropy. In Walden, Thoreau says about philanthropy, His goodness must not be a partial and transitory act, but a constant superfluity, which costs him nothing and of which he is unconscious (63). Thoreau thinks that philanthropy should be a natural action; not forced or purposeful. He comments further by saying, It is greatly overrated; and it is our selfishness which overrates it (63). Thoreau is saying that people often engage in acts of philanthropy for personal gain and praise from others, rather than the simple reward of helping others. Crane agrees with Thoreau that people often show exaggerated kindness publicly while privately scorning those in need. In Maggie, the girl approaches a priest with unfortunate results, But as the girl timidly accosted him he made a convulsive movement and saved his respectability by a vigorous side- step (Crane 71). The priest, dressed in robes of solemn black, could not stoop to Maggies level to help her. Another priest in the same story also uses philanthropy as a pretense; You are damned, said the preacher. And the reader of sounds might have seen the reply go forth from the ragged people: Wheres our soup? (Crane16). The supposed charity given to the poor is a means to draw them to the sermon. The preacher doesnt care about the people themselves so much as their being there. Although the two writers think differently about other topics, this is one upon which Thoreau and Crane agree. Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane would disagree on their views of material goods. In Walden, Thoreau questions whether, The respectable citizen thus gravely teach, by precept and example, the necessity of the young mans providing a certain number of superfluous glowshoes, and umbrellas, and empty guest chambers for empty guests? (32). He mocks the apparently important possessions of respectable people. Thoreau believes that such materialistic ideas are shallow and the only things you should keep are objects of practicality. He makes a sarcastic comment on the matter, I wonder that the floor does not give way under the visitor while he is admiring the gewgaws upon the mantelpiece, and let him through the cellar, to some solid and honest though earthy foundation (Thoreau 33). Crane is of a different mind about material goods and believes instead that items are not valued only by their usefulness. He writes, His small waxen hand clutching a flower that the girl, Maggie, had stolen from an Italian (Crane 15). The flower, which is of no real practical use; is so important that Maggie steals for it and it represents the love she had for her little brother. Later, Maggie creates a lambrequin, She made it with infinite care, and hung it to the slightly careening mantel over the stove in the kitchen (Crane 26). Her piece of cloth is also completely useless, but it is obviously important to Maggie and represents her devotion to Pete. This object is also important to the story itself as it is used as foreshadowing to the end of Maggie and Petes relationship, when the mother stomps all over it. In Thoreaus opinion, material items are wasteful if theyre not practical, but Crane has a more romantic mindset. Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane would also disagree on their views of self- reliance. Thoreau believes that people can be entirely self-reliant and it is a weakness or unsavory habit to need others. He tells a short story about a Native American who tries to sell baskets, but fails because people have no interest in them. In the tale, the Native American is, Thinking that when he had made the baskets he would have done his part, and then it would be the white mans to buy them (Thoreau 19). Thoreau often boasts of how he builds his house himself and is able to sustain himself. He says, For more than five years I maintained myself thus solely by the labor of my hands (Thoreau 58). Crane has a different opinion, in that the main character, Maggie, would have experienced a happier ending if she had help throughout her life. Her brother, Jimmie, wonders if, His sister would have been more firmly good had she better known why (Crane 58). Maggie is nave and needed a helping hand to teach her about the cruelties of life. But where kin I go? (Crane 70) she asks Pete after he dumps her. She has no options or choices that she can make for herself at that point in her life, which is why she committed suicide. Cranes characters fate is not entirely up to her and is pushed around by the whims of others. Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane are two authors that clash in their opinions of fate v. choice. In Walden, a reflection by Henry David Thoreau, and in Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, a story by Stephen Crane; philanthropy, material goods, and self- reliance are discussed. These are but three of many topics mentioned in both books; however, they are major to the books ideals. Philanthropy is the topic that the two authors agree upon. Thoreau and Crane perceive it as an act that is overrated and often manipulated for personal gain. On the other hand, the two authors disagree on material goods or possessions. Thoreau thinks they are either practical or superfluous while Crane thinks that something can be impractical and still valuable. Thoreau and Crane also hold contrasting views on self- reliance. While Thoreau insists that peoples fate and outcomes are based solely on their own actions and decisions, Crane claims that people dont always have all the choices to themselves to make and need help or guidance along the way. The differences in opinion between Thoreau and Crane reflect the eras of writing they each belong to, while the similarities show that some ideas span across trends and styles of writing. Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane are unlike each other in some ways, and it is hard to find parallels between the two. Through Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and Walden, it is possible to discover where they meet in terms of beliefs.