Transcendentalism in Wall-e

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Recommended: Thoreau's perspective on nature

Transcendentalist views of bonding with nature and living without the luxuries of cell phones and microwaves are old fashion and difficult to connect with for modern day readers. The uncommon techniques may seem to be a mindset of the past; however, the theories of transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, still reign in modern day. Although the message of the importance of nature is depicted through the 2008 Pixar film about robots rather than living in the solitude of the woods, the views of Emerson and Thoreau can still be seen in the movie Wall-e. Wall-e, an Earth loving robot, shows the values of protecting nature and straying away from conformity similar to the beliefs in the works of Emerson and Thoreau.
The film Wall-e takes place in the future after mankind has abandoned Earth due to its accumulation of garbage from the all-powerful superstore Buy N Large. Wall-E, the Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Earth Class robot, was sent along with other robots to rid Earth of waste and create a livable condition once again. Wall-e appears to be the only robot left as he has evolved to fix himself when a part goes wrong. His hobbies include collecting human belongings that interest him such as lighters, silverware, bowling pins and other odd objects that humans abandoned on Earth (00:05:55). His favorite collectable is the 1969 film Hello, Dolly! When Wall-e watches this film the viewer can see past Wall-e’s circuits and wheels as if he was programmed to have a heart. He shows true emotions when he admires the couple’s affection as if he would like that too (00:07:00). His spirits are lightened when he meets Eve, a modern day robot sent to find evidence of life on Earth (00:22:28). Through Eve the viewe...

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...nd nature and the consequence of humankind overindulging in the superfluous luxuries that are beyond the necessities of food, shelter, clothing and fuel. Perhaps Wall-e is a message that the transcendentalist beliefs of Emerson and Thoreau should still be uplifted today, or maybe it was unintentional that the modern popularity of environmentally friendly movements encloses the fossil messages.

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph W. Nature. 1979. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. N. pag. Print.

Thoreau, Henry D. Walden, or Life in the Woods. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. N. pag. Print.

WALL-E. Dir. Andrew Stanton. By Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and Jeff Garlin. Prod. Jim Morris. Perf. Ben Burtt and Elissa Knight. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2008. DVD.

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