... . As a self-reliant individual in 1845, Thoreau decided to conduct an experiment on Emerson's land at Walden Pond by building himself a cabin and living in simplicity and seclusion for two years (Baym 963). Shortly upon arriving at Walden Pond, Thoreau began to draft Walden, which documents "his two-year adventure on the pond's shore," which he viewed "as ... will appear less complex. (Baym 1149) In Walden, Thoreau criticizes institutions for being distracting and complicated. He encourages his readers to deviate from the magnetic field of society constraining them, and instead to pursue...

• Word Count: 1963
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate