Topic > Examples of Transcendentalism in the Dead Poets Society

“There is a time to dare and there is a time to be prudent, and a wise man understands what is necessary” (DPS). Transcendentalism is a somewhat bold and rebellious movement that encourages people to live with individuality and independence through the five main principles: importance of nature, self-reliance, self-reliance, simplicity and non-conformity. Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and David Henry Thoreau were leading figures of the movement, firmly believing in and exhibiting the ideals of Transcendentalism. Additionally, the film Dead Poets Society has many examples of transcendentalism woven into it, making it a good representation of the movement. In the film, a teacher, Mr. Keating, teaches at the prestigious and very strict Welton Academy. The kids, including one of the main characters Neil Perry, are very intrigued by Mr. Keating, as he teaches unlike any other school teacher and encourages the kids to be free-thinking individuals. So inspire kids to live more transcendently. Throughout the film there are many transcendental actions, showing how living transcendentally can have both beneficial and harmful consequences. Overall, following the principles of nonconformity, self-reliance, and simplicity, Keating and Neil Perry show how living transcendentally is more harmful than beneficial. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayMr. Keating is a character who shows how living transcendentally, particularly through the tenant of nonconformity, is more harmful than beneficial as he teaches kids to also live by transcendental ideals and free thinking, which causes him to lose his loved teaching job. Because Welton Academy is a school that bases its teachings on traditional beliefs: discipline, honor, excellence and tradition. Considering that Mr. Keating teaches kids to think for themselves and not let others control their actions, it goes against the beliefs that the school and other teachers are trying to impose on students. Mr. Keating exclaims that kids “must strive to find their own voice. Because the longer they wait to get started, the less likely they are to find it” (DPS). Mr. Keating emphasizes the ideas of individualism and nonconformity in the boys and therefore opposes the normal teaching style at Welton Academy. This eventually led to school officials becoming skeptical of Mr. Keating's teaching and then firing him from his beloved teaching position. Even if the kids learn to become a unique person is not harmful, Mr. Keating teaching them those ideals in a very strict school that highly values ​​uniformity and tradition, proved to be harmful, as it caused Mr. Keating. I really liked it. Another character who shows how the consequences of living through transcendentalism are not so much beneficial as harmful is Neil Perry. Neil applied the transcendental principle of self-confidence when he decided to pursue acting despite his father's strong beliefs to the contrary, which ultimately led him to take his own life. Neil begins to express his newfound love of acting and his determination to succeed as an actor, despite his father's demands, to his close friend Todd Anderson. Neil explains that “for the first time in his life, he knows what he wants to do! And for the first time he will do it. Whether his father wants it or not." Neil became what he truly wanted to be and stood up to his father, eventually leading him to take his own life because his father did not approve of Neil's love.