Solitude

Throughout "Solitude" Thoreau shifts his tone to express his feelings on changing subject matter. When discussing his life style or nature, Thoreau maintains a tone of admiration. He describes each detail carefully and takes time to describe all he sees. In contrast, while discussing society and the modern world, Thoreau's tone is sarcastic, bordering on condescending. He leaves out details and quickens his pace. In paragraph five, Thoreau spends more time painting the image of a tree that had been struck by lightning then he does listing places men like to congregate to. "The depot, the post-office, the bar-room, the meeting-house, the school-house, the grocery, Beacon Hill, or the five points, where most men like to congregate." (Thoreau 5) He skips any detail about these places or any possible benefit these places offer but spends much time describing the details and benefits of nature and the woods. Beyond the fact that this is done to show the listlessness of modern life, Thoreau makes it evident to the reader that he sees any apparent benefit of these places as unimportant and minuscule.

Thoreau's purpose in writing "Solitude" was to explain that though he is alone, he is not lonely and further, he is not missing out on anything by retreating to the woods. He accomplishes this by emphasizing the beauty, goodness and purity of nature and by explicating how he feels no loneliness. "I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude." (Thoreau 12) Thoreau explains that he doesn't feel alone, and enjoys his own company more than any others. Knowing the fast pace of society, Thoreau appeals to his audience's desire for rest by emphasizing how relaxing being alone is.

The intended audience is educated members of society. Thoreau references both Greek and Roman mythology under the pretense that the reader is familiar with both of these. He quotes Confucius on multiple occasions, also under the pretense that the reader is familiar with Confucius and his work. Because of the fact that Thoreau leads a completely different life than that of his audience, he strives not to isolate the audience by using the word "we" repeatedly. "Society is commonly too cheap. We meet at very short intervals, not having had time to acquire any new value for each other. We meet at meals three times a day, and give each other a new taste of that old musty cheese that we are." (Thoreau 13) Obviously, Thoreau considers himself a separate entity from society, but still includes himself with society, as not to isolate the audience. He manages to criticize without putting the audience on the offensive by claiming that he is one of them, he is also musty old cheese.