Question

Hey guys I need help. So I got a 67 on an essay and I don't know what to do. She said that it wasn't organized. Please read my essay and help me out. Also she said that the MLA was bad

Jonathan Fowlkes
J. Santi
10/27/13

Transcendentalism: An obligation to humanity

Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King all made very sovereign impacts on our literature, culture and our way of thinking. These men had relatively different lives but they each had a similar obligation to society. According to transcendentalist philosophies, and

Answer 1

Here is the rest of it Jonathan Fowlkes
J. Santi
10/27/13

Transcendentalism: An obligation to humanity

Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King all made very sovereign impacts on our literature, culture and our way of thinking. These men had relatively different lives but they each had a similar obligation to society. According to transcendentalist philosophies, and individual’s obligation to society may be variety of steps or processes that can lead to overall breakthrough. These processes would be straying away from modern society, breaking unjust laws and ultimately rupturing from their oppressors.
One of the most prominent ways that each individual mentioned to earn overall breakthrough, is to break unjust laws. Mahatma Gandhi was an advocate of this process. To Gandhi “an unjust law is itself a species of violence” (Gandhi, 11). In his book Nonviolence in Peace in War he conveys this process by explaining that “violence should be resisted not by counter-violence but by nonviolence” (Gandhi, 11). In this, he advocates that yes, breaking an unjust law is an important way of abolishing your oppressors but doing so with violence may just make matters worse. Thoreau on the other hand advocates that under an unjust government, “the true place for a just is also prison” (Thoreau, 9). He explains that being a just man under an oppressive government, then being in prison holds the same value as when not in prison in a regular government. He also explains in this quote that going to prison in an unjust government, would be a better haven for a just man.
Since modern society influences many into following certain inapplicable ideas, functions or even philosophies straying away and becoming one with yourself will earn you overall breakthrough. Thoreau wishes “not to quarrel with any man or nation” (Thoreau, 13). He wishes to not engage in any social activities that may lead to him himself supporting the government. He wants to be the outlier, he believes that a man can only regulate himself, not others. Thoreau advocates finding oneself through nature and meditation. Thoreau himself went into the woods “to front only the essential facts of life” (Thoreau, 16). To point out the most important ideas philosophies and aesthetics that make up our ever so thriving world. He wanted to breathe in what powerful things our ancestors have brought us.
Dismantling your oppressors will give you a better state of mind, morale and it will (of course) end your calamity. Martin Luther King used this process in his essay “Letters from a Birmingham Jail”. He mentions that moreover “oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever” (King, 25) and that “the yearning for freedom manifests itself” (King, 25). He explains that a government cannot keep people in their country in calamity forever. He also explains that since everyone wants to be free, it eventually materializes whether the oppressors want it or not. The oppressors cannot endeavor the truth, and in his mind the ultimate truth is equality for every human being from any race or ethnic background.
Each transcendentalist (MLK, Gandhi, and Thoreau) had an obligation to society that made it easier for people to break free of their tyrants. Each man believed in these three ideas, breaking unjust laws, non-conformity, and immediate action to solve your civil problem. They felt a strong need to seek organized justice for every oppressed man, woman and child alive.

Works cited

Gandhi, Mahtma. Non-violence in peace and war. 1942. < http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/793149-non-violence-in-peace-and-war-1942-49 >.

Thoreau, Henry. Walden: Or life in the woods. 1st. 1854. 440. Print. < http://thoreau.eserver.org/walden02.html >.

King, Martin. "Letters from a BirminghamJail." (1963): n. page. Print. < http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html >.

Answer 2

Well, is this for, say, a Composition class? If so, you were likely given some sort of outline. Was it supposed to be five paragraphs? The organization starts with a strong outline, so I'd need to know what your guidelines were.

Answer 3

No it's for American Lit/Ap us history