Urbanization

Urbanization URBANIZATION Introduction The three narrators lived in early centuries and seem to have their view of urban cities of the modern era. They express themselves in hidden meanings that we must interpret if we were to understand what happens in urban centers. Thorough, their books, short stories and novels, they bring out the difficulties that are faced by individuals in cities (Baym, Franklin, Gura., Klinkowitz., Krupat, Wallace, 2013).
Thoreau chooses to live in Walden, a place that seems like a hiding zone from the rest of the population in the town. This best describes how persons isolate themselves from others in urban centers in the current days. Instead of living close to one another and forge closer ties, only separations are enhanced and can be justified by the quote from the narrator, “ I lived alone when I wrote the book and miles away from any neighbor.’’ (Thoreau, pg 865-880). In the modern urban areas, everyone is for himself, and you have to work if you were to survive. This is clearly demonstrated when Thoreau is living for two and half years while only depending on his work for survival.
The modern urban are crowded due to influx of population from rural areas. This is the case in iron mills that has even become worse due to its unhealthy conditions as a result of pollutions right from smoke, garbage’s and sewage. From the book, Davis says, ‘ the nature of the city is characterized by smoke everywhere and settles down in black. And from his window, he sees a narrow brickyard that flows slowly into the riverside and the river is colored.’’ (Davis, pg 1222) This describes how filthy urban are. Thus, life in urban areas is no longer pleasant. The existing industries also do not offer enough jobs as observed by Davis where he wakes up just to find so many men idling around the city.
Modern urban life also offers frustrations to persons. Such is the case of life of Bartleby the Scrivener where he ends up in cell, thrown out like no human being and is stressed up, refuses to eat which culminates in his death. (Melville, pg 1100-1110) However, there is hope as narrated by Melville where the narrator shows love and care for Bartleby both while in cell and when chased outside the room. From the story, we are told he bribes the officer so that Bartleby can be offered food, and even invites him to stay in his house.
The three orators are thus more concerned on how individuals are negatively affected in urban areas and even nothing seems to be done to remedy the situation. For instance, all the characters seem to have undergone through these urban centers and are now dead. Death should be a symbol to the beginning of new era, but that does not appear to be the case. Persons will thus continue to suffer under this extreme conditions posed by urban areas.
Iron mills were crowded, noisy and more so unhealthy that inhibits a person from achieving his/her goals as the environment does not allow as observed by Davis in the entire story. This clearly corresponds to Thoreau’s moving to Walden Pond. At the pond, he was able to focus on his objectives so that he could achieve her dreams due little or no interference since the homes were miles apart. In the process, an individual can gain some privacy and reducing exposure to unhealthy environment which is not the case at the iron mills.
Conclusion
Life in urban center is not a smooth path and filled up with various obstacles in an attempt to make both ends meet. However, as individuals, we must always work our way out, and such is the case of Thoreau defying the odds to live by himself, built a house and achieves his goals with ease. Commitment and hard work, unity and love as portrayed by narrators, are critical to success in urban areas.
References
Baym, N., Levine, R., Franklin, W., Gura, P., Klinkowitz, J., Krupat, A., … Wallace, P. (2013). In The Norton Anthology: American Literature (8th ed.)