Transcendental Ideas in Dead Poets Society free essay sample

Transcendental ideas in, Dead Poets Society Transcendentalism was a prominent philosophical movement in the mid 1800s. Poets such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman were transcendentalist literary work artists who believed that society and its institutions impeded individual self reliance. The poets mainly disobeyed the conformists and the traditional ways of society. These poets also believed that an individual needs to find their individual self, and not let any other things in society encumber the ability to have self reliance. Knox Overstreet, Neil Perry, and Mr. Keating are all characters in the movie that express Transcendentalist ideas as expounded by Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman. Transcendentalism is present in the film, â€Å"Dead Poets Society,† because the characters evoke non-conformist attitudes, a central concept of the philosophy of Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman. Neil Perry is a prominent character in the movie, who believes that it is more important to trust in one’s own ability to analyze and form ideas as opposed to accepting verbatim authoritarian rules and regulations. We will write a custom essay sample on Transcendental Ideas in Dead Poets Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In Emerson’s writing called â€Å"Self-Reliance, he describes beliefs similar to that of Neil Perry’s. Emerson writes, â€Å"Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself and you shall have the suffrage of the world† (Emerson, â€Å"Self Reliance†). The quote is saying that an individual should view themselves in a manner that allows them freedom to express ideas without fear of retribution. Sometimes traditional autocratic points of view within a culture or organization can be antithetical towards ones non-conformist point of view. In Neil Perry’s situation, we find that his father is domineering and cantankerous. Neil Perry’s quest to be a performer in a Midsummer Nights Dream shows that he is a non-conformist since he goes against his fathers will to become a doctor. When Neil Perry’s father gets a wind of the situation, it causes much consternation and later develops into a very volatile situation. As in Emerson’s quote, to keep ones own integrity is above all more important than resigning oneself to a status quo. Unfortunately Neil Perry’s situation leads to him committing suicide which is an extreme, however, he follows the precepts of transcendentalism even until the end. Like Neil Perry, Knox Overstreet, is another character in the film who goes against the traditional ways of society. Knox Overstreet, one of the overly exuberant boys at Welton Academy, takes the term, â€Å"Carpe Diem,† and incorporates it in his persona. In Thoreau’s writing called â€Å"Why I went into the woods,† Thoreau explains philosophical ideas related to the term â€Å"Carpe Diem. † 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, to discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear† (Thoreau, â€Å"Why I went into the woods†). Thoreau is promoting a lifestyle that is contrary to traditional society. Thoreau would rather enjoy the beauty of the natural world that surrounds him rather than subject natural beauty to a strict set of parameters. In Thoreau’s yearning to go against a natural order of society, he understands that it is risked involved that may cause him to be ostracized by his peers. Knox Overstreet takes a big risk in kissing Christine, and also by showing up in her class giving her flowers and reciting poetry. This caused Christine great embarrassment, but as in the case of Thoreau, the risk that Overstreet took causes him to be ostracized for the moment. Overstreet was viewed as a non-conformist by Christine and people in her classmates because his actions were out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, Christine comes around and affords him her friendship and even accepts a date. While Knox Overstreet is a very exuberant non-conformist, Mr. Keating is a very influential non-conformist who makes an impact on many of the characters. Mr. Keating appears to be a reluctant employee of an institution steeped in tradition, and resign to developing a set of policies and procedures that must be strictly adhered to. However, Mr. Keating is not one to always follow the rules to the letter of the law. Mr. Keating is a non-conformist, and he enjoys stepping out of the box to make his subject matter come to life and convey a philosophical ideal to the students whom he interacts with. Two transcendentalist writers come to mind when thinking of Mr. Keating and his precarious situation. Walt Whitman once said, â€Å"Do I contradict myself? Very well I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes. ) I concentrate toward them that are nigh. I wait on the door-slab† (Whitman, Song of Myself). Mr. Keating contradicts himself by merely contractually maintaining employment with Welton Academy. Mr. Keating vehemently disagrees with the structure Welton Academy wishes to enforce on the student body and the teachers. Nonetheless, Mr. Keating must stay in an attempt to mold young minds to believe in independent thought. It can be said that Mr. Keating like Whitman is contradicting himself for the greater good. In Thoreau’s â€Å"Walden,† Thoreau discusses the importance of experiencing life to its fullest potential. Thoreau once said, â€Å"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. † Mr. Keating often talks about â€Å"sucking the marrow out of life† (Thoreau, â€Å"Walden†). A depiction of this zest for life is evident when Mr. Keating teaches the boys about the Dead Poets Society. The Dead Poets Society completely goes against the traditional conservative teachings of the school, making Mr. Keating a non-conformist. The Dead Poets Society teaches the boys to think for themselves and to focus on the true meaning of life through the wonders of poetry. Neil Perry, Knox Overstreet, and Mr. Keating like the transcendentalist poets Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman, came to a point in life where an important decision had to be made as to which path they would follow. The movie, Dead Poets Society, is conveying to the audience through the characters the importance of following the right path in life even if that path may be very difficult, and could cause a lot of discomfort. However, in the pursuit of happiness, one must discover freedom of thought, expression, and spirituality. It is easy to conform to the status quo. To go against the traditions of society one could be subject to ridicule. The film shows how the ruling class who makes the rules, and imposes them on those of us with lesser status and power can thwart our ability to pursue our dreams and achieve inner peace. In the film, â€Å"Dead Poets Society,† it is clearly shown that the teachings of the transcendentalist philosophies are present in this film.