Comparative Essay Sample: Gandhi and Thoreau

Both Gandhi and Thoreau are influential people that have transformed history today. Also, argued civil disobedience and government laws; however, they have different perspectives of the laws, and what people should follow. 

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (or referred to as Mahatma, the great soul) was most famous for his philosophy of nonviolence which has inspired many civil rights leaders across the world including, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela. Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India, on the coast of Kathiawad in western India, on October 2, 1869, .which was raised in a Hindu family: father, Karamchand Gandhi and Putlibai. Even though he was dark-skinned and small like any other child born in India, he was far from ordinary soon he would overcome his country from British rule, lead his country to freedom, and express his beliefs on nonviolence philosophy. In primary school, Ghadhi was shy and did not fit in with the other students; which was strange because he used his powerful words and outgoing personality to fight for freedom for his country. Gandhi was only thirteen when he was told that he was soon to be married. To a girl his age named Kasturbai in which his parents have already chosen for him. At the age of only sixteen, Karamchand (Gandhi’s father ) passed away. As he became an adult, Gandhi not only fought for independence he fought for causes including civil rights for women, abolition of the Caste system, and fair treatment of all people regardless of religion.

Henery David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, and transcendentalist. He was born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts. He’s best known for his masterwork, Walden. Also, he was an advocate for civil liberties, which he wrote in his essay, “civil disobedience”. Moreover, his strong use of expressing his opinion inspired people to break rules when they didn’t believe in them. Accordingly, Henry David Thoreau’s work, Walden, was published in 1854. The book serves as a personal account of two years (from July 1845 to September 1847) that Thoreau spent living simply in a self-constructed cabin by Walden Pond, located deep in the woods outside of his hometown of Concord, expressing his opinion inspired people to break rules when they didn’t believe in them. The overall idea Thoreau had living on Walden Pond for two years is simplicity. More specifically, Thoreau tributed the delights and satisfaction of a simple, uncomplicated life. One of the greatest leaders that greatly impacted society and still influences culture currently today is Gandhi. On the contrary, there is another author who impacted society with his literature and project was Henery David Thoreau. They fought for injustice from the government, but they used different methods in fighting for freedom. Thoreau believed in breaking the law and nonconforming and uses his opinions, while Gandhi believed in fighting without violence, forgiveness, peace, and individualism. Although they had different ways of solving injustices one brutal, intense and peaceful way both have been to jail. One thing they have in common is that but wanted freedom for the government. Even though, their both highly influential leaders Gandhi was impressed by Thoreau’s advice to resist things that were wrongs so much he made a quote honoring him,” Thoreau was a great writer, philosopher, poet, and withal a most practical man, that is, he taught nothing he was not prepared to practice in himself. He was one of the greatest and most moral men America has produced. At the time of the abolition of the slavery movement, he wrote his famous essay On the Duty of Civil Disobedience. He went to jail for the sake of his principles and suffering humanity. His essay has, therefore, been sanctified by suffering. Moreover, it is written for all time. Its incisive logic is unanswerable.