# Henry David Thoreau — Essays character guide > Henry David Thoreau in Essays by Henry David Thoreau. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Thoreau, Henry, Mr. Thoreau, H. D. T. **First appearance:** 0000-biographical-sketch ## Snapshot A Harvard graduate who refused every respectable profession to pursue the art of living well, Thoreau walks, measures, and interrogates the world on his own exacting terms. ## Who they are Thoreau is the narrator and central consciousness of these essays — a Concord surveyor, pencil-maker's son, and born Protestant who declines to trade his solitary freedom for any narrow craft. His defining tension is between perfect probity toward himself and the disappointed expectations of family and friends who wanted him to choose a lucrative path. He matters because every essay in the collection is filtered through this stubborn, precise, and quietly radical sensibility, whether he is defending John Brown or measuring a pond. ## Relationships ### [Sir Walter Raleigh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sir_walter_raleigh) _social_ Henry David Thoreau references Sir Walter Raleigh as a historical figure, indicating an intellectual acquaintance through literature. ### [Sir Walter Raleigh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sir_walter_raleigh) _social_ Henry David Thoreau references Sir Walter Raleigh as a historical figure, indicating an intellectual acquaintance through literature. ## In the story ### [Biographical Sketch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/biographical-sketch) The subject of the biography; his birth, education, renunciation of professions, surveyor work, poetic nature, and moral philosophy are detailed. ### [Essays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/essays) Author and central figure in the essays. ### [The Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-service) Author of the essay, reflecting on the nature of heroism and service. ### [I: Qualities of the Recruit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/i-qualities-of-the-recruit) Author and narrator; expounds on the qualities of the brave man and the coward. ### [II: What Music Shall We Have?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/ii-what-music-shall-we-have) The author and narrator, who reflects on the nature of music and its connection to bravery and virtue. ### [III: Not How Many, but Where the Enemy Are](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/iii-not-how-many-but-where-the-enemy-are) Author and narrator, advocating for a life of heroic effort and moral warfare. ### [A Walk to Wachusett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/a-walk-to-wachusett) Narrator and traveler, who describes the journey and his reflections on nature and solitude. ### [Natural History of Massachusetts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/natural-history-of-massachusetts) Author and narrator; reflects on the health and joy found in nature and natural history. ### [Dark Ages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/dark-ages) Author and narrator; reflects on history, perception, and the enduring light of truth. ### [A Winter Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/a-winter-walk) The narrator and observer, who finds spiritual warmth and virtue in winter, and critiques the limitations of traditional scripture. ### [Paradise (to Be) Regained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/paradise-to-be-regained) Author and reviewer, critiques Etzler's materialistic paradise and advocates for moral reform. ### [Ossian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/ossian) Author and commentator; provides the critical analysis and reflections on Ossian's poetry. ### [Poetry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/poetry) Authorial voice presenting a philosophical treatise on the nature of poetry and the poet. ### [Herald of Freedom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/herald-of-freedom) Author of the chapter, writing in praise of Rogers and the Herald of Freedom. ### [Wendell Phillips Before the Concord Lyceum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/wendell-phillips-before-the-concord-lyceum) Author of the letter; expresses admiration for Phillips and critiques the Church, State, and public indifference. ### [On the Duty of Civil Disobedience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/on-the-duty-of-civil-disobedience) Author and speaker; argues for civil disobedience and the primacy of conscience over government. ### [Slavery in Massachusetts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/slavery-in-massachusetts) The speaker and author, expressing his outrage at Massachusetts' support of slavery and his personal disillusionment. ### [Life Without Principle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/life-without-principle) The author and lecturer, who reflects on his own experiences and critiques the business-oriented world. ### [Chesuncook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/chesuncook) Narrator and protagonist, reflects on wilderness, poetry, and the ethics of hunting. ### [A Plea for Captain John Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/a-plea-for-captain-john-brown) Speaker and author of the plea; he expresses his personal admiration for Brown and his moral outrage at the public's misrepresentation of Brown. ### [After the Death of John Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/after-the-death-of-john-brown) Speaker and compiler of the commemorative service; reads selected poetry and prose. ### [The Last Days of John Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-last-days-of-john-brown) Author and narrator; reflects