# The “Frozen-Thawed” Apple explained — Essays

> Chapter companion for Essays by Henry David Thoreau.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### Henry David Thoreau

The narrator and observer, reflecting on the decline of wild apples and the pleasures of frozen-thawed apples.

## Key lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-frozen-thawed-apple
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/chapters