Author's+Purpose

Author's Purpose The Author's purpose in Civil Disobedience is to inform people of the need for the government to control the laws it sets forth and to use the power of the majority becuase they are the most powerful. Thoreau states that America's policies and laws towards slavery and the Mexican American War were unjust and discouraged by many people. Thoreau also states the need for constant civil protest on unjust laws. He states that it is the common persons role to do what is right and not to follow the laws set forth by the majority. He uses his past real life experiences to reinforce his purpose that there is a drastic need for people to control their own mind and not let the government bodies of the world control them. In protest of slavery, Thoreau refuses to pay his taxes and ends up spending a night in jail. By doing this he dissociates himself from the government by disagreeing with its unjust laws. This shows how Thoreau has experienced the government control over him and attempted to make a stand.