The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee Henry David Thoreau Name: Period: 1817 Born in Concord Massachusetts (outside Boston) 1833-37 Attended Harvard, but refused to pay for his diploma 1837 Hired to teach public school, but quit because he refused to administer corporal punishment 1838 Opened Concord Academy with his brother John, but the school closed in 1842 after John died 1845 Moved to Walden Woods to return to a simpler way of life 1846 Arrested after he refused to pay taxes for six years in protest over slavery and the Mexican American War (1846-48) The Preface: The Now Thoreau Lawrence and Lee end the preface with four paradoxes that they feel express Thoreau s importance in his time and in our time. Record the four paradoxes here: Paradox: a statement whose two parts seem contradictory yet make sense with more thought. The contradiction reveals a kind of truth Choose one of the paradoxes and explain what truth you think the contradictions reveal about Thoreau and his importance: As we read the play, record at least three additional paradoxes (with a short quotation and citation) that the playwrights include to express Thoreau s character Are you a paradox? Each of us has contradictions to our personality and identity, but it might prove interesting to think about which one of these contradictions reveal a truth about who you are. Start by thinking about things that seem like contradictions about you, but that those contradictions reveal something essential about who you are. Write a short but thoughtful journal below.
Act I: Time and space are awash here Thoreau s Past Emerson s Past Henry John Mother Ellen Jail Cell Henry Bailey Waldo Lydian Edward Juxtaposition: a literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions etc. are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts. Lawrence and Lee juxtapose events of the play s present (the night in jail) with events of Thoreau s and Emerson s past. This experimental technique seems to convey a Transcendental idea. What does this technique suggest about the relationship between one s past and present (you might consider the paradox from the foreword Thoreau was and is )? OPTIONAL Plot Questions you may use these to check your understanding of the text as you read Act I Thoreau went to Harvard. Why didn t he get a diploma? Thoreau says that he will think for a while. That ll be a change from college. Explain the irony of this statement. 3. According to Bailey, why is he in jail? Bailey has been in jail three months without a trial. What is Thoreau s response when Bailey says, Don t make a ruckus; I m not a troublemaker? 4. What does Thoreau teach Bailey to do? Why does Thoreau later regret teaching Bailey this skill? 5. Thoreau explains to Deacon Ball that the class is huckleberrying. Explain what huckleberrying is. 6. What metaphor does Thoreau use to explain the concept of believing in the existence of God to a student who has doubts because he has no tangible proof of His existence? 7. Why does Deacon Ball insist that Thoreau whip several students? 8. When Deacon Ball threatens to fire Thoreau, his brother John urges Thoreau to apologize. Why? Is that a good reason? 9. Thoreau resigns his position as teacher in the public schools. Earlier, Emerson had resigned his position as pastor of the Second Unitarian Church of Boston. How are these situations similar? 10. According to John, what is all a school needs? Henry and John decide to create a school with no buildings. Why? 1 How does Thoreau react when he discovers Ellen taking notes? 1 Why is Edmund no longer attending the Thoreau brothers school? 13. Explain the analogy of the lake that Thoreau uses to explain Transcendentalism. 14. When John asks Ellen to marry him, what is her answer? What is Thoreau s reaction? What do the brothers conclude about their lives? 15. What happens to John? How does his death affect Henry? Ellen? 16. For whom does Thoreau begin to work? What work will he do, and how does he wish to be paid? 17. When Emerson asks Thoreau why he is in jail, what does Thoreau ask Emerson in return? Why does Thoreau ask Emerson this question? Act 2 18. Why does Thoreau feel that the government has failed to make him a prisoner? Why does he still feel free? 19. What wish does Edward express to both Thoreau and his mother? 20. Why has Thoreau put gloves on the chickens? 2 Who is Williams? Where is he going? What does their conversation reveal about Thoreau s beliefs? 2 Henry says, There s slavery in the North, too. Every man shackled to a ten-hour-a-day job is a work-slave. Every man who has to worry about next month s rent is a money-slave. Explain Thoreau s thoughts. 23. What happens to Williams after he leaves Walden? 24. Thoreau says to Emerson, I expect more from you than from anybody else; that s why I m more disappointed in you. Why is Thoreau disappointed in Emerson? 25. In response, what complaint does Emerson have against Thoreau? 26. Why doesn t Emerson speak to the crowd? 27. Thoreau falls into a nightmare. What does he dream about? 28. Who pays Thoreau s taxes? 29. What demand does Thoreau make before he leaves the jail? 30. Thoreau tells Bailey, Seems to me, I ve got several more lives to live. And I don t know if I can spare anymore time for that one. What does Thoreau mean? 3 What does Thoreau mean when he tells Bailey, It s not necessary to be there in order to be there?
