Forced Political Views of Henry David Thoreau
Analyzing one instance where Thoreau imposes his anti-war sentiments on the reader through his example of the fightin aunts
Some ways that authors make their views known in books is by having main characters speak their views in an authoritative way or by personification. In the case of Walden Thoreau makes his views known by personification. He personifies the ants as humans saying that ants fight more nobly than humans. In this he is in essence making fun of humans and their pointless battles. Thoreau did not believe in violence or fighting in a war to solve a conflict, but in peace.
Thoreau begins his passage by personifying the ants as humans in the way he describes the single red ant that comes to join the battle.
âIn the meanwhile there came along a single red ant on the hillside of this valley, evidently full of excitement, who either had despatched his foe, or had not yet taken part in the battle;â¦whose mother had charged him to return with his shield or upon it⦠He saw this unequal combat from afar -- for the blacks were nearly twice the size of the red -- he drew near with rapid pace till be stood on his guard within half an inch of the combatants; then, watching his opportunity, he sprang upon the black warrior, and commenced his operations near the root of his right fore leg, leaving the foe to select among his own members; and so there were three united for life, as if a new kind of attraction had been invented which put all other locks and cements to shame.â (ll.31-46).
In this passage Thoreau makes it seem like the single ant is a heroic champion, full of energy. Realistically, however, this one red ant is only an ant, nothing more; even though Thoreau portrays him as more than human. âOn every side they were engaged in deadly combat, yet without any noise that I could hear, and human soldiers never fought so resolutelyâ(ll.17-19).
Also, throughout this selection, Thoreauâs use of diction shows that he is making fun of humans and their pointless battles.
âThere was not one hireling there. I have no doubt that it was a principle they fought for, as much as our ancestors, and not to avoid a three-penny tax on their tea; and the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those whom it concerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill, at leastâ(ll.60-65).
In this passage he is saying that one of the most important human battles is just as important, if not less important to the antsâ battle. This is once again pointing out the futility of the human race in fighting their wars.
After Thoreau takes a woodchip into his home and watches the three fighting ants, he tells the story of the ants and how, finally, the black ant walks out âvictoriouslyâ.
âWhether he finally survived that combat, and spent the remainder of his days in some Hotel des Invalides, I do not know; but I thought that his industry would not be worth much thereafter. I never learned which party was victorious, nor the cause of the war;â¦â (ll. 86-90).
By this passage Thoreau is saying that it does not matter how ferociously a person (or ant) fought because in the end no one really won. The âvictorâ walks away limp and half dead, and the âlooserâ gets killed.
Thoreau conveys his anti-war sentiments into this selection of the battle of the ants. He portrays the fighting ants as humans thus suggesting that human battles are worthless and do not accomplish anything.
