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The Construction of Self: Existential Elements in Thoreau's Walden

Author(s)

Yifan Zhao, Jin Xu*

Affiliation(s)

School of Foreign Languages, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

Henry David Thoreau's magnum opus, Walden, has long been acclaimed for its elegant language and rich implications, yet previous scholars have predominantly focused on its ecological research value. This paper aims to apply Jean-Paul Sartre's theories to explore the parallels between transcendentalism and existentialism, as well as their impact on the theme of self-construction within the text. It provides new perspectives and approaches to understanding Thoreau and Walden, attempts to bridge different philosophical schools. To some extent, it offers guidance on how individuals might seek to construct their selves.

Keywords

Walden; Thoreau; Transcendentalism; Sartre; Existentialism; Self-Construction

References

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