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Transcendentalism In The Dead Poets Society

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In Emerson's views, people should “not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”(citation). Based on Emerson’s thoughts, people should not follow the crowd, but instead live their lives and leave their mark on the Earth. Emerson thoughts come from a philosophical movement of the nineteenth century called transcendentalism. Transcendentalism focuses on religious renewal, literary innovation, and social transformation (encyclopedia.com). Because of their belief that God exists in everyone and nature, and that knowledge comes from individual intuition, led to the highlight of individualism, self-reliance, and breaking free from traditions(citation). In the movie the Dead Poets Society, Mr. Keating “[stands] upon his desk to remind [himself] that we must look at life …show more content…

It does not just exist in the movies but in music, television, books, advertising and more. It is all around, but may be unrecognizable. The song, “ Don’t Want to Be”, by Gavin Degraw, exemplifies the transcendental theme of nonconformity. Gavin Degraw's lyrics, “I don’t want to be anything other than me”, illustrates the transcendental theme by showing that you should stay true to who you are(citation). Another example of transcendental thoughts is the movie, Pocahontas. According to Emerson's essay Nature, “In the woods, we return to reason and faith”(citation). Pocahontas has a love for nature and often goes to nature to get away from reality and think. ().The song “The Colors of the Wind”, from Pocahontas, suggest Emerson’s thought that nature is precious. The lyrics from “Colors of the Wind” suggest how Pocahontas values nature: “You think you own whatever land you land on, the Earth is just a dead thing you can claim, but I know every rock and tree and creature, has a life, has a spirit, has a name”. These are just a few of transcendental ideas existing in today's

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During the 1830s, an intellectual movement took place called Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is the idea that an individual is the center of the universe and is more powerful than any institution. This way of thinking was very new to the people during that time. Even though the movement took place well over one hundred years ago, traits of Transcendentalism are still abundant in society today. For example, the movie Wall-E contains many traits of Transcendentalism.

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Dead Poets Society Transcendentalism is about life in which nature and the soul connect. In the movie Dead Poet Society, one of the characters who shows transcendentalism in Neil Perry. In the movie the students quoted poems and had their alone time with nature. They also relied on themselves and sought the spiritual side of things.

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The key to transcendentalism is confidence in a person’s own beliefs, but one more could be

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The Incredibles is a fantastic example of transcendentalism due to the presence of both nonconformity and individualism. Nonconformity could be used as another word

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For them it's like a soothing melody that brings all elements of existence into perfect harmony. With such peace of mind, inventiveness is shortly to follow. Transcendentalists find nature to be a wellspring of inspiration and a boundless source of creative energy. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun (Krakauer 40).

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In the 21st century, there are more ways of living ones life than ever before. From religious, economic, and moral standpoints, life can be lived altered to ones beliefs. Unfortunately, it is only recently that the normalization of living ones own life has came about. For a young man named Neil Perry, he has certain dreams for his life, but his father will do everything in his power to forbid them. In Peter Weirs “Dead Poets Society” the new English teacher, Mr. Keating bases his class around Transecendental ideals.

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Transcendentalism is one of the most influential fundamentals of man-kind. Transcendentalism is the enjoyment of nature, surpassing yourself to find a greater purpose, and connecting with the Oversoul. In the movie Dead Poet’s Society, one of the professors believed education was meant for teaching people to think for themselves; he believed that if you can’t think for yourself, then you’re not truly living your life, you’re living someone else’s. The man in question was English Professor John Keating. Keating was a true free thinker, he pushed his students to think for themselves.

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Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, asserted “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Throughout my high school career, I have always been an individual who follows. I relentlessly ask others “Are you going to the game tonight?” or “What are you wearing for the banquet?” I have never craved to stand out or do something out of the ordinary.

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Chris McCandless, Jon Krakauer, and Henry David Thoreau express transcendentalism. They express it by living in the wild. Both Into the Wild and Walden show similar beliefs. Both authors express beliefs of individualism, self-wisdom, and nature. Krakauer’s Into the Wild and Thoreau’s Walden expresses beliefs that respect cannot be bought, simplicity, and mind your own business.

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The early 1840s till the early 1950, a person 's desire to follows laws varied. Some people didn 't question any law and just followed them to avoid any trouble. But a few people objected. Two very influential writers, Ralph Emerson and Henry Thoreau, put together their opinions to form essays. Emerson’s work as published around 1841; Thoreau’s work was published around 1849.

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In the Dead Poets Society Mr. Keating, who was a former student at Welton Academy who came back to teach English, was accused of something he was in no way responsible for. He is a transcendentalist meaning a philosophy stating the human senses can know only physical reality; however, the truce of the universe lies beyond the senses and can only be attained through intuition, mystical insight, and communion with nature. In the movie, Keating states,” I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life” (DPS). This shows how he is a Transcendentalist because he likes being in touch with nature.

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During the 19th century, transcendentalism became known as a literary and philosophical movement that payed more attention to one’s intuition and consciousness. Both Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson who were wise`men of their time and were leaders of this movement and believed that in order for one to learn the reality of god, the universe, and one’s self, one has to rise above everyday life experiences. The movie Dead Poets Society portrays self reliance and non conformity which are transcendental truths and can be seen as having negative and positive effects. This film shows that rising above and wanting to change things for the better is positive but it becomes obvious during numerous scenes that transcending leads

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In doing so the characters were punished for not conforming to both the school of Welton and their parents. In the movie many characters showed traits of transcendentalism, for example Neil Perry showed many signs of nonconformity towards his father by not listening to his command to become a doctor. Knox Overstreet showed during the film human potential by trying to believe in himself and trying to get a girl from another school. Finally Todd Anderson who experienced truth through observation by attending the Dead Poets meeting and later by joining the activities the Society does. If you look hard enough in any book,movie, or play you will always find some form of transcendentalism every single time and that will never change.

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Catherine Davis Ms. Gregory AP English 3 7 March 2023 Into the Wild Essay The rejection of society, also known as modern-day transcendentalism, holds a tight grip on dreamers and individualists. Over the course of the last few decades, it has proven to be a stealthy and brutal killer. Young men and women such as Chris McCandless have fallen prey to the entrancing ideologies of transcendentalism, including the rejection of society, a desire to connect with nature, and individualism. While such qualities are tantalizing and freeing, recent transcendentalism secludes its partakers from human life, encourages dangerous and risky behavior, ultimately creating a delusional sense of modern society and nature.

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Emerson emphasizes, “what I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think... It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion... but the great man is he who

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