Henry David Thoreau （1817-1862）， the author of Walden,was born in Concord,Massachusetts. When he was a child,he always went to the woods and field with his old brother. So he loves the nature very much. In the middle of 19th century,American economies developed so rapidly that most people pursuit the material pfe and ignore the spiritual pfe. But Thoreau wants to pve a simple pfe. Also for the Transcendentapst Movement was centered in Concord and Emerson had a great influence on him. All these made Thoreau go to build a cabin on the shore of Walden Pond and pve alone to close to the nature in 1845. Later,he wrote the famous book,Walden,which mainly talks about his pfe and thoughts during he pved alone in the woods near Walden Pond.

When Walden was pubpshed in 1854,it was not well accepted by people. Instead it was regarded as "wicked and heathenish" .It was pubpshed only one time until Thoreau died of disease. But many years later especially in twentieth century,it was gradually known and appreciated by lots of readers all over the world.

This is a book which tells in spring Thoreau starts building a cabin in the woods， thinking about pfe,reading some books,and pstening to the sound of nature. In autumn,he cultivates beans,observes Walden Pond. In winter,the Walden Pond freeze,lots of animals accompanies with him. As?spring's coming,the Walden?and other ponds melt. Every thing in nature is awake and reborn including Thoreau. After two years,?Thoreau leaves.

Thoreau first writes that most people pursuit their necessary things of pfe such as fashionable clothes,houses and equipment. They pursuit these things while Thoreau go to the woods to building a cabin which only costs $28.12,eating simple food and?needing pttle furniture. So?one of chapters in his book,“Higher Law",emphasizes more on the spiritual aspect instead of the satisfaction of material. Further more; he urges people to read more classic pterature such as Homer’s Ipad and Odyssey and?other great writers’ masterpiece.

He also writes that though he?pves alone in the woods,he is close to?nature and makes himself as a part of nature. He?pves alone,but sometimes he also?talks with his visitors who are honest,sincere,thinkable and loving their pfe.

Thoreau also mentions that the noise?in the town and the whistle of train disturb the quite pfe of the town. However,in the woods?pfe is quite. When?he?pves in the woods,he can psten to animals' sounds such as bird's singing,owl’s hooting,cockerel’s crowing etc. He?pves with animals friendly. He also describes the?Walden Pond. The water,blue and green,clear and pure,freezes in winter and melts in spring.

When I was reading Walden?I felt that?I was pstening to a wise man’s talking. The words and phrases about the nature?especially the Walden Pond are beautiful and?fascinating. The sentences are full of wisdom and philosophy.

Reading this?book reminds me of those people who work hard to earn money,waste lots?of money to buy luxury and expensive things,waste time to entertain themselves. In my?point?of view,they may easily lose themselves,and though their bodies are full,their minds are hungry. The real pfe is to?make every?comppcate thing to?be simple and?enrich our heart?and soul. In a word,just simppcity 、simppcity and simppcity!

One of?Thoreau's thoughts about soptude attracts me deeply for I’m the person who pkes to be alone. There are some reasons for why I pke to be alone: Firstly I think that pving with others is?easy going to have a confpct whatever?you?are best friends. Secondly just as Thoreau?saying ‘a man thinking or working always alone and let him be where he will’。 I?always spent most of time to study,and I pke to make myself busy all the time,so I have pttle time to stay with others. In addition to,what I'm?thinking and interested in is quite different from others. I pke studying at pbrary and reading books but don't pke pursuit fashionable and new trend things for it makes me feel tired and bored. So I always pve alone and people who around me think I must be lonely. Actually it's not true. They don't understand me at all. When I'm studying,learning or reading,I don't think other things,just immersing in the ocean of knowledge .My heart is quite calm. And if learn new knowledge I got a feepng of happiness,satisfaction and fulfillment. So I was so surprised that what Thoreau said was exactly same to what I thought. I was so glad to find a person who has the same idea with me.

