View of Individual and Society by Hawthorne, Thoreau, and Mark Twain Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Mark Twain each had a different view on how an individual does and should interact with society. They each pointed fingers at what caused the friction between a person and his society. Several themes run common to these writers, but the most prevalent may be the dualistic theme of Rebellion vs. Conformity. Where there is rebellion within a society, of course there will be friction. Choosing a guilty party amidst this chaos is where Hawthorne, Thoreau, and Twain separate. It is easy to assess Hawthorne’s point of view