on his own absorption in Brown's fate and his observations of the public and institutional response. ### [The Succession of Forest Trees](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-succession-of-forest-trees) Speaker and author of the address; presents himself as a surveyor and naturalist who has observed forest succession firsthand. ### [Walking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/walking) The narrator and advocate for walking, nature, and wildness. ### [Autumnal Tints](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/autumnal-tints) Author and observer of autumn foliage, reflecting on nature's beauty and meaning. ### [The Purple Grasses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-purple-grasses) The narrator and observer, who finds refuge and inspiration among the purple grasses and pokeweed. ### [The Red Maple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-red-maple) The narrator and observer, who walks through meadows and swamps to admire the red maple's autumn colors. ### [The Elm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-elm) The narrator and observer, reflecting on the elms and the ripeness of human thought. ### [Fallen Leaves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/fallen-leaves) Narrator and observer of the leaf fall, reflecting on nature's cycles and mortality. ### [The Sugar-Maple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-sugar-maple) The narrator and observer, reflecting on the beauty and significance of sugar-maples in the autumn landscape. ### [The Scarlet Oak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-scarlet-oak) The narrator and observer, who describes the scarlet oak's beauty and reflects on perception. ### [Wild Apples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/wild-apples) Author and narrator, reflecting on the wild apple's natural history and cultural meaning. ### [The History of the Apple-Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-history-of-the-apple-tree) The narrator and observer, reflecting on the apple tree's history, its natural beauty, and the spiritual value of wild apples. ### [The Wild Apple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-wild-apple) Narrator and observer, expressing personal preference for wild apple trees over cultivated ones. ### [The Crab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-crab) Narrator and observer, recounts his personal quest to find the wild crab-apple. ### [How the Wild Apple Grows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/how-the-wild-apple-grows) Observer and narrator who tracks the growth of wild apple trees, drawing moral and philosophical lessons from their struggle. ### [The Fruit, and Its Flavor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-fruit-and-its-flavor) The narrator and primary voice, who extols the virtues of wild apples and the walker's lifestyle. ### [Their Beauty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/their-beauty) The author and observer who reflects on the beauty of wild apples. ### [The Naming of Them](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-naming-of-them) The author and narrator, who playfully invents names for wild apple varieties and reflects on the abundance of nature. ### [The Last Gleaning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-last-gleaning) The narrator and gleaner, who shares his method for finding hidden apples in the late season. ### [The “Frozen-Thawed” Apple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-frozen-thawed-apple) The narrator and observer, reflecting on the decline of wild apples and the pleasures of frozen-thawed apples. ### [Night and Moonlight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/night-and-moonlight) The narrator and central figure, who resolves to take more moonlight walks and explore the 'Central Africa of the night.' ### [The Wellfleet Oysterman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-wellfleet-oysterman) The narrator and traveler, who walks along the Cape and converses with the old oysterman. ### [The Highland Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-highland-light) The narrator and observer, who measures the bank, interviews the lighthouse keeper, and reflects on the landscape and history. ### [A Yankee in Canada](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/a-yankee-in-canada) Author and narrator, reflecting on his trip to Canada and historical accounts. ### [I: Concord to Montreal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/i-concord-to-montreal) Narrator and traveler, reflecting on his journey to Canada. ### [II: Quebec and Montmorenci](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/ii-quebec-and-montmorenci) Narrator and traveler, observing the landscape and reflecting on names, history, and the natural world. ### [III: St. Anne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/iii-st-anne) Narrator and traveler, observing the landscape, people, and customs of Canada East. ### [IV: The Walls of Quebec](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/iv-the-walls-of-quebec) The narrator and observer, who examines the fortifications of Quebec and reflects on their meaning. ### [The Scenery of Quebec; and the River St. Lawrence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/v-the-scenery-of-quebec-and-the-river-st-lawrence) Narrator and traveler, observing Quebec's scenery and reflecting on the St. Lawrence River. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/endnotes) Thoreau is cited for his commentary on Raleigh's prose, calling a passage a 'poem'. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters/henry_david_thoreau - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters