Question

read the excerpt from \civil disobedience.\

as they could not reach me, they had resolved to punish my body; just as boys, if they cannot come at some
person against whom they have a spite, will abuse his dog.

based on his transcendental beliefs, thoreau most likely believed that the state

○ was angry it could never truly imprison him.
○ had the authority to force him to pay the poll tax.
○ was preparing to imprison others to teach him a lesson
○ could imprison him but could never confine his soul

Explanation:

Transcendentalism emphasizes the importance of the individual's spirit/soul and its independence from external constraints like the state's physical control. The excerpt's analogy (punishing body like abusing a dog when they can't reach the person) implies the state can control the body (imprison) but not the soul. The other options go against Thoreau's transcendental beliefs (he resisted the poll tax, didn't think the state could truly imprison his essence, and the state's actions weren't about teaching others).

Answer:

D. could imprison him but could never confine his soul