high expectations of society and other people.These let-downs not only made him disgusted with society and the world, but also himselfbecause he could not change it (16).Due to Thoreau's low self-opinion he had broad mood swings. Excerpts from his journalshow this broad contrast clearly. January 6, 1857; IX, 206, "The storms are happy,Concord is happy, and I am happy too," This shows some acceptance of himself when itcame to his intelligence and talent, but his unsettled opinion and unattainable standards canbe seen in his writing from the very next day, "In the street and in society I am almostinvariably cheap and dissipated, my life is unspeakably mean" (25). Thoreau, like anyartist, would torture himself through extensive internal trials. These extremes of both hisconscious and unconscious mind make up Walden (25).Walden is a great classic of American literature and one of two of Thoreau's publishedpieces of literature. The other one is A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. Bothof these classics stress the author's love of nature and found their beginnings at WaldenPond. Thoreau has other books that are collection of essays, lectures, various excursions,and Reform Papers (Johnson 3).A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers is written about the boat trip Thoreau andhis brother took on the rivers Concord and Merrimack. Thoreau began writing this afterhis brothers death. Emerson is also considered one of his inspirations for writing this book.He included much of his travel knowledge, and things he read at Harvard such as pastoralprayers. His journey on the river taken with his brother is quoted in one essay, "...he thusdepicted the journey as a withdrawal from the village to an unspoiled poetic world wherehe and his brother achieve a closer communion with nature" (Johnson 3). His two earlierexcursions were, "A Walk to Wachusett" and "A Winter Walk" which were published inthe Dial. In these writings, Thoreau used this trip as a ...
