Walden: Narrative Tone

          Since I am presenting on Walden this week I decided to save the profundity for class and organize this blog around rather glib observations, specifically the narrative tone of the book. This was my second time reading the thing and my first time really thinking about what I was reading; whereas the first time I merely scanned over pages with the indifferent eye of a CSULA undergrad. My close reading, however, failed to change my original opinion of the work and especially my opinion of the narrator of Walden: a self-righteous, egotistical, overzealous penny-pinching fanatic with the charisma of a cold sore, who constantly moralizes and tactlessly shoves his extreme views down the reader's throat. 

          While reading Walden I couldn't shake the feeling of one being lectured at, condescendingly, by a puritanical know-it-all who would look down on me for wearing clothes unadorned with rips and patches. Also implicit in the narrator's tone was a sense of superiority and/or elitism, as if only the great prophet Thoreau knows what is best for mankind. And prophet is indeed what Thoreau takes himself for, evidenced by his regular use of biblical references as well as references from various other holy books and holy men. I found it to be a bit much; I wonder if it caused any eye-rolling in its own time, or if this style of narration was the norm for the 1850's. 

          Being a fan of Emerson's writing, I found myself comparing their two styles while reading Walden. Emerson, in my opinion, always comes across as approachable and charming; he doesn't make the reader feel stupid, lazy or ignorant--all feelings that Thoreau excels at instilling in his audience. Emerson comes across more like a father giving advice, patiently and good-naturedly, while Thoreau, with the coldness of a Victorian schoolmaster, pontificates and finger wags with his words. It's a wonder these two men were so close; I'm sure the charismatic Emerson had to do more than his share of damage control for this uncouth fellow-transcendentalist.