LITERATURE QUESTIONS
TRANSCENDENTALISM LITERATURE
|
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
|
|
|
a better government
|
|
|
an honest politician
|
|
|
increased and better commerce
|
|
|
an end to unjust taxation
|
Detailed explanation-1: -MAIN POINT 1: Thoreau prefers a laissez-faire government, but he does not call for abolishing government. Rather he wants a better government. “… I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.”
Detailed explanation-2: -Thoreau stated that people “cannot spare the protection of the existing government, and they dread the consequences to their property and families of disobedience to it”. So it makes sense that most people would not be willing to risk losing their property, family, or their life.
Detailed explanation-3: -Thoreau argues that a better government is one in which “majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience” (part 1, par. 4). Thoreau distinguishes the contrast between right and wrong as determined by the majority, and right and wrong as determined by each individual’s conscience.
Detailed explanation-4: -4a) summarize: what is Thoreau asking his readers to do? He is asking his readers to resist what they don’t believe in.
Detailed explanation-5: -Why does Thoreau lack confidence in government? (Thoreau believes that government is unlikely to act on the will of the people; that government is, “equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it.")