Civil Disobedience portrays the transcendental idea that the individual is more powerful than a group of people. The mass of men serve the State thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the same purpose as well.
Such command no more respect than men of straw, or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens (Thoreau, 7-10).
This means that the men or citizens serve the state, but not as men. Men being people with thoughts, a conscience, and ideas. But machines and wooden men on the other hand do not have these characteristics. Horses and dogs do not have the privilege to hold the characteristics of men either. These animals are used by ones higher than themselves and commanded to do chores without a thought or a question. The machines, wooden men, and animals are used in comparison to the men that serve the State. A wise man will only be useful as a man. And will not submit to be clay, and stop a hole to keep the wind away (Thoreau, 7-10).
Civil Disobedience portrays the transcendental idea that the individual is more powerful than a group of people. In his book he uses many examples and ideas that support this idea. He also uses many figurative languages such as similes, personification, and allusions as well.
In novel ‘My Brother Sam is Dead’ once a whole.....