Who is Thoreau? Use details to gain a full profile of his character For the different types of characterization listed below, record several quotes that reveal Thoreau s identity. (see the list on the right for a refresher) Describe what these observations reveal about his motivations, values, personality, treatment of other people, philosophical and political views Direct Characterization what the authors directly describe about Thoreau s personality and values Indirect Characterization what the authors indirectly infer about Thoreau s personality and values as expressed through the character s speech, appearance, actions and relationships. What do these details say about the person? Speech and Thoughts consider not only what he says or thinks but also how he says or thinks it Appearance/Posture/Movement/Clothing Actions, Decisions, Choices His relationships and how others perceive him Relationship to John Relationship to Waldo Emerson Relationship to Ellen Relationship to Lydian Emerson You might use this list of details to refer back to specific moments in the play and to find quotations (page numbers are listed first for the little book and second for the big book): Stage directions (4/4) His problem with his name and his christening (4/4-5) The alphabet (6/5) Harvard diploma (9/7) Nightbird (10, 12/10, 12) Huckleberrying (18/17-18) Teaching about God as an Intelligence (17, 19/16, 18) School punishement (21-24/20-23) Ellen and the notes (29-30, 24-27) Ellen and the argument (36-42/ 32-39) Death of John (48-51/ 46-48) Emerson and Walden (56-57/ 52-54)) Henry s arrest (62-73/ 58-63) Edward and Henry s relationship (78-81/ 72-75) Lydian and Henry s relationship (82-85/ 75-78) Henry Williams (88-91/ 80-84) Argument with Waldo (91-95/ 85-89) Confrontation with Lydian (98-99/ 90-92) Nightmare (100-104/ 92-96) Release from jail (106-107/97-98)
Who is Thoreau? Be as creative and insightful as you can to illustrate Thoreau s identity. Use details from the characterization chart. Label your illustration to explain how your embellishments explain the following aspects of Thoreau s character: personality motivation (what motivates him) desires strengths flaws values beliefs
Thoreau versus the World Describe the problem or struggle that leads to the one of the following conflicts throughout the play Record a quote that reveals Thoreau s thinking and views that lead to the conflict. 3. Describe what you think this conflict says about Transcendentalism s beliefs or a bigger problem or deeper idea Thoreau versus self Thoreau versus people Thoreau versus society 3. 3. 3. Thoreau versus Emerson Lawrence and Lee explore some fundamental differenced between Thoreau and Emerson. To help us debate which man espouses the best way to achieve transcendence, note the subtle and overt differences in their views and their personalities. Record quotes or paraphrase passages that highlight the differences between Thoreau and Emerson Interpret what each difference reveals about the way each man thinks and which man lives the purer life. Consider whether either man s beliefs or actions make him a hypocrite. Thoreau Emerson
The Message of the Play What is the lesson about the world that Lawrence and Lee present throughout the play? There are no easy answers here your message should not be one that you can jot down after two seconds of thought, but rather it should be one that you mull over, each time you think about it, your thinking goes a bit deeper, a bit more insightful to eventually land on a truly inventive interpretation that defines how Thoreau sees the world. To that end, fill out each circle, forcing your interpretation of the message to grow more developed at each step Theme stems words or topics to get you started DEVELOP Choose one of your theme stems and develop it into a full statement that describes a lesson learned either one that Thoreau learns or that the audience learns Describe an incident in the play that shows this lesson is an important one DEVELOP Describe another incident in the play that shows this lesson is an important one THINK, REALLY THINK What can you add in your thinking? What deeper interpretations could you assert about what Lawrence and Lee mean about human nature, about society, about justice and fairness? What are they trying to change in the world? Describe another incident in the play that shows this lesson is an important one Keep adding circles on another sheet of paper until you have a message or lesson that goes as deep as Emerson s or Thoreau s!