# III: St. Anne explained — Essays

> Chapter companion for Essays by Henry David Thoreau.

## What happens

Thoreau continues his journey down the north bank of the St. Lawrence River toward the Falls of St. Anne, describing the narrow, settled triangle of Canada East, the continuous village along the single road, the Catholic culture, the landscape, and the local customs. He visits the Church of La Bonne St. Anne, observes the inhabitants, and reflects on the contrast between the civilized strip and the vast wilderness beyond.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and Simplicity

Thoreau appreciates the simple, rural life along the St. Lawrence, the unspoiled landscape, and the lack of commercial signs or guideboards.

### Critique of Materialism and Business

Thoreau notes the absence of shops, signs, and artisans, contrasting the self-sufficient, non-commercial life of the habitants with American materialism.

## Character check-ins

### Henry David Thoreau

Narrator and traveler, observing the landscape, people, and customs of Canada East.

### Jacques Cartier

Mentioned as an early explorer; the master of the house 'might have come over with Jacques Cartier.'

### Samuel Champlain

Referenced in the context of Emery de Caen and the Huguenot sailors.

### The Canadians

The habitans (French Canadian farmers) are described as universally of small stature, devout Catholics, and living in a narrow settled strip.

### The Indians

Referenced indirectly through the 'bottes Indiennes' (Indian boots) worn by the locals.

## Key lines

> There were no guideboards where we walked, because there was but one road; there were no shops nor signs, because there were no artisans to speak of, and the people raised their own provisions; and there were no taverns, because there were no travellers.

The lack of signs, shops, and taverns reflected the simplicity and self-sufficiency of the local population, who grew their own food and had little need for commerce.

_Thoreau highlights the contrast between this rural Canadian community and the commercialized American landscape._

> I counted more than twenty-five crutches suspended on the walls, some for grown persons, some for children, which it was to be inferred so many sick had been able to dispense with; but they looked as if they had been made to order by the carpenter who made the church.

The crutches displayed as evidence of miraculous cures seemed suspiciously uniform, as if they were manufactured by the same carpenter who built the church.

_Thoreau expresses skepticism about the claimed miracles at the shrine of St. Anne._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/iii-st-anne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/chapters