ipl-logo

Examples Of Transcendentalism In Beast Of The Southern Wild

1287 Words6 Pages

Henry David Thoreau stated in Walden that “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived...I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life” (“What I Lived For 59). The transcendental lifestyle, as explained by Thoreau, is structured by the beliefs of purifying the mind and body from the corruption of modern society and its materialistic ideals. Embracing the spiritual aspects that nature provides allows us to grow physically and intellectually as a human, and ultimately finding our individual purposes in life. Both the book, Into the …show more content…

By experiencing the lives of a transcendentalist and appreciating the beauty of nature, both Chris McCandless and Hushpuppy are able to find a peaceful sanctuary where they belong, mature and become more independent through their struggles, and eventually reach a “transcended” state that allows them to help others find their own ways to self-fulfilment. Throughout the novel, Into the Wild, Chris McCandless demonstrated a powerful attraction towards nature and a burning passion to be experience the wilderness and live a pure life. When Chris McCandless first encountered the old yellow bus, he had written in his journal: “Two years he walks the Earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom...No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild” (Krakauer 163). Chris McCandless despised the way society felt like a cage to him, which is why he took off into the wild and remained there in nature as “the freedom and simple beauty of it is just too good

Show More
Related
866 Words | 4 Pages

In the 19th and 20th century transcendentalism was a new and exciting topic that caused tremendous controversy. In the novel Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless was a man with a very unique character. In more detailed words Chris McCandless was a transcendentalist. His actions and moods played a big part in his life, from beginning to end. He was a transcendentalist because of his self-reliance, confidence and non-conformity.

Read More
441 Words | 2 Pages

In the chapter titled Where I Lived, and What I Lived For from Henry David Thoreau’s novel Walden, the author utilizes rhetorical strategies such as imagery and tone to convey how the distractions that accompany a progressing civilization corrupts society. Since he is a transcendentalist, his argument encapsulates the same principles of becoming free from the binds of society and seeking harmony with nature. He emphasizes those ideals when he states that “[he] went to the woods because he wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if [he] could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when [he] came to die, discover that [he] had not lived”(276). In other words, he wanted to escape from society and live

Read More
988 Words | 4 Pages

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”- Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism is an American philosophy that revolves around self-reliance and independence, commonly in nature, a Transcendentalist wants to find the true meaning in life. I believe that Chris McCandless was a Transcendentalist because he was able to leave his whole life behind and take on a minimalist lifestyle while having a strong relationship with god. However, I believe that I am not a Transcendentalist, but simply an adventurer.

Read More
417 Words | 2 Pages

Into the Wild Chris McCandless. Who is he? I guess you could say he is the pure definition of a “transcendentalist”. A transcendentalist is a person who lives a completely different type of lifestyle than your average person, they believe in self reliance, they will always have a strong connection with mother nature, they’re individualists, and always searching for the meaning of life. McCandless went on a journey that no normal american would have thought was sane.

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

Chris McCandless, a Transcendentalist? Unlike the majority, Chris McCandless decides to leave his home and possessions, and embark on a dangerous journey to the Alaskan wilderness. In the novel, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, the author describes Chris McCandless’ journey in depth to show transcendentalist ideals. Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that focuses on following your heart and the idea that humans lead towards goodness, while defying against society and materialism. Many well known transcendentalists include Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Read More
785 Words | 4 Pages

Kevin Sun Mrs. Cohen English 2CP --D February 22, 2018 Another Perspective The film Into the Wild is based on the life of Chris McCandless, a young man who rejected the consumerist society of America in order to live a more simple life. Through his travels, Chris carried essays by Transcendentalist philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, suggesting that McCandless is impacted by Transcendentalist ideals. Two key tenets of Transcendentalism that clearly influenced McCandless’ choices are the value of simplicity and the importance of self-reliance.

