What is one’s duty to? Is it to himself or to the society he lives in? In 1841, Henry David Thoreau accepted an offer to stay with neighboring Ralph Waldo Emerson's family and earn his keep as a handyman while he concentrated on his writing. Thoreau began to adapt to and follow Emerson’s belief in transcendentalism, writing many essays about his belief in transcendentalism. In “Civil Disobedience”, he strongly addresses its readers that they should follow their conscious and not be influenced by a government. In his work “Walden”, Thoreau discusses the insignificance of material goods. He also debates the importance of living close to nature, similar to Emerson’s “Nature”. Some may argue that Thoreau's beliefs and ideas are extreme, but in many ways, they are both idealistic and realistic. While not all of his truths can be classified as realistic, they are ideal. (Witherell and Dubrulle) …show more content…
Each person should do what he believes is the right thing to do, as long as it abides by the law. Following one’s conscience is extremely important for their personal integrity and character. One’s conscience dictates what is morally right, and it should be followed. The only time something interferes with following the conscience is when the government passes a law that is unjust. Thoreau publishes in “Civil Disobedience” that there are only three ways to go about an unjust law, and two of them go against the conscience. He writes the correct response to laws: “If it is of such a nature that [the government] requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.” To transgress against laws that do not follow what the conscience speaks, does not let a person partake in his citizenship to his country. Ideally, a person should be able to continually follow his conscience. Realistically, a person can follow his conscience as long as he accepts his country’s