In the movie Dead Poets Society Todd Anderson was the main character who overall showed the most transcendentalism at the end of the movie. He shows transcendentalism mostly through his personal growth in the movie from the beginning to the end. Todd Anderson starts off super shy and embarrassed about what society might think of him. As the movie progresses, he gets inspired by Mr. Keating to think for himself and find his own voice. By the end of the movie, he’s determined to express his individuality and stand up for what he believes in, regardless of what society might think. Todd Anderson went from being a quiet, shy, embarrassed boy to “seizing the day”. Todd at the beginning of the movie was unsure of himself, and always in the shadows of the other students. Todd …show more content…
He started to really get into writing and expressing his thoughts and emotions through poetry, thanks to Mr. Keating. Mr. Keating was one of the main reasons that Todd was able to find his individuality and embrace his transcendentalism. The scene where Mr. Keating made Todd create his own poem in class was Todd's turning point in the movie. He proved to everyone and himself that he has his own thoughts and feelings. Neil was also crucial for Todd's transformation throughout the movie, and his best friend. He pushed Todd to join the Dead Poets Society and was constantly supporting Todd. Neil helped Todd see that he had his own voice and it deserved to be heard. Neil's belief in Todd helped him gain the confidence to embrace his own transcendentalism. Neil pushed Todd to truly be himself and find his own path. Todd’s character in the movie was a whole that was about breaking free from society's expectations and discovering his true self. Todd really grew as a character throughout the movie. He found his voice and started embracing his individuality and uniqueness. Poetry helps him become more confident, more adventurous,
In the film Into the Wild directed by Sean Penn, viewers may have gathered enough evidence to back up their thoughts on Christopher McCandless being a transcendentalist or a non-transcendentalist. Chris portrayed the effort of being a transcendentalist just as Ralph Waldo Emerson and David Thoreau did. He abandoned his nice life to hitchhike all over North America and he was happy about it. McCandless unfortunately died in the wilderness of Alaska after he had eaten moldy seeds. Sooner or later, that mistake was enough to end his life. He shows behavior of being a Transcendentalist by the ways that he despised society, burned his money after he abandoned his car, and went out to Alaska on his own.
Transcendentalism is living and communicating simply and in nature to find yourself. Chris McCandless can been seen as a transcendentalist in the book Into the Wild. Jon Krakauer tells the story of Christopher McCandless, who in June of 1990, set out on an adventure around the continent. After traveling all over and living on his own for two years, Chris decides to hitchhike up north to live off the Alaskan land, 4 months later, Christopher was found dead. Though Chris’s adventure was fatal, his beliefs and actions throughout the book were undoubtable those of a transcendentalist.
Transcendentalism plays a key role in all of our lives. Many commonly shared values are rooted from the transcendental keys. Some devote their entire lives to try and live as transcendental as possible. For example, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were huge undertakers in these ideas and virtues. Chris McCandless looked up to these great thinkers and many others to find an outline for his life. McCandless dedicated his entire life to following many transcendental keys such as non-conformity, reducing dependence on property, and self-reliance.
Billie and Walt McCandless quietly shed tears concerning their twenty-four year old son, Chris McCandless, who had not talked to them for over two years and was found dead in the Alaskan woods. They question why their son had left society, left his own parents nevertheless, and risked his life which ended in his fatality. The transcendental principles which include rejection of society, intuition, and searching for a purpose of life may have guided the aforesaid experience-seeking individual. Chris McCandless’s identification as a transcendentalist is confirmed through his nonconformist actions, his human relationships, and his quest for a higher truth.
When I was about six or seven I was diagnosed with Aspergers which is a type of Autism. Over the years I have had a bunch of help in my life thanks to my mother and father. Now I bet you really can’t tell because of all the help I have gotten over the years. The trait of transcendentalism is shown here is human potential. In the movie Dead Poets Society, it is about having teenagers form a club, as the same name as the movie. With help from their teacher, they figure out who they are as people and who they want to end up being as life moves on. Transcendentalism is not conforming from society. This movie demonstrates non-conformity, respect for nature, and human potential, which are all traits of Transcendentalism.
"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of SECURITY, CONFORMITY and CONSERVATISM, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind. But in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit of a man than a secure future...."(Krakauer, 58). To be a transcendentalist you have to be unsure, at all times. You have to completely trust your gut and believe that you know you are doing the right thing. Chris McCandless, the protagonist of Into the Wild did just that. He trusted his gut when he believed that he would find himself by changing his whole entire planned out life by society’s standards. He is the ideal of a transcendentalist.
