Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane: A Comparison of Ideas

Shifra Dayak

CAP English 9

Green Group

December 12, 2016


Henry David Thoreau, in Walden, and Stephen Crane, in Maggie: A Girl of the Streets,

share similar opinions on philanthropists, but have differing views on material acquisitions and

self-reliance. Walden is a narrative that describes the life of Henry David Thoreau, a

Massachusetts man who decides to move to a cabin in the woods and live in solitude. Thoreau

aims to live without unnecessary objects, useless luxuries, or help from others. During his time in

the wilderness, he records all he observes about human behavior, his experience of isolation, and

nature. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is a realist novella that tells the story of a naive girl named

Maggie who is raised in a harsh Lower East Side neighborhood. Maggie grows up neglected and

abused; she feels a need to escape her terrible situation. As a young adult, she meets a man

named Pete and begins dating him. Later, when Maggie and Pete separate, Maggie is forced into

prostitution. She then ends her life by committing suicide.

Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane have similar opinions on philanthropists. Both

authors believe that philanthropists only exhibit charitable behavior in order to improve their

own lives and boast about their good deeds; Thoreau and Crane also write that philanthropists

refrain from showing kindness in ways that are risky. In Walden, Thoreau states, A man is not a

good man to me because he will feed me if I should be starving, or warm me if I should be

freezing Philanthropy is not love for ones fellow-man in the broadest (60). These words

demonstrate Thoreaus opinion that acting as a philanthropist does not automatically make one a

good person, but rather, defines him/her as someone who loves others for his/her own benefit. To

further emphasize his thoughts, Thoreau writes that The philanthropist too often surrounds

mankind with the remembrance of his own cast-off griefs as an atmosphere, and calls it

sympathy (63-64). This statement describes how philanthropists unfairly attempt to receive
attention by complaining about their own struggles while disguising their behavior as sympathy

for the less fortunate. In Maggie: Girl of the Streets, Crane similarly describes a so-called

philanthropist as self-absorbed, writing, His beaming, chubby face was a picture of benevolence

and kind-heartedness. His eyes shone good will. But as the girl timidly accosted him, he gave a

convulsive movement and saved his respectability by a vigorous side-step (86-87). Cranes

words, like Thoreaus, reveal his view that philanthropists are only willing to help others if they

are not ruining their reputations or endangering themselves. Crane then writes of another

philanthropist, A tall young man, smoking a cigarette with a sublime air, strolled near the girl

He stared glassily for a moment, but gave a slight convulsive start when he discerned that she

was neither new, Parisian, nor theatrical (88). This example shows that philanthropists only

desire to be kind for their own benefit, and do not engage in charity if it does not improve their

status.

Thoreau and Crane, however, disagree about possessions and material acquisitions.

Thoreau believes that individuals should have as few things as possible, and live simply and

resourcefully; he disapproves of those who fill their lives with extravagant belongings. He notes

that, Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not

indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind (16). Thoreau claims that a

person can live much more comfortably and in an advanced fashion if he/she gets rid of his/her

indulgences. Thoreau then describes his personal experience with useless possessions, writing, I

had three pieces of limestone on my desk, but I was terrified to find that they required to be

dusted daily, when the furniture of my mind was all undusted still, and I threw them out the

window in disgust (32). This anecdote emphasizes Thoreaus opinion that material acquisitions
obstruct one from thinking and learning and are not necessary to be intelligent or content.

Stephen Crane, on the other hand, does not disagree with owning possessions, but rather,

believes that they can be helpful in making ones life better. In Maggie: A Girl of the Streets,

Crane writes of the main character, She spent some of her weeks pay in the purchase of

flowered cretonne for a lambrequin. She made it with infinite care and studied it with painful

anxiety from different points in the room (54). Maggies actions reflect Cranes view that

showy objects are not dishonorable, as they can give a person satisfaction and confidence, as

well as give others a positive impression of him/her. Crane then adds that [Maggie] began to

note, with more interest, the well-dressed women she met on the avenues She craved those

adornments of person which she saw every day on the street, conceiving them to be allies of vast

importance to women (59). As he describes Maggies admiration of the rich, well-dressed

women, Stephen Crane further expresses his view that a materialistic lifestyle and a longing for

luxurious objects are not shameful, since adornments are deemed as important for someone

who has never had them.

Henry David Thoreau and Stephen Crane also have different opinions on self-reliance.

Thoreau believes that individuals should be self-reliant and attempt to live with little to no help

from others. He writes of his fellow humans in Walden, But alas! We do like cowbirds and

cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built, and cheer no traveller with

their chattering and unmusical notes (39). Through this analogy and criticism of society,

Thoreau states his opinion that people look to their neighbors too much, and do not accomplish

anything from their repeated pleas for assistance. He goes on to write, Every New Englander

might easily raise all his own breadstuffs in this land of rye and Indian corn, and not depend on
distant and fluctuating markets for them. Yet so far are we from simplicity and independence

that fresh meal is rarely sold in the shops. (53). Thoreau explains that people can easily be

self-reliant and provide for themselves without much trouble, rather than depending on

untrustworthy sources; however, since self-determination and plain living are not emphasized in

society, individuals require unnecessary assistance from others. Crane, on the other hand, thinks

that reliance on others is necessary for people to survive; he also believes many are not able to be

self-reliant and are forced to look to others for help. In Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, he writes of

an old womans response to a fight between Jimmie and Maggies parents, writing, Eh,

Jimmie, its cursed shame, she said. Go, now, like a dear an buy me a can, an if yer mudder

raises ell all night yehs can sleep here (43). By describing the old womans kind actions,

Crane makes a point that many are unable to fend for themselves, and therefore, it is good to help

others. To further supplement this opinion, he later describes the old womans actions toward

Maggie, writing, So, she cried, ere yehs are back again, are yehs? An dey ve kicked yehs

out? Well, come in an stay wid me teh-night. I aint got no moral standin (84). Crane believes

that it is necessary to rely on others as Maggie does by seeking refuge with the old woman

when one reaches a low point in his/her life and cannot do anything to improve his/her status or

condition.

While Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden, and Stephen Crane, author of Maggie: A

Girl of the Streets, agree in their opinions on philanthropists, showing that they only practice

kindness for self-benefit, they disagree on the topics of material acquisitions and self-reliance.

Thoreau dislikes extravagant possessions while Crane does not mind them, and Thoreau strongly

advises self-reliance while Crane finds it acceptable to rely on others. Both authors express these
views in detail in their respective works, either through descriptions of their own lives and

observations on society, or through fictional but realistic descriptions of a character.

 Works Cited

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

Thoreau, Henry David. "Economy." Walden. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003. Print.