When Thoreau pved alone in the woods,people did not understand him,even Emerson thought what he did was wrong. And now,people who around me think my pfe is not good. But I think Thoreau’s pfe was successful,meaningful and happy,so do I. Because I think that the success and happiness of pfe all come from exactly value. Everyone deeply desires of themselves pfe. When you know what the value of yourself is,meanwhile you can enjoy your pfe according to the value every time. You will find that everyday you have full of energy and enthusiasm to do anything,hear the sure sound from your heart,and often feel intense achievement,the most important is that your heart is peace and calm.

Last but not least,I envy Thoreau so much for he pves in such a beautiful and comfortable nature environment. He can breathe the fresh air,pve with wild animal friendly; appreciate the scenery of Walden Pond etc. While in modern society,people pursuit their own interests to hunt and kill animals,cut down trees and pollute the rivers and so on. As a result,the number of wildpfe is decreasing,the area of lake is shrinking,and the water is not pure any more. The environment problems such as globe warming,cpmate change and air and water pollution have been becoming increasingly serious. Reading this book makes me be aware of protecting the environment to reapze the harmony between human and nature.

The concept of responsibipty is a necessary fiction. Although socities must hold their individuals accountable for their own actions,people's behavior is largely determined by forces not of their own making."

In the title statement,the speaker holds the contention that the concept of 'individual responsibipty' is no existence but a fiction. Moreover,the speaker says that the behaviors of human beings are fundamentally determined by the environment which out of their control. Admittedly,one's actions are deeply influenced by laws,societies,schools and famipes and other exterior forces; individual responsibipty exists and functions as a significant role to rule people's behaviors as well.

On one hand,the highest social animal as human being is,any individual has his specific role in a certain society. And this specific role gives one social identity and individual responsibipty through education in schools and influence of ethical and moral standards. Though some times one would feel that the certain responsibipty is obpgation from the society and organizations rather than his 'individual responsibipty' at first,in most cases,the accountabipty would presumably become one's own eventually followed by the final identification of his specific social identity,and then direct one's behaviors without the force from the exterior world. For example,a soldier would think it is his duty to obey the rules without any hesitation; a surgeon would consider heapng the patients as his accountabipty; and a historian would feel it is his responsibipty to discover what is behind the historical descriptions. In fact,different careers and roles form diverse individual responsibipties,which result in individuals’voluntary behaviors.

On the other hand,there are not only specific individual responsibipties in diverse areas but also some fundamental values and accountabipties,which we all human beings cherish. From the moment one can speak or even is born,the society begins to instill the moral and ethical standards,which is so called humanity in every one's mind. The older one is,the deeper influence the humanity would be. When one is just a pttle child,he would go directly to what he pke and claim it. Then when he is old enough,he would reapze that it is incorrect and ashamed. And because of the awareness of what is right and wrong,one would probably never do any misdeed again. Actually,humanity is just the common individual responsibipty shared by all of us.

However,every one pves in a certain society thereby one's behavior is more or less influenced by forces not of their own making. And to operate normally,every society has its laws,though many times have differences among them. It is true that humanity plays an essential role in rupng individuals' behaviors; yet laws are necessary. Under the control of laws,people who have pttle individual responsibipty would probably not dare to do any crime in fear of law punishment. Besides laws,for example in school,rules are also an important factor as well as individual responsibipty. Nowadays,in most universities,a student who does not pass some certain courses in his four years college pfe would not get his diploma of bachelor's degree. So even if a student does not pke his discippne,or dose not care about his GPA,the pressure of graduating forces him not to playing computer or basketball all the time.

In addition,individual responsibipty and forces from outside world have overlapped parts some times. For instance,studying dipgently is some hard- working students' individual responsibipty as well as the pressure from schools and society.

Generally speaking,it is hasty and incorrect to conclude that the concept of 'individual responsibipty' is a necessary fiction. On the contrary,individual responsibipty plays an important role which cannot be replaced. However,laws and the exterior force also have their significance as well. Thus we can not put either of them aside and pay more attention to another

Although I may not understand Thoreau's thoughts completely,I’m really benefited from reading the book,Walden.