il Giardino Romantico

 

Move back in time, to when I was still an ignorant teenager, Thoreau was nothing but ‘the crazy dude that went off to live in solitude by some pond’.  It is probably not difficult for people of that age group to think this.   After all, adolescence is all about friends and group fun.  Therefore, I did not scoff at myself for ever thinking of Thoreau as ‘crazy’.  The process of mental and spiritual maturity is extremely interesting.  Now, life in Walden seems to me the ideal life that I would actually attempt to pursue.


American literature had always had less of an attraction to me than English literature.  They are newer and thus often contain less profound and inspiring material.  Yet, Thoreau had not only proved himself a worthy writer, and poet, but embraced the essence of the Romantic spirit thus making him the most inspiring romantic writer from the New World.


Walden consists of three different parts – the factual, the philosophical, and the poetic.  He kept a meticulous record of how he managed to live there economically.  Then he proclaimed his insight on the significance of social issues.  He then also drew poetic sketches of the natural surroundings around him.  Of course, these three overlap at times, but in such a way that they can be woven together to make a wonderful masterpiece.