Henry David Thoreau was a man who expressed his beliefs of society, government, and mankind while living under his own self-criticism. Thoreau believed he had manyweaknesses which made him a failure. This strong disapproval of himself contrasted withhis powerful words and strong actions. These contradictions led to some of Thoreau'sgreatest pieces of literature.Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817, in hisgrandmother's house. Thoreau believed that Concord was, "the most estimable place in allthe world, and in the very nick of time, too" (Harding 4). Though Thoreau was born in"the era of good feeling," his family experienced many misfortunes, politically, physically,and financially (4). Thoreau's father, John, was a small, quiet, man who got along withHenry on the surface, but it seems that the two never quite understood each other'sdesires. He had weakening health and this caused the family's financial strain (11). As forJohn and Henry's relationship, Harding says, "Their relationship was one based more ontoleration than on enthusiasm" (9). Cynthia Thoreau, Henry's mother, was more of anoutspoken dynamic person. Though the family was poor, she was known to always haveenough for her children and her neighbors as well. It is apparent that both parents passedon their love of nature to their children (9,10).After Henry's birth, John was forced to sign over the family home in Boston. The familywas forced to move as they would many more times to come. On October 12, 1817,Henry was christened after his uncle David Thoreau, who had recently died (11). At theage of five Henry started school. This was the age that he went to visit his grandmotherfor first time and had his first visit to Walden Pond. Thoreau remembers, "...one of themost ancient scenes stamped on the tablets of my memory.... That sweet solitude my spiritseemed so early to require at once gave the preference to this recess among the pines,where a...
