Independence and freedom of the individual helps people to live lives that are free from social expectations. Freedom and independence means that people will not be forced to live in a certain way because they will be allowed to pursue what is important to them. This shows that individual freedom and independence is very essential. Through freedom, people can be supported to do many new things without being told that whatever they are doing is undoable or wrong. They can be supported through the provision of basic requirements such as healthcare and financial requirements.
Independence is very essential to people in any society. This is because, independence is needed for people to be free (Danny, 2004, pp 15). It is also the key to positive change among many people in the society. People require individual independence in order to gain personal freedom which will enable them to be self-reliant, strong as well as be in a position to take care of themselves (Danny, 2004, pp 18). In addition, freedom and independence will help people get rid of government dependence and dependence on other authorities. Through individual freedom and independence, people will also steadily move towards self-reliance. However, before individuals gain freedom, they must have some independence. Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasize on the independence and freedom of the individual. Although they emphasize on the independence and freedom of the individual in different ways, they inform people that freedom and independence is essential for all people in the society. This paper will explain the contrast between how Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin presents their visions of the individual or personal freedoms.
Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau had different visions of the individual freedoms. Benjamin Franklin contributed greatly in the struggle for independence from the British Rule (Walter, 2003, pp 27). His first vision for independence was that the colonies would later become part of a big reunion in Britain and enable all the people to be equal. Through his powerful vision for independence and freedom, Benjamin Franklin made-up the American dream. In doing so, he pioneered the spirit of self-help among the American people and this led to independence (Walter, 2003, pp 29). Franklin’s vision for independence can be linked to his personal and social circumstances. For example, Franklin only had three years of formal training and thus he had to teach himself all that he had known. Henry Thoreau on the other hand was an author and through his writing, he was able to enlighten people on the issues of emancipation and freedom. He also educated people on individual resistance to unjust state and this helped people to gain individual freedom and independence (Henry, 2005, pp 56). Thoreau had the vision that a good government was the one that did not excessively govern its people. In his essay Walden, Thoreau gave a detailed explanation of his experiment of personal independence and self-reliance that he had gone through. Although Thoreau gave an explanation of his experience on individual independence, Benjamin Franklin took part in fighting for independence and this shows that they contrasted on their emphasis for individual independence and freedoms.
Another contrast between Franklin and Thoreau on their emphasis for individual independence is that while Franklin gave an inspiration message on independence by contributing on the writing of the independence charter, Thoreau offered his advice through his books. Franklin believed that it was the responsibility of every individual person to question authority while Thoreau emphasized on people’s resistance to authority. Franklin informed people that it would be hard for a government that would tax its people a tenth of their income because each individual person would have the right to question the deeds of the government (Walter, 2003, pp 37). Thoreau on the other hand encouraged people to resist unjust government. Thoreau’s vision of individual freedom is permanently fixed on the consciousness of the American people. Thoreau recorded the philosophy and facts that he gained when he was living alone. This shows that although Franklin and Thoreau emphasized on individual independence, they had different visions on how people were supposed to fight for their individual independence and freedom.
Another contrast between how Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasized on individual freedom and independence is seen in their different perceptions of freedom. According to Franklin, his country would be found wherever there was liberty. However, he warned that liberty is dangerous although it is the safest thing people should have. He explained that only righteous people are able to enjoy freedom. When people become dishonest and vicious, they need leaders to guide them and therefore they cannot enjoy freedom. Franklin explained that people did not need to give out their essential freedom only to purchase a short-lived safety. On the other hand, Thoreau said explained that people need to hang together but most assuredly, they will hang separately (Henry, 2005, pp 66). There was need for people to be simple and to nature themselves by dispelling the clouds which hang over their brows and taking a little life into their pores. In addition, there was no need for anybody to live as an overseer of the poor people but each of the people had to endeavor to become one of the most important people in the world.
Another contrast between how Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasizes on personal freedoms lies on their visions about hard work. Franklin believed that individual people needed to work hard in order to gain wealth and live a free and independent life. Franklin also believed in the idea of a self-made man which meant that every person could be successful in life by grabbing the opportunities that came their way through hard work. Franklin’s vision in hard work was influenced by his personal experience because he had begun his printing work at an early age (Edmund, 2002, pp 123). Hard work furthered people in the society and also affected their financial and social status as citizens. Every individual person had to covet and work to gain wealth and status. Through hard work, individual people would be able to gain personal freedom and independence. Thoreau also believed in hard work but he contrasted with Franklin on various issues. First, Thoreau believed in agrarian work which would help people to gain independence and personal freedom (Thoreau, pp 28). Thoreau also felt that hard work depended with people’s reconnection with one’s nature and self. As a result, he felt that people deserved to do a little work to survive in the society and earn a little profit. This would help them to live an independent and free life.
Benjamin Franklin and Henry Thoreau had different visions of the individual or personal freedoms. They were influenced by personal and social circumstances to interpret the idea of personal freedoms. Benjamin Franklin acted as an enlightenment thinker who had contrasting values with Henry Thoreau who was a Romantic thinker. Thoreau felt that independence and freedom did not necessary mean living as a solitary person. In this connection, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Thoreau differed on issues such as work, conformity and prosperity when presenting their visions of the individual or personal freedoms.
References:
Danny, F. Democracy's Signature: Benjamin Franklin and the Declaration of Independence. New York. Rosen Pub Group, 2004.
Edmund, S. Benjamin Franklin. Yale: Yale University Press, 2002.
Henry, D. Walden. New York: Digireads, 2005.
Thoreau, D. Walden & Other Writings (Modern Library of the World’s Best Books. New York: Modern Library, 1992.
Walter, I. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. New York: Simon and Schutter publishers, 2003.
