Thoreaus Ideas of Sound Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Thoreaus Ideas of Sound - Essay Example The incident of hearing the railroad cars moving along the tracks prompted an extended meditation on the relationship of man to nature. Thoreau originally responded to the sounds of the train as normal people would. He was bothered by the disruption, feeling a great distaste for the loud, clanging noise. It bothered him that it was this train that disturbed the natural peace and quiet of Nature. These thoughts led to the concept that some aspects of the modern human world were not always horrible. The trains, for example, allowed people to get from one place to another, especially if they were great distances from each other.   However, almost in the same breath, Thoreau realises that trains have taken away from a more simple time of life, when travels were done by means of walking or loading wagons - methods that did not involve disturbing Nature. Furthermore, these methods of transportation actually allowed these people to become closer to Nature. It aggravated Thoreau to realise that while people had come along way in regard to technology and amazing inventions that they had really set themselves quite far back by abandoning Nature for these wonderful creations.  It became rather confusing trying to decipher how Thoreau really felt about the existence of the train, especially as it was so close to his new home. He understood its purpose in the modern world, yet he found it difficult to comprehend why people would want to trade such peaceful methods of transportation for something.