Free Love by Henry David Thoreau
The work explores the idea of free love and its relationship to individual freedom and societal norms. It critiques traditional notions of marriage and family, arguing that they can be restrictive and stifling to personal growth. The text also examines the tension between romantic love and practical considerations such as economic security. Through a philosophical lens, it considers the implications of embracing free love on an individual's sense of identity and autonomy.
By Henry David Thoreau · First published 1841 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophical · 177 words
First lines
My love must be as free / As is the eagle's wing, / Hovering o'er land and sea / And everything.
I must not dim my eye / In thy saloon, / I must not leave my sky / And nightly moon.
Be not the fowler's net / Which stays my flight, / And craftily is set / T' allure the sight.
But be the favoring gale / That bears me on, / And still doth fill my sail / When thou art gone.
Similar titles
- The Respectable Folks by Henry David Thoreau
- Friendship by Henry David Thoreau
- Loves Reason Sonnets by Henry Van Dyke
- The Answer by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Theme And Variations by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Loves Sleep Vers De Societe by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of nature, individualism, and emotional expression align with Romantic literary traditions.
- Philosophical — Explores concepts of freedom and love, reflecting philosophical inquiry.
- Transcendentalism — Emphasizes nature and personal intuition, key elements of Transcendentalist thought.
Tags
Philosophy · Romance · Social Commentary · Critique of Marriage · Feminism · Free Love Movement · Nonconformity · Individualism · Autobiographical · Memoir · Personal Essay · Social Satire
What this Textopian page supports
Free Love is listed on Textopian as an essay by Henry David Thoreau, dated 1841 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Henry David Thoreau
- Date: 1841 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophical, Transcendentalism
- Length: 177 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Free Love by Henry David Thoreau
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph