The literary pieces Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, and Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, by Stephan Crane, examine

the issues of poverty and luxury and reflect their significance to ones life through the aspects of philanthropy, materialism, and selfreliance. Walden, written as a philosophical book, explores the idea of simplifying ones life, and ridding ones self from the pressures of materialism and commitment. The story of Maggie also shows these ideas, but through the very different lens of poverty, where having more is better, and where people dont always have the power to change their life. The two texts both examine how ones desire to help others is rooted in ones need to help oneself. Throughout Walden, Thoreau reflects on the selfishness of philanthropy, and how humans seldom help others without thinking about the benefits to themselves. According the Thoreau, ones intentions to assist people in need are based on ones own desire to feel charitable and important, making our selfishness overrate philanthropic actions (Thoreau 63). He continues to comment on his personal dislike of charity and the idea of it being nothing more then a means of self-help. Thoreau felt that philanthropy was wasted on the poor, and that people should not merely abandon it to them, for they did not know what to do with it (63). This idea of practicing charity simply for a heroic image is also shown in Maggie: A Girl of the Streets when Maggie approaches a clergyman and he avoids her to save his respectability. His action reflects the same sense of selfishness as Walden explores, because if it hurts him, it didnt matter that there was a soul before him that needed saving (Crane 87). This clergyman was considered charitable just because he placed the title on himself, and not because he had the intention to help other people. This take on

philanthropy shows how people care more about themselves and their power than about the ones who really need help. The story of Maggie shows the selfish side of philanthropy, but also touches on the fact that the people who give charity to the poor are usually poor themselves. Beggars in the book would go to the wealthy streets and come back with a small sum in pennies, but that little money was not given to them by the wealthy, instead, they received charity by persons who did not make their homes in the vicinity (Crane 43). Thoreaus preaching was that there was no one who would give charity without a reward, but this aspect of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets shows that people who really know what it means to be in need have the heart to assist others. These texts both analyze the ways of philanthropy, and conclude that the people who are thought to be charitable are not, but those who one would never think to ask for help are the ones who really care. These two books also focus on the act of constantly rethinking ones life, and changing the way that one looks at material items in ones situation. The idea of improvement in Walden revolves around the need to rid ones self from unneeded material belongings. Thoreau deems many of the so called comforts of life as unnecessary and a hindrance to the elevation of mankind (19). He sees owning more then one needs as a handicap rather then a luxury, saying that when a person gains a new possession, he may not be the richer but the poorer for it, and it be [the possession] that has got him (30). He preaches that owning things only creates a greater burden on ones life, and takes away from the independence and freedom that a person has. His writing portrays the negative side of materialism, showing it as having a surplus of things that only weighs one down. 2

Maggie: A Girl of the Streets also focuses on materialism as a way to change ones life, but the value of material items for a person living in poverty is drastically different than Thoreaus opinion. For Maggie, achieving a better life would mean an increase in wealth and material possessions, instead of an alienation from them. She feels that owning fancy and ornate belongings is the only way to make her life better and gain respect from her lover, Pete. When Maggie looks upon him, she notices almost immediately that his elegant occupation brought him, no doubt, into contact with people who had money and manners (53). She falls under the impression that to win over him, she must impress him with her own elegance, and spends some of her weeks pay in the purchase of flowered cretonne for a lambrequin (53). But despite all of her troubles, Pete barely notices what she had done, bringing Thoreaus ideas to even a situation of poverty. Walden emphasizes the fact that one did not need material possessions to be happy, and here in Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, it becomes evident that this stands true for even the most unfortunate. The possessions in Maggies life consisted of the pure basics to sustain her, from table and chairs to cooking supplies, but did little to provide her comfort or enjoyment. Throughout the story, Maggie is under the impression that gaining more material things will make her more desirable and completely change her life. She began working as a prostitute because of their visible wealth and glamour, something that she had never had. Her drive was just to become one of the fancy women that she had never had the chance to be, and buy more in the process to become more. The contrasting ideas in Walden show that in different situations, people have different necessities, but in the end, it always comes down to the fact that owning less is better.

The biggest difference between Walden and Maggie is the drive for self-reliance as a way to gain control of ones life. To Thoreau, self-reliance is becoming fully independent with ones thoughts and actions, and that to do so, one must fully alienate oneself from others and their assistance. He had this self-reliance because he was in the social and economic position to be in power of his choices and options. Maggie did not have the option to become self-reliant, since she was pushed down so far by her family and the stereotypes that society had placed on her. To her, self-reliance was just getting by, whether it is with help from others or not. She tried to fend for herself, but her options in life, becoming either a prostitute or a factory worker, were so limited that in the end she always had to rely on others. It was Thoreaus opinion that everyone could become self-reliant, however impoverished they were, and that all people needed it to become in control of their lives. Walden states that people should not look for help from their elders, going so far as to criticize past generations for learning nothing from their lives and having no very important advice to give their young (11). His belief was that the present generation knew more than the past ones, and that people should not rely on the so-called wise elders for help. This idea is different in Maggie though, for she finds refuge with the old lady in her tenement when no one was there for her. The old lady did not have any moral standin[g], and went against Thoreaus description of the nave past generation (Crane 84) Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and Walden are drastically different pieces of writing in their settings and social viewpoints, but they both focus on the same ideas of moral philanthropy, materialism, and self-reliance. Thoreaus writing connects the need 4

for independence and the natural selfishness of the human race to all of its actions, while Crane delves into the more realistic aspect of poverty and shows how people can go against the odds and social stereotypes. The aspects of poverty and luxury tie into ones need to help others, and change ones life for the better, while impacting themselves and others to improve society.

Works Cited:

Crane, Stephen. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. Print. Vol. 1 of Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. 2 vols.

Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003. Print. Vol. 1 of Walden and Civil Disobedience. 2 vols.