Read More
835 Words | 4 Pages

“As to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be soon, I think. I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time”( 87). Growing up, McCandless would go in the outdoors with his family and go rock climbing. After his family would be done, Chris would go off on his own even when his father would tell him no. In the song Freedom by Akon, there is a lyric which relates to McCandless

Read More
937 Words | 4 Pages

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a Unitarian Minister that left his home to find an entirely new meaning to life, which is exactly what Chris McCandless did as well. Emerson’s belief was that everyone should do what they consider is correct, and not listen to others opinions but their own. In the biography Into the Wild, McCandless demonstrates qualities that convey transcendentalism. He left his entire life behind to go into the wilderness and find a more valuable meaning of life that didn’t involve any materialistic items. Furthermore he wanted to travel on his own without the help of other people, which demonstrates that he relied on only himself to accomplish the dangers of the wild.

Read More
935 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine living one hundred and twelve days alone in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. Try to wrap your brain around the idea of living with no human contact, little food, and no way out. If one has ever heard of Chris McCandless, they simply think he was a crazy man who let himself starve in the Alaskan wilderness. People think he was ignorant for embarking on such a radical expedition with little supplies and scarce knowledge of the land. Others thought he was just a lazy bum who could not handle the stresses of everyday life

Read More
783 Words | 4 Pages

Henry David Thoreau is one of the primary promoters of the transcendentalist movement and has been inspiring people to take on the transcendentalist lifestyle ever since the mid 1800’s. Mccandless was an admirer of Henry’s philosophy but he wasn’t as fully immersed in his work and ideals as Thoreau was to his own. His intentions were not as closely aligned to the movement as Thoreau’s and the difference between these icons are clearly visible. Self reliance is one of the most significant components of the transcendentalism movement that Henry David Thoreau contributed to in his literary career. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” - (taken from Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”).

Read More
675 Words | 3 Pages

He continues on with saying what he learned from his experience out in the woods, “I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours” (Thoreau 1149). While living in the Woods Thoreau discovered himself and learned how to live with simplicity. He wrote “Walden” Life in the Woods, to answer questions people had about why he decided to go and live in the woods. I’m sure he inspired many readers with his views on the beauty of nature and what it has to

Read More
575 Words | 3 Pages

In Walden, written by Henry David Thoreau, the author expresses the immense longing that we, as human beings, need to give up our connection to our ever-growing materialism in order to revert back to self-sufficient happiness. In Walden, the reader is able to infer that Thoreau feels as if we are becoming enslaved by our material possessions, as well as believes that the study of nature should replace and oppose our enslavement, and that we are to “open new channels of thought” by turning our eyes inward and studying ourselves. Thoreau feels that we are becoming enslaved by our material possessions. As stated in the chapter “In the Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”, Thoreau states that “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” (972).

Read More
483 Words | 2 Pages

Thoreau saw the complexities of life all around and realized that Life itself was not complicated, rather it was mankind’s ever changing “civilization” that had made life so “complex.” As a result, he noticed that to realize what Life really is, he must go out into the real world and experience it himself. This is a feat not possible within regular human society; therefore, Thoreau did the only thing that he believed would truly bring him one with nature, he left human civilization to be in the center of life itself. He moved into the woods so that he may finally define what is life, by experiencing it in all of its raw

Read More
2042 Words | 9 Pages

The author mentions, “ I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and to see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discovered I had not lived,”(Thoreau) This quote transmits a very powerful message; he wanted to live with nature and to seek what it had to teach. He realizes that living in a modern and crowded life was not adequate for him and suggested perhaps living with nature would allow him to his content. Thoreau goes into the woods to live because he wants a simpler life. He will be closer to nature and the woods will allow him to genuinely live his life, he didn't have to worry the modern fast paced life and has more time for self-discovery.

Read More
637 Words | 3 Pages

In his essay Walden, Thoreau affirms the Transcendentalist belief of living simply by emphasizing the thought of living with only the essentials and the importance of self reliance. Thoreau supports the ideal of living simply through the emphasis of only living with what one needs. Simplicity exists

Read More

More about Examples Of Transcendentalism In Beast Of The Southern Wild

Related Topics

Open Document