Chapter 10 Summary

The "Baker Farm" chapter opens with descriptive narrative of Thoreau's exploration of nature in the immediate proximity of his residence at Walden Pond; the style is somewhat typical of nineteenth century writers. It draws attention to Thoreau's relationship with nature and the way in which he almost personifies it. The opening also reveals something of Thoreau's manner of worshiping nature, of presenting it as something like a divine force and comparing nature to a shrine.

Although there is little suggestion of Thoreau's purpose in the opening, the chapter concerns Thoreau's observation of and interaction with John Field, the resident of a farm that was close to Walden Pond where John, an Irishman, lived with his wife and several children. Thoreau describes John Field as, "an honest, hard-working, but shiftless man," who Thoreau tried to help with his "experience." Thoreau uses his apparent relationship...