Essays · Chapter
The “Frozen-Thawed” Apple explained
Thoreau reflects on the decline of wild apple trees in New England, lamenting the loss of native orchards and the pleasure of foraging for frozen-thawed apples.
What happens
Thoreau reflects on the decline of wild apple trees in New England, lamenting the loss of native orchards and the pleasure of foraging for frozen-thawed apples. He celebrates the unique flavor of apples that have been frozen and thawed, contrasting them with imported fruits and criticizing the modern practices of grafting and fencing in trees. The chapter includes a biblical quotation from Joel to underscore the sense of loss and decay.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and Simplicity
Thoreau celebrates the simple pleasure of eating wild, frozen-thawed apples and contrasts them with imported or cultivated fruits.
Critique of Materialism and Business
He criticizes the modern practice of grafting and fencing in trees for profit, predicting that future generations will lose the joy of foraging for wild apples.
Characters to notice
- Henry David Thoreau
The narrator and observer, reflecting on the decline of wild apples and the pleasures of frozen-thawed apples.
Key passages
“Those which a month ago were sour, crabbed, and quite unpalatable to the civilized taste, such at least as were frozen while sound, let a warmer sun come to thaw them, for they are extremely sensitive to its rays, are found to be filled with a rich, sweet cider, better than any bottled cider that I know of, and with which I am better acquainted than with wine.”
Apples that were once sour and unpleasant become sweet and full of cider after being frozen and then thawed by the sun, surpassing any bottled cider.
Thoreau describes the transformation of frozen apples into a delicious treat.
“I fear that he who walks over these fields a century hence will not know the pleasure of knocking off wild apples. Ah, poor man, there are many pleasures which he will not know!”
Future generations will miss out on the joy of gathering wild apples, a simple pleasure that is being lost.
Thoreau expresses concern about the loss of wild apple trees and the associated experiences.