THOREAU VS.

CRANE
Jasmine Scott Blue Group

In Henry David Thoreaus Walden and Stephen Cranes Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, they agree and disagree on their views. They have similar opinions of philanthropy and material acquisitions while they contradict each other on their thoughts on control of ones life paths and self-reliance. In Cranes Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, an Irish family immigrates to America and lives in a tenement district in New York. Maggie becomes a prostitute and commits suicide to escape the horrors of her life while her brother, Jimmie, is molded into a hardened violent man who cares for only himself. Their little brother and father die, as would most people in that environment while their mother continues to being a raging drunk who doesnt care about them. In Thoreaus Walden, he creates an experiment to see if he can live in Walden Pond at minimal cost and be independent society. He attempts to be self-reliant by building his housing and living off his land; gives advice to others to do the same. They both are able to teach others their views and debate how one should perfect their life. Throughout their work they discuss the idea of philanthropy, writing that Thoreau and Crane believe that philanthropy is a good idea however it is not executed properly by philanthropists. Crane writes about a priest who is telling his hearers just where he calculate[s] they st[an]d with the Lord. Many of the sinners [are] impatient They [are] waiting for soup-tickets (46). The man preaches to the poor; telling them how to fix their lives while all they really need is soup to stop them from starving to death. The people do not care if the Lord does not approve of their life style; all they care about is getting something to keep them alive for the night. Thoreau points out that philanthropy it is greatly overrated; and it is our selfishness which overrates it [and] surrounds mankind with the remembrance of his own castoff griefs as an atmosphere, and calls it sympathy (63). Thoreau states that philanthropy is a lousy idea because people are philanthropist to help themselves. He believes that helping the poor is a nice thing but giving the poor what they dont need, so that you can
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feel better about yourself, is unnecessary. Most philanthropists try to help other to better them by giving away useless things. People help others to make themselves feel better because they feel like they are making a difference when in reality they arent. Philanthropists give things away that the needy have no use for. One must help themselves before they try to help others. Both writers stress that philanthropist need to worry about themselves and not others if they arent going to give them something that could benefit them. It is better to make positive changes in your life than to attempt to feel better by giving awa y things you dont want to needy people who cant use them. In Thoreau and Crane see eye to eye on their ideas of material acquisitions; agreeing that the theory of materialism is unnecessary. Thoreau writes that a farmer has got his house, he may not be the richer but the poorer for it and it be the house that has got him (30). Thoreau believes that the house like all property is a burden and he is poorer for it because he now has to take care of the house he lives in. The house has got him because now he has to pay for and maintain the house and here is little to no way of getting rid of the house that entraps the farmer. When Thoreau acquires a piece of limestone he uses as a paper weight her writes that Men have become the tools of their tools (33). The limestone requires more work than it is worth and he throws it out. He expresses that tools require more to keep them in shape. Instead of making life easier, they create extra unnecessary work because they need to be maintained keep it looking nice. This makes men work hard for things that are supposed to work for them. Crane writes that Maggie purchase[s a] flowered cretonne for a lambrequin [for Pete] however, Pete [does] not appear and then [he] vanished, without having glanced at the lambrequin (54). Crane expresses that material items are pointless and unnecessary because people dont notice when others acquire new possessions. Pete didnt come over the first time to see the lambrequin and when he eventually came he didnt notice that it existed. Maggie saved up money that she could have

used to buy food instead of impressing Pete. Later when Pete arrives the midst of the floor [is] strewn with wreckage. The curtain at the window had been pulled by a heavy hand and hung by one tack, dangling to and fro (55). Maggies mom later tears down the lambrequin and ruins the house. Crane shows that there is no reason to spend extra money on material items because they end up ruined and money is wasted. Both writers state that material possessions are not worth it and the money could be used for better purposes. While Crane and Thoreau agree on many subjects through their work they also oppose each other on certain topics. Their thoughts differ on the idea the ability to control ones life path. Crane writes that Maggie grew to be a most rare and wonderful production of a tenement district none of the dirt of Rum Alley seemed to be in her veins (13). Maggie has become a beautiful person even though she lives in a horrible place. Crane expresses that people have no control over their own lives because even though Maggie is beautiful she was born into a terrible life. The dirt of Rum Alley, the other immigrants that live near her, their greediness and loving personalities didnt rub off on her. If Maggie was able to control her life path she would be able to move up the social ladder. Thoreau writes, that he would have each one be very careful to find out and pursue his own way, and not his father's or his mother's or his neighbor's instead (59). Thoreau believes that people should choose their own life paths and do what they think is best because they have their fate in their hands. Thoreau was able to change he life when he moved away from other people and lived on his own. Unlike Crane, Thoreau believes that all people have the opportunity to control their life paths and choose what they will turn out to be in the future. Thoreau believes that it is easy to set a future for yourself while Crane states that who you become is based on where you come from. In Cranes and Thoreaus writings they discuss the topic of self-reliance and disagree with each other on the possibility of being self-reliant.
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Crane writes that Maggie eyes had been plucked all look of self-reliance Her life was Petes and she considered (34 & 40). Maggie went from depending on her family to depending on Pete because her family disowned her leading her to never experiencing selfreliance. Maggies only attempt to be self-reliant failed; Maggie becomes a prostitute to support herself but she kills herself to end her misery. Through these scenes Crane is able to show that self-reliance is impossible. However; Thoreau attempts to prove that self-reliance is possible when he writes that For more than five years [he] maintained [his] self thus solely by the labor of [his] hands, and [he] found that, by working about six weeks in a year, [he] could meet all the expenses of living, (58). Thoreau was able to live off six weeks of salary by building his own house and growing his own food. He built his house from the trees on his land and he borrowed an axe from one of his friends. He demonstrates how easy it is for one to rely on his/her abilities and advises for everyone to be self-reliant. Crane believes that it is impossible to be self-reliant while Thoreau writes that self-reliance is crucial. Stephen Crane and Henry David Thoreau discuss their ideas on philanthropy, material acquisitions, fate versus choice and self-reliance in their works. They agree with each other on their ideas about philanthropy and materialism while they disagree on the ability to choose ones life path and self-reliance. In Cranes work, Maggie: A Girl of the Street, Crane shows how it is impossible to be self-reliant and chose ones destiny. He expresses that what happens is based off of community through his character Maggie. She becomes a prostitute because he lives in a slum in New York and later kills herself. In Thoreaus Walden he advises his readers to not be typical philanthropists and better ones self first. He also discusses his views on materialism and living simply and wisely by copying his way of life. Both writers provide insights about their life views and interesting points in their books.

Works Cited Page Thoreau, Henry David, and Jonathan Levin. "Econmy." Walden and Civil Disobedience. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. 7-65. Print. Crane, Stephen. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. New York City: Signet Classic, 1991. Print.