By reading the Bible, a direct instruction of living life by His word, Christians can find this comfort and happiness. To the boys attending the poetry class, Keating is a source of the same comfort. Because of Keating’s helpful instruction and caring attitude towards the boys, his character resembles the wise image of God. Keating often has to advise the students to practice free will with caution because of society’s dramatic responses to transcendental actions. In one scene, Neil is confronted by his selfish father, who stringently demands his son to not take part in the school’s play. Later, Neil goes to Keating for advice on what choice to make and explains that he is the only person who Neil can really talk to about his true feelings. Keating then tells Neil to honestly tell the narrow-minded father about what he really wants to do with his life. This advice follows the importance of self-reliance. “Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession” (Emerson). Neil should be proud of his talent and stay persistent against his father in order to live a life of nonconformity. Just as society denied God’s words before the
Transcendentalism to some is may just be a long, lengthy word coined two hundred years ago that is not used today, but to other people, people like Chris McCandless, it is a way of life. They use these qualities to shape their life and strive hard to follow them. Chris McCandless was so focused on embodying the qualities of transcendentalism that he failed to see how much danger he was putting himself in. He had little to no common sense as shown by Westerberg. “But there were gaps in his thinking. I remember once I went over to the house, walked into the kitchen, and noticed a god-awful stink. I mean it smelled nasty in there. I opened the microwave, and the bottom of it was filled with rancid grease. Alex had been using it to cook chicken, and it never occurred to him that the grease had to drain somewhere. It wasn’t that he was too lazy to clean it up- Alex always kept things real neat and orderly- it was just that he hadn’t noticed the grease” (Krakauer 45). McCandless embodied the values of transcendentalism by believing in living closer to nature, believing in the dignity of manual labor, and being self reliant.
In the 1830s the Transcendental movement sprouted. Through the movement founded by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the idea emerged that there is an inherent goodness in all of us. We learned that just because everyone else has a certain philosophy, it does not mean you are required to think that way. Transcendentalism revolved around the themes of religion, politics, the environment and intuition. Even though the transcendental movement ended more than a century and a half ago, its ideals thrive within modern day society. A fantastic example of a modern day transcendentalist would be Bono, the lead vocalist for the world renowned band, U2. Throughout the years, Bono has carried on the legacy that Emerson and his fellow transcendentalists left behind. Bono and U2 demonstrate transcendentalism through the band’s religious beliefs, political beliefs/actions, environmental movements, song lyrics, and the passion through which they express themselves.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful maxims Emerson wrote would have to be "Insist on yourself, never imitate." This statement captures the total essence of transcendentalism; deny the will and aspirations of others, and follow your own heart.The movie Dead Poets Society begins by introducing the viewers to Todd Anderson, a very subdued and quiet young man. Todd has the average inferiority complex. He is a very bright young man with exceptional abilities. Todd is unwilling to speak his mind for fear of non-acceptance. Charles Dalton is a seemingly average student with a rebellious attitude. He has already realized that the students are being "brainwashed" into living a preordained life.
After seeing the film, Dead Poets Society, the watcher will easily pick up on Transcendental idea’s whether they know it or not. If the viewer is watching this movie for educational purposes or entertainment, it overall demonstrates to the audience many strong ideas that these common writers emphasizes greatly throughout their writing through Mr. Keatings methods of teaching. Lesson’s of three common Transcendental writers, Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman are taught both directly and subtly by the influential teacher, Mr. Keating. The lessons taught not only impact the boys during the film, but it changes their mindset for the rest of their lives and the audiences. Keating was prosperous in establishing the theories of the writers inside the boys minds which impacted all aspects of their lives for the better.
After Neil's father forces him to withdraw from Welton and enroll in military school, Neil, feeling trapped, commits suicide. In the aftermath, the boys are interrogated about the Dead Poets Society, with Cameron betraying them. During their final English class, Todd courageously stands on his desk, saluting Keating with 'O Captain! My Captain. Other society members join Todd, honoring Keating, who leaves moved, knowing his influence
In conclusion, the movie, Dead Poets Society, encompasses and propagates the idea of transcendentalism. The characters’ fearless nonconformity, displayed throughout the movie, demonstrates the importance and necessity of self-discovery and individual growth in a society. Many of the transcendentalist concepts stressed by Emerson and Thoreau are integrated into the movie through its characters and plot. The students who keenly take the philosophy of transcendentalism to heart and are inspired the most by it are as follows: Todd Anderson, Knox Overstreet, Neil Perry, and Charlie Dalton. These characters wholeheartedly accept the philosophy of transcendentalism, assume individual authority for their choices and embark on a trip of self-discovery and growth that will have a lasting impact on their lives.
He likes to encourage the boys to think independently. As Todd sits in class and listens to Mr. Keating talk about this life lesson, he thinks to himself as how he wants to get others to think that he isn’t all about the books, smarts, and grades. He takes a turn and joins in with all the other boys and gets more into other things than just the studies, books, and smarts. He joins
Attending Welton as a transfer he is looked upon by many, including his parents to be the same as his brother. Todd, being the younger child, was in the shadow of his brother; Todd’s parents looked upon him as a reflection of his brother and expected much out of him. As much is placed upon him Todd is a quiet person who was, at first, scared to interact with anyone. This included his own roommate Neil Perry. After being pushed by Neil, Todd joined the Dead Poets Society and wrote poetry for Keating’s class.