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Dead poets society criticism analysis
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Transcendentalism could be considered to be one of the first revolutionary movements in United States history. They weren’t violent protesters but instead people who challenged the social norm and encouraged non-conformity. The effects of the Transcendentals and their influence are still felt today in writings and in movies such as Dead Poet’s Society. The movie Dead Poet's Society focuses on a group of highschoolers in an overbearing high school and their teacher, Mr. Keating. Mr Keating is a believer in the Transcendentalist movement and challenges normal teaching practices. His students take inspiration from Mr. Keating and take the Transcendentalist tenets to heart. But incorporating the tenets of Transcendentalism into your everyday life is not worth the risks that it poses. It can lead to being cast out from …show more content…
Neil Perry, a student at the school, committed suicide after his parents reprimanded him die to his Transcendentalistic actions. Perry defied his father when he chose to perform Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream as the character Puck. This is also another example of non-conformity, Perry does not conform to what his father expects of him and thus angers his father greatly. When his father decides he is going to send Neil to military school and then Harvard, Perry decides he has nothing left to live for and commits suicide. This deeply affected his parents, his fellow students, the school, and Mr. Keating. Non-conformity in this case is done for selfish reasons. Neil’s father only wants what is best for his son, but Neil rejects his father’s advice and disobeys his commands and when he has to face the consequences, he decides he can live no longer. Neil’s suicide was not an act of rebellion, he committed suicide out of fear for the consequences of his actions which were lead by Transcendentalist
Throughout Dead Poets Society, there is a crucial theme of transcendentalism suspended over the plot; perhaps this theme is the reason why the story is so interesting to its viewers. Without a doubt, these interesting aspects are created by a variety of symbols, carefully molded into each scene of the story. Being that there exists several symbolic scenes, one must take a step back and look at this story as a whole. This perspective will make the main symbol stand out, as it lasts for the duration of the movie. The most powerful symbol is the character of John Keating, portraying God in the eyes of transcendentalism.
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.
Throughout the past centuries, the concept of instinctive morality has been debated back and forth. One philosophy with a strong viewpoint on this subject is Puritanism, because they believe that since the beginning of the world, people have been born sinners. Puritans felt that Adam and Eve’s temptation by Satan had cursed all of humanity to be born evil. A few decades later, Deists shifted their ideas away from religion and believed that every person could choose whether they were good or bad. Then, Transcendental ideas began the thought that humans were born innately good, and that God and Satan had nothing to do with people’s morality. Throughout the major literary philosophies in the United States, one can see how the innate character of a human progresses from being evil to being innately good.
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.
Developed in the late 1820s, Transcendentalism was a philosophical, literary, and intellectual movement that emphasized the individual and living a simple life. It invited people to transcend knowledge that merely existed in reason and logic into knowledge that truly lies within imagination, freedom, intuition, and self-reliance. Interestingly enough, Transcendentalism itself was able to transcend time, as transcendentalist ideas still live in our culture in the works of the 20th century poets Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and Wallace Stevens. This philosophy is not only communicated through literature itself, but it’s also manifested and celebrated in contemporary films such as “Cast Away” and “Pursuit of Happyness”. In this essay, we shall examine two of the most eminent tenets of this philosophy in “Cast Away”: stressing a closer relationship to nature as one, and celebrating emotions and imagination as another.
Finding oneself has always been an important discovery that everyone must experience in their lifetime. In the book, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless abandoned all he knew and set out on a journey across the country. Along the way, Chris’ beliefs about the spirituality and sacredness of the natural world, led him to find himself. Following these ideals and morals, Chris McCandless was a transcendental idealist who was able to fulfill his dreams.
