Transcendentalism In Peter Weirs Dead Poet Society

Transcendentalism is artistic movement that values inspiration and individuality, it focuses on shying away from societal conformity, valuing intuition instead of reason and logic. The Dead Poets