# II: What Music Shall We Have? explained — Essays

> Chapter companion for Essays by Henry David Thoreau.

## What happens

Thoreau explores the profound relationship between music, virtue, and heroism, arguing that true music is a universal language that aligns the soul with the cosmos. He contrasts the brave man, who compels harmony through his own tunefulness, with the coward, who hears no accordant note and feels outcast. Music is presented as a herald of virtue and a force that brings order to the universe, echoing the soul's own rhythm.

## Themes in this chapter

### Heroism and Moral Courage

The brave man is the sole patron of music, and his life is a stately march to an unheard music, compelling concord everywhere.

### Nature and Simplicity

Music is described as God's voice and a herald of virtue, aligning with the natural order and the universe's rhythm.

## Character check-ins

### Henry David Thoreau

The author and narrator, who reflects on the nature of music and its connection to bravery and virtue.

### Plato

Quoted regarding the divine purpose of music to harmonize the soul.

### The Hero

Referenced as the brave man who is the sole patron of music and compels concord everywhere.

### The Soul

Personified as the entity that recognizes its own rhythm in music and seeks to express sympathy through movement.

## Key lines

> The brave man is the sole patron of music; he recognizes it for his mother tongue; a more mellifluous and articulate language than words, in comparison with which, speech is recent and temporary.

Only the courageous person truly appreciates music, seeing it as a more fluid and expressive language than speech, which is a newer and less permanent form of communication.

_Thoreau elevates music above spoken language as a primal and heroic mode of expression._

> All things obey music as they obey virtue. It is the herald of virtue. It is God’s voice.

Everything in the universe responds to music just as it does to virtue; music announces virtue and is the voice of God.

_Music is portrayed as a divine and moral force that governs the cosmos._

> A man’s life should be a stately march to an unheard music; and when to his fellows it may seem irregular and inharmonious, he will be stepping to a livelier measure, which only his nicer ear can detect.

A person's life ought to follow a dignified rhythm that others may not perceive, but which is more refined and true, even if it appears disordered to them.

_Thoreau emphasizes individual integrity and inner harmony over external conformity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/ii-what-music-shall-we-have
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/chapters