Transcendentalism, a philosophy that began in the 19th century, advocates that humans are naturally good and all individuals have potential. In high school, developing into a unique and self-assured person can be a difficult task. Students feel the need to be accepted by their peers and standing out against the crowd can be difficult. Students should be exposed to transcendentalist ideas would be able to fight this battle and leave high school unscathed. Many argue that transcendentalist beliefs cause problems as students cannot think for themselves at a young age. However, students who do not think for themselves while in high school will never develop the ability to think for themselves. The morals and beliefs of a student should not be handed to them on a silver platter the way there are in realist teachings. Instead, they must discover and test their beliefs. Although some argue transcendentalism would cause students to rebel, students in high school should embrace transcendentalist ideas as students would be more likely to believe in their capabilities, rely less on the opinion of others, and find their own way of thinking.
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.
Throughout America in the 1830's, the religious and literary philosophy of Transcendentalism flourished. This period of time is difficult to describe in a simple definition, but the general ideas are expressed through poetry, essays and books of these three talented Transcendental authors; Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, and Henry Thoreau. From Emerson's dramatic expressions of thinking for one’s self and not conforming, to Whitman's belief of living stress free and experiencing life, to Thoreau's explanation of the purpose of sucking the marrow out of life and constant reminder of simplicity; the writing of these free thinking authors with these ideas show the overall meaning of Transcendentalism. The lessons of the Transcendental era are expressed in the modern day movie Dead Poet's Society directed by Peter Wier. As a literature professor at Welton Academy, a preparatory school for boys, Mr. Keating has rather unorthodox methods of teaching which include interactive lessons to inspire his students to learn. Rather than a normal class of reading from books and writing essays, Mr. Keating taught life lessons which are different from your average lecture. The storyline of the film focuses on one class composed of boys who are on their 4th and final year of education at this academy. Mr. Keating is successful in teaching all the boys the ideas of Emerson, Whitman and Thoreau during his period of time as their literature teacher. This teachers class changed the boys perspective on life forever, which is more than what most high school students can say from their ed...
Someone once said, “ A revolution isn't always an act of violence that results in a bloody battle”. Transcendentalism has affirmed that fact indeed, since it is a movement expressed in a form of revolution that uses letters and words as its only weapon, its a form independence and individual improvement in which one reflects his own opinion, and radical ideas through using a pen and critical thinking as the best form of expression. Ralph Waldo Emerson, was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendental movement of the 19th century. To Emerson, independence and self-reliance were his main focus, hence they provide a unique link between one’s self and what goes beyond. His sole abstract ideas, vivid expressions, and symbolic
Moving beyond the socially acceptable actions of one’s time period is an exceedingly difficult task to complete and excel in. The Transcendental movement that flourished through the 1820s and the 1830s provided a beginning to breaking the boundaries imposed by unnamed social figures. Transcendentalists had a profound effect on every facet of American culture; this being said, undoubtedly the most influenced aspects of culture, has consistently remained literature. Moreover, literature has an unparalleled history of affecting and catalyzing societal changes of the time. Providing individuals with persuasive and educational pieces of literature has the potential to serve as an impetus for positive and progressive movements. Through the
The movement of transcendentalism was a powerful movement that began to emerge in American in the nineteenth century. These powerful movements made readers question, challenge, and examine what they were accustomed too. Transcendentalism was the belief that what the person can see, touch, feel, taste, or comprehend goes beyond those senses. People were to knowledge their thoughts through instinct and imagination not through logic or the senses; they were to trust themselves to be their own authority on what is right. When people were able to receive these ideas not as a religious beliefs, but as a way of understanding life then they were consider a transcendentalist. Transcendentalism was one of the many literary writing styles used during
Transcendentalism is a social, religious, and literary movement: a philosophy. Combining elements from the romantic period with eastern philosophical beliefs, it sought to fight against rationalism and conformism by inspiring individuals to look into their inner selves and embrace their own beliefs. One of the spearheads leading this movement was Ralph Waldo Emerson: an American writer and philosopher who sought to teach others what he himself had found. Transcendalists, such as Emerson, viewed society as a catalyst for downfall and instead believed that humans were inherently good and pure; embracing our inner feelings and emotions and ignoring expectations and conformity are essential to achieve happiness and fulfillment. Such ideas can
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.
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.