Nature Literature discussion

March 19 [1841]. Friday. No true and brave person will be content to live on such a footing with his fellow and himself as the laws of every household now require. The house is the very haunt and lair of our vice. I am impatient to withdraw myself from under its roof as an unclean spot. There is no circulation there; it is full of stagnant and mephitic vapors.

I wondered what prompted this entry, and did a brief search.

From "Reimagining Thoreau:"
By March 1841 the pressures of vocation had become acute for Thoreau as the school he conducted with his brother wound to a close and he dallied with buying the Hollowell farm only to decide at the last that he "must not lose any of [his] freedom by being a farmer and land holder. Most who enter on any profession are doomed men."

Thoreau joined the Emerson household in April 1841, just before his 24th birthday. He moved to Walden Pond in 1845 (aged 27).

Becky-- thanks for following up with an explanatory note. I barely recall that part of Thoreau's biography. He almost fell into being a farmer. I feel quite tied to our farm. I get Thoreau's sentiments in one way , but in another way our farm here has been such a balm to us these last few years as the world has gone crazy. I know my neighbors feel the same.

I agree, Sher. Yes, livestock tie you to the land and for someone like Thoreau, who clearly had a wandering soul, I can see how it would feel as though an infringement of your freedoms. I guess it's just in the way you look at it: I enjoy looking after the critters and feel a different sense of freedom living on acreage.

Although admittedy, there are times when I look forward to a week's vacation where I don't have to get up with the sunrise to ensure everyone's fed! ;)