“I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude” (Thoreau 101). Thus does Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862) summarize the philosophy that inspired his famous experiment: In a tiny cabin by Walden Pond in Massachusetts, Thoreau managed to live by the work of his hands for two years, from July 1845 to September 1847. Though he wrote considerably, Thoreau’s Walden, a record of his years alone, is far better-known than the other products of his literary career. Besides being a practical guide to self-sustainment, Walden philosophizes at length on the importance of solitude and love of nature. Though Thoreau’s way of life at Walden lacks a Catholic understanding of charity, in several ways he retains a surprisingly Catholic perspective of man and how man should live.

Significantly, Thoreau reminds his readers of the importance of silence, solitude, and contemplation. The world abhors this recognition. The vast majority of Earth’s population dedicates itself to material goods: money, phones, food, bodily comfort, things. Yet Thoreau defies this norm. At Walden, he separates himself from the Thing Craze—and as a result, he can enjoy the beauty of creation undistracted. Rather than enslaving his intellectual and spiritual powers to the insatiable Thing Craze, Thoreau instead subjects his material desires to reason, through which he can understand the distinction between necessity and excess. In his own words, “not till we have lost the world…do we begin to find ourselves” (130).

Yet Walden lacks something. Living alone, Thoreau cannot fulfill the irrepressible need of human nature to help others. From a Catholic viewpoint, God not only allows but even expects people to use the talents that He gave them for the good of others. Fundamentally, the Church is an institution of helpers, an intertwinement of saints and saint-hopefuls, as saints pray for Church Militant and Suffering and the faithful support each other on their spiritual journeys. Without this mutual empathy, the Church would dissolve into another Protestant sect whose members all try to find their own salvation. At Walden this essential element of Christianity is missing: though Thoreau is evidently very physically and intellectually capable, his energy and genius are directed solely towards his experimental retreat. He even admits his personal apathy towards charity: “While my townsmen and women are devoted in so many ways to the good of their fellows…I have tried [this pursuit]…and, strange as it may seem, am satisfied that it does not agree with my constitution” (52). In this way, life at Walden does not conform to the ideal Christian life.

To Thoreau’s credit, however, he displays an extraordinarily Catholic work ethic. When he works, he works hard, but he clearly perceives the value of recreation. Thoreau meticulously cares for his beans and his little property—rather than relying on servants, which he could have done as a rich man—yet saves time for contemplation and pure enjoyment of nature. Similarly, Holy Mother Church has always encouraged industriousness while understanding her children’s need for rest. Catholics thus reserve physical labor for six days a week. In short, Thoreau exemplifies the philosophy contained in the saying “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

On the main, Thoreau’s view of the human being strongly correlates with the Catholic perspective. Looking beyond the body, Thoreau sees the mind and soul and attempts to give each the proper amount of attention. He gives his body the bare necessities, meanwhile expanding his mind through study of classical literature. In his words, “[t]he student may read Homer of Aeschylus in the Greek without danger of dissipation or luxuriousness, for it implies that he in some measure emulate their heroes” (73). Though Thoreau’s opinions are flawed[1], he sees more to the human being than merely the body, displaying an unusual depth of perception.

On the main, Thoreau illustrates life as life is meant to be. He defies the world and demonstrates what it means to be truly human, to let intellect and will control one’s actions instead of allowing the passions to become the will. Unfortunately, Thoreau’s talents are wasted on himself, yet through his balanced routine of work and recreation and his love of silent thought, Thoreau epitomizes the Catholic understanding of the human person. By allowing reason and spirituality to triumph over materiality, Thoreau shows that a man can be more than a passion-driven animal, that human nature can approach angelic nature. Separated from the insanity of the world, Thoreau is able to ponder, to appreciate, to wonder, to love, to be.

Note
1. [1]Thoreau was a transcendentalist and therefore did not ascribe to Catholic beliefs of the soul and its relationship with God (“Henry David Thoreau,” par. 1).

Works Cited
“Henry David Thoreau.” Britannica School. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2016, http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/72230#. Accessed 5 Nov. 2016.
Thoreau, Henry D. Walden. Empire Books, 2016.