# The State — Essays character guide

> The State in Essays by Henry David Thoreau.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0021-on-the-duty-of-civil-disobedience

## Who they are

Personified government in civil disobedience essay.

## In the story

### [Herald of Freedom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/herald-of-freedom)

Referenced indirectly through the critique of the government's handling of the Princeton explosion and the slave's funeral.

### [On the Duty of Civil Disobedience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/on-the-duty-of-civil-disobedience)

Personified as a machine that often oppresses and robs, serving the interests of a few rather than justice.

### [Slavery in Massachusetts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/slavery-in-massachusetts)

Personified as a corrupt entity that has fatally interfered with Thoreau's lawful business and moral path.

### [The Last Days of John Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-last-days-of-john-brown)

Implied as the entity that condemned Brown and represents the human law that Thoreau contrasts with eternal justice.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_state
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters