论瓦尔登湖构建的思想乌托邦与影响 英文版

本科生毕业论文
题目：论《瓦尔登湖》构建的思想乌托邦与影响
年级：2011级
专业：英语
学号： 201100020228
姓名：于正浩
指导教师：刘立莉
2015年 4 月 15 日
成绩
A STUDY OF UTOPIA IN WALDEN AND ITS INFLUENCE
A Bachelor’s Thesis
Presented to
The Department of Foreign Languages
Modern College of Northwest University
Xi’an, China
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the
Bachelor of Arts Degree
By
Yu Zhenghao
Apr,2015
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论文作者签名：
日期：2015 年4月15日
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me during the writing of this thesis. I am particularly indebted to Ms Liu, who gave me kind encouragement and useful instructions all through my writing. I wish to extend my thanks to all the teacher who guide me.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (i)
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................. i i ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH.............................................................................................................. i ii ABSTRACT IN CHINESE ............................................................................. 错误！未定义书签。

Chapter one (1)
Introduction (1)
1.1 Research background (1)
1.2 Significance of the study (2)
Chapter Two (3)
The major idea and Classic review of Walden (3)
2.1 The author and his achievement (3)
2.1.1 Emerson and Thoreau (3)
2.1.2 A briefly introduction of Transcendentalism (4)
2.1.3 The Confucius Classic of the book (5)
2.2 Social conditions in that time (5)
2.3 A briefly introduction of the book (6)
2.3.1 The poem Greek mythology and The religious element from book (8)
2.3.2 Additional Remarks (10)
Chapter Three (13)
The influence (13)
3.1 The pros and cons (13)
3.2 Learning from the book (15)
3.3 The New Waldenlism (16)
Chapter Four (19)
Conclusion (19)
Bibliography (20)
I. Works in English (20)
II. Works in Chinese (20)
ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH
Walden pond is located in the northeastern United States, Massachusetts. The world famous institution Harvard University and the MIT are over there. Walden is a life record from Thoreau during the solitude. It is about his thoughts and what he saw and heard when he was living in the forest .We can find the pursuit of natural life between the lines, from seasons change to the battle between ants under the uncanny workmanship of nature. His book become the bible among people`s mind and their spiritual utopia. This text ,by reviewing the author`s life and original interpretation of the book ,analyzing the relevant historical material, referring to mainstream culture, then dialectically arrived at a conclusion that is returning to the innocence. It also reminds us don`t forget the pure and happy from our inside or dominated by corruption material life .An objective summary which was called New Waldenlism. We can also realize harmonious co-existence between the human and nature within the concrete jungle. Furthermore, the Confucian Classics that appeared into book tells more about Chinese culture and western culture could be organic combination. I Hope I can through this book to help each one to pick up the love of life with childlike innocence!
keywords: Life, nature, truth, innovation, transcendentalism.
摘要
瓦尔登湖位于美国东北部马萨诸塞州,世界著名学府哈佛大学和麻省理工学院都在此。

《瓦尔登湖》是作者梭罗在瓦尔登湖独居期间的生活记录，生动的描写了两年多时间的所见所闻和所思所想，字里行间体现着对返璞归真的追求,以及大自然的鬼斧神工，大到季节变换，小到蚂蚁之间的战争。

这本书百年来成为许多人心中的圣经和精神乌托邦。

本文通过回顾作者的生平并解读该书原文，分析相关历史人物，参考当今主流文化，辩证的分析出梭罗的回归自然（不忘初心）这一重要思想。

这也要求我们不应该忘记本属于人类灵魂深处的纯洁与快乐，不应该过多的被的物质生活所主宰，也客观的总结了在新的钢铁丛林中一样可以做到人与自然和谐,我称之为“新瓦尔登主义”。

另外，作者在书中提到的儒家经典，更说明了中华文化和西方先哲的思想是可以有机结合的。

希望通过研读此书来帮助每一个人重新拾起那份对生活的热爱与童真。

关键词：生命，自然，真理，创新，超验主义
Chapter one
Introduction
Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such
desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.(Walden)
People in China now always judge a man by his fortune, but how is that different from western countries, which announced democracy and freedom ? Actually, they are all the same. What is known as rich ? what is success ? Who can decide the meaning of these words ? In another way, do they still have the same meaning after hundreds or thousands of years ? A narrow definition can`t be neutral and a bold assumption can`t be caution. That is why we never stop thinking for truth. The development of our society not only needs huge mansions but also some kind of thought which can inspire people`s heart .It is request for us to calm down when studying Walden because only in this way can we understand what Thoreau really wants to say . After several times of reading ,I am willing to share what I learnt from book.
1.1 Research background
In 2015, a documentary with smog and environmental protection theme which named Under The Dome has a world buzzing .That makes the people restart to think the relationship between environment and human development. Environmental protection has been one of the important problems all over the world . Pollution not only exist in our environment, but also in our heart .Like Thoreau feel sick about the train that cross the wood. How can we hear the bird singing rhyme with the sound of
train whistle ? City vagrant lost into abyss of money with endless desire and walk into the place where betrayed their initially belief .Who else care about the dirty air and murky river ? How many people repeat the word again and again :Do you think, because I am poor, I have no relatives, I am shameless ?1. Human move to the city from forest, don`t afraid lightning anymore ,use torch drive beast away ,but why do they still have to bend their knees to power and wealth? I think we could find the answer within Walden.
1.2 Significance of the study
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.2It is from the end of The Great Gatsby. Having gone through the hypocrisy of reality and unpredictable people. the leading character came back to his unsophisticated hometown disappointedly. But does he can really end his nightmare in this way? I don`t think so. Because this is just the end of the novel, not the real life, people still have to face it. Thoreau is no exception. I research this book not because in memory of the good old past time. we all need to keep moving. Walden is a book that help us to explore our inside of heart. Walden is a guide who teach us make life easier. Walden is ironic for human being. Walden is also a text feast for literature. Benefiting from the influence of this book ,we have more multi angled and direction to create a new life philosophy with new revelation .
Chapter Two
The major idea and Classic review of Walden
2.1 The author and his achievement
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was American writer, philosopher and representative of Transcendentalist. He graduated from Harvard with flying colors in 1837. He came back to Concord then began to practice Transcendentalism and write under the Emerson`s help in 1841. It is interesting that Thoreau benefited from university meanwhile he looked down upon it which is due to his idea of breaking the worship. In 1845, he lived in seclusion next to the Walden about 2 miles far from Concord. He made his life by own efforts, simple and closeness to nature and finished the long prose Walden that became the classic works of transcendentalism. During he stayed in Walden, Thoreau had been arrested in prison one time because he refused to pay the poll tax. After that he developed the famous political comment Civil Disobedience. He didn`t contact any jobs or careers ,no marriage, no meat ,no alcohol, no smoke... He preferred to be a bachelor within mind and body . And he knows how can be a nobility under the poverty and poor. Thoreau passed away by lung disease in 1862. In people`s eyes, he is a weird person but follower of Emerson. His work shone until in the 19th century and Walden was the most popular book ever had in America literature history !
2.1.1 Emerson and Thoreau
Emerson and Thoreau are not so much being good friend as master and
apprentice. As we all known, Emerson was the pioneer of American transcendentalist. His American Scholar was known as the thoughts of the declaration of independence in United States. He criticized the money worship in state and emphasized the importance of human itself. As a adherent of the Transcendentalism, Thoreau was helped and supported by Emerson. By the way, Thoreau didn`t have to pay the tax for the land of Walden because Emerson owned it. But Emerson is too close to Thoreau like his teacher, coach and father. He forgot the one thing that Thoreau `s rebellious spirit. Thoreau questioned everything he didn`t agree, even If Emerson. It led to strained relations between them. Although they are all the advocators of Transcendentalism, they lived in two different world. In essence, Emerson is a normal guy who still regard highly of fame, wealth, status, and family. But Thoreau is absolutely opposite. He didn`t like regular things, always talked enigmatic things to the people who visited him, then depreciated all the guest in the end.3Thus, we could understand why we can`t find a word with Emerson and appreciation of him in Walden. It is what it is, two mountains can`t get close to each other forever. We just can`t tell who is better. They are all have great contributed tremendously to human society.
2.1.2 A briefly introduction of Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism is a religious and philosophical movement that developed during the late 1820s and '30s in the Eastern region of the United States as a protest against the general state of spirituality. Among the transcendentalists' core beliefs was the inherent goodness of both people and nature. They believe that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—ultimately corrupt the purity of the individual. They have faith that people are at their best when truly "self-reliant" and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true
community could be formed.4In short , it tells us people can surpass the sense and reason, touch the truth directly and emphasize the importance of instinct.
But how does Thoreau embody transcendentalism in his book? He said, "The reason I went into the forest and not to live cheaper or more expensive, but wanted to at least some people want to do."He through the plenty of description with affect infusion, different posture of seasons and animal activity to conduct a deep thinking that find mutual service between humans and the natural world .And finally, To reach the extraordinary refined , unity of man and heaven .
2.1.3 The Confucius Classic of the book
Thoreau quoted Confucius Classic many times in the book .It can be reflected from one point that is author knows a lot about Orientalism .He quoted what Confucius say in Chapter one, "To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge."5that was true of Thoreau, who treated knowledge seriously and never pretend to know. In Chapter Solitude ,he quoted Confucius say, "Virtue does not remain as an abandoned orphan; it must of necessity have neighbors."6that means a man with virtue will never feel lonely and someone who have common goal will come to you. even if who lived in the deepest forest .In the last Chapter ,“From an army of three divisions one can take away its general, and put it in disorder; from the man the most abject and vulgar one cannot take away his thought.”7it means a man with ambition will never change his way. Standing firmly for ones conviction just like Thoreau. So far It is obviously that chase the true meaning of life no matter in west or east ,they all works.
2.2 Social conditions in that time
The main contradiction of the United States in 19th century is between the advanced industrial development of capitalism and the backward slavery plantation economy with more ethnic, racial discrimination problems etc. Under such circumstances, it can have a huge impact on Thoreau, thus he decided to practice transcendentalism, advocated independent personality and broke away from the mundane things of life. Moving to the Walden is one of his purpose. It is his behavior which really surprised us such as being vegetarianism to declare creatures coexist ,refusing coffee to despise capitalism and not paying poll tax to against slavery. Besides, he was a lucky man ,because he passed away before America Civil War. It was the top of the domestic conflicts in that time and Mr. Thoreau had already away from the war with his sagacity.
2.3 A briefly introduction of the book
The book has 18 chapters all. Each chapter spells out what Thoreau want to say and it is easy to understand. The first chapter Economy ,compared his life in wood with other so-called civilization society around him, which some social phenomenon was criticized. We could find it from book through the analysis of the original composition.
What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn
out to be falsehood to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion, which some had
trusted for a cloud that would sprinkle fertilizing rain on their fields.
(Walden)
Thoreau is implicitly critical of empiricism by saying this. He advocated the new thinking and broke the routine.
When he talked about the basic necessities of life by quoting this :Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so
conducted, so enterprised or sailed in some way, that we feel like new men in the old, and that to retain it would be like keeping new wine in old bottles.8If our soul didn't sublimate, so what`s the meaning of fancy outside ?She warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within.9
Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are
actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think that
they must have such a one as their neighbors have.(Walden)
Is this not the story of our lives? Why we have to become a house slave when we were young? Or this just convince ourselves being debt-ridden can makes us more safety ?
From the third Chapter Reading until seventeenth Spring. Thoreau record amount of interaction between man and nature to make us being personally on the scene by detail description of life in the forest. Took time with his book to show the benefit of reading. He satirized the hubris of human by all kinds of the calling of animals and train whistle. To express his ambitions, he used a word solitude as Chapter name. lonely is relative ,but whoever find their own inner peace, the lonely transform into solitude, which pursuing the oracle from far away. In a another way, distance helps him to pick out the people who really want to visit him with sincerity. It is such a delight to have mates coming from afar. The visitor increased so much shine on his cabin. The beans he planted next to the cabin is not just beans. It was a symbol, which represents his love for nature. Thoreau hanged out in the small village and farm around Walden after the lunch blithely, It was fine to get a little more than hearsay from sentient, If it were necessary. Thoreau especially mentioned of our brutalization. In Chapter Higher laws ,he said, 'there was a beast inside of our body.'
Possibly we may withdraw from it, but never change its nature. But how
can we deal with it ? only let ones mind descend into his inside body and
redeem it, then treat himself with ever increasing respect. (Walden) It is really worthy that we thinking it over and over again. A lighting torch may not be such a high temperature but ward off the cold. It doesn`t matter to accompany with animals ,which is our best neighbor ever . The squirrels scramble for nuts, the hares cross over the bosk and bold tits sing for the free... And Don`t forget the fascinating Walden lake. The phenomena of the year take place every day in a pond on a small scale. Thoreau depicts Walden lake through three different times. In summer, compared the quite, green pond to the Castalian Fountain10. In winter, the pond still full of spirits along with the people who get out the ice from his body and then closed his eyes generously without a word. When spring comes, ice melts ,everything rouses up from sweet dream.
The last chapter is a conclusion like its name. Actually ,the content of above is only the things happened in the first year .And Thoreau said : 'the second year was similar to it.' Why ? I guess he wants to leave it to reader of endless imagination.
2.3.1 The poem Greek mythology and The religious element from book
The poem which impressed me most in the book is following one .It was placed at the end of chapter one as a complement verses . Now we could appreciate it basically.
THE PRETENSIONS OF POVERTY
Thou dost presume too much, poor needy wretch,
To claim a station in the firmament
Because thy humble cottage, or thy tub,
Nurses some lazy or pedantic virtue
In the cheap sunshine or by shady springs,
With roots and pot-herbs; where thy right hand,
Tearing those humane passions from the mind,
Upon whose stocks fair blooming virtues flourish,
Degradeth nature, and benumbeth sense,
And, Gorgon-like, turns active men to stone.
We not require the dull society
Of your necessitated temperance,
Or that unnatural stupidity
That knows nor joy nor sorrow; nor your forc'd
Falsely exalted passive fortitude
Above the active. This low abject brood,
That fix their seats in mediocrity,
Become your servile minds; but we advance
Such virtues only as admit excess,
Brave, bounteous acts, regal magnificence,
All-seeing prudence, magnanimity
That knows no bound, and that heroic virtue
But patterns only, such as Hercules,
Achilles, Theseus. Back to thy loath'd cell;
And when thou seest the new enlightened sphere.
Study to know but what those worthies were.
The author of this poem is Thomas Carew11. His poem always involved two topics which is love and criticism. This poem strongly point up the people who is poor in spirit. Surrendering to fate is not an excuse, which really caused to you is laziness and ignorance. Being hardworking and plain-living are not equal incompetent. Thoreau spent 28 bucks for a home and how can you say a man is poverty in economic makes him corrupt ? It can`t be and will never happened because those people pick up their purity soul with self-reliance at the very beginning !
It also worth mentioning a poem that quoted in the last chapter:
Direct your eye right inward, and you'll find
A thousand regions in your mind
Yet undiscovered. Travel them, and be
Expert in home-cosmography.12
the author want to tell us one thing through this poem, which is compared with continents and oceans in the spirit world ,the progress from industrial revolution is a drop in the bucket. It is hard to complete the chart in your deep heart and to fill these blanks also need a long time. Of course, there have more poem in the book that you could taste them when reading .
Besides these poem, we could find so many Greek mythology in the book. Such as Heracles the son of Zeus, Deucalion the creator, Muse the arts of goddess... and more within the Bible. It is strange that Thoreau didn`t discuss the religion into book although he was a convinced Christian. Perhaps“The most profound truth in the human experience cannot be passed directly from person to person”13.Thoreau`s journey of life is also a pilgrimage ,and his Walden is the report of pilgrimage 14.
2.3.2 Additional Remarks
For a man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can
afford to let alone.(Walden)
As I found this word in Chapter two Where I lived ,and what I lived for, it dawned on me that the true wisdom is give and get. I just can`t help wondering what is the meaning of Walden spirit ? Or what is Thoreau really want to tell us by this book ? Sometimes it is simple, but sometimes it is not .Thoreau dared to lay down the normal life without any strings so that he could see the truth we can`t see, hear the voice from god we can`t hear.
Why should we knock under and go with the stream? Let us not be upset
and overwhelmed in that terrible rapid and whirlpool called a dinner,
situated in the meridian shallows.(Walden)
This is the core of Walden spirit .Gone with the wind my friend ,follow your heart and intuition own . You have to pay at the outset ,then you gain. Literally, the whole chapter two is a statement from Thoreau. I discuss this chapter in a separate because it is a connecting like between the preceding and the following like a elder always say something widely awake before his fancy story.
Chapter Three
The influence
3.1 The pros and cons
The book Walden has a powerful impact on the human history no matter in the 19th century or today. Whoever really takes some time for reading will definitely benefit. We have to discuss the pros and cons because a good book or theory always have support and oppose. As a supporter I prefer to look at the problem of dialectical all the time like I said before. I believe it can help us to be a better understanding of his work.
The two point which reflected in the book has caught people`s universal thinking. The first one is the relationship between human and nature. Thoreau saw a lot of potential pitfall that is disafforestation ,water and soil loss and the contempt of natural under the industrial civilization development. Human doesn`t respect the nature, they have no idea when it would pay back. In 100 years after the book , they all became a reality. London smog incident, Los Angeles photochemical smog episode, Donora incident15... tens of thousands of people was killed by these accidents, who would be the next ? The second point is the relationship between people and society. Thoreau had distinguished himself as a recluse in some degree. Noise and fickleness society was bad for our mind and body development , an independent person needs a clear mind to think and grow. People has already forgotten the way to judge the truth or false ,independent thinking and the voice of protest have been mute. Fraud and fallacy come to the mainstream and make them sleepwalk through their life. How
pathetic! What is society ? Society is a name of people getting together. Society serves the people ,not people living for it . People doesn't realize the importance of new idea and liberation of thought by Thoreau when he was alive ,but after that, here comes and still working. Mahatma Gandhi was affected by Thoreau`s work Civil Disobedience , then became the great example of nonviolent resistance. Martin Luther King applied some of the Thoreau`s idea to his civil rights movement in United States. 'Thoreau is a wise guy just as fish owns water ,bird owns wing, cloud owns sky. 'the poet Hai Zi16said.
Now, I`ll talk about the voice of criticism in short .Each great person has his day to coming down from high, including Thoreau. He is the man who practised transcendentalism, lighted the darkness and built a new utopia, but we still could find some of negative things from him. Thoreau was easy to deny something as a paranoid. We all know we should consider everything in both sides, not act impetuously. It is said in chapter one:
the old have no very important advice to give the young, their own
experience has been so partial, and their lives have been such miserable
failures, for private reasons, as they must believe.(Walden) The word like this in the book can mislead a lot of people who really adores Thoreau. And that is an unfortunate thing. Perhaps it has been referring to Emerson, but for Thoreau the advice from elder is pale and insignificance, without any worthiness , which as a sign of egotism. In chapter Baker Farm, he questioned the life of John field who is the owner of Baker Farm. Because John put up with hardships and worked hard all day. Thoreau obviously forgot that John was a husband with whole family. He had mouth to feed and duty on his shoulder, but Thoreau himself was alone. That means Thoreau didn`t worry about the things which John did. It is great for a man who has no trouble all alone so that he could be absorbed in philosophy. Civil Disobedience is also a great one, it works on condition of Thoreau`s against for federal government with refused to fulfill the obligations of citizenship.
But the things is that is this a deny of established government ?
Some people say Thoreau made a show ,otherwise why he chosen to move to the forest on America independence day? After we sure for Thoreau's great idea and achievement, we'd better calm down and think one question. Can we really refuse modern civilization ? Solitude can really make the people more free ? Does Human in today is just a animal which lived in city or a lonely life wandered in countryside?17So far we have two sides for Thoreau and his Walden. It is much important that we have to study with reasonable and practical
3.2 Learning from the book
One time, I rode my steel horse to a lane next to the White Deer Plain in a dark night almost dawn. It was utter darkness so that I can`t find my hand. I saw a shimmering light in the distance then sank in thought . Guilty soul in the darkness, and the real sinner is make darkness18.I finally understand our civilization is nothing but just the night lighted up by someone. Return to the original nature and innocence doesn't mean abandon the modern life by lighting a candle , close contacts or live in a wasteland with neighborless. This is a world that appreciation of ugly, people follow some kind of screwy rule. On the contrary, Self-disciplined, brave, innovation, independent were not appreciated fully. People think that something was done by the majority is the best choice and everything going to runs well.In order to get approval, the individual is willing to abandon, with intelligence for the sense of belonging that let a person feel safe.19After graduated from University, We should have made ourselves a legend when we were young .But we choose to associate with desire and sniff the stink of money. Then gives it a beautiful label, This is our normal life! you don`t have a choice! However ,we do have a choice ,look at great Thoreau , his work
and idea last until now. Those who looked down upon him in that time just disappear into history and no one will remember. Go and do the things you like, to reassess your life and work, to question the world, and find out the inside yourself. We need let the so-called tradition go. Do not seek quick success and instant benefits. Like marriage should be the fruit of romantic after a long time ,but people treat it as a calendar to make so many people a burden. Job should have achieved ones value, but most people not enjoy their job and doing what they dislike. A house should be a shelter from the storm, but now it becomes flashy without substance and makes people heavily in debt...When things far from the original meaning, we must consider it again and figure out the good wish at the start, but just go with it. Do the masters of life and love it because we live only once. If you ask me what can I learn from this book ,
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.(Walden)
3.3 The New Waldenlism
The New Waldenlism in my mind is simple but profound. I called it with this name that because of the following reason. Even a good theory also need to improve. Thoreau`s philosophy can absolutely to the next level through descendants `s improve and complete. As I think a great philosophy concept is easy-to-understand and can arouse sympathy. Today, Walden pond is a symbol of everyone`s inside heart. What is Utopia? It is an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal. Thoreau just did a bold attempt then people crazy on him. I treat Walden as some kind of belief and give it a new definition. No matter whether you let a train pass through it or not, build a bigger cabin than Thoreau`s, just keep your water clean and limpid, what does it matter if there has other things? This is the New Waldenlism. It request us to control your natural desires, put away your prejudice and live your life with innocence. If you treat everything without bias ,you will find its more easy to get alone with people ,and things become simple. Like a child simile just because he want to. Let us redefine the meaning of success. what is success? I will answer you in this way ,do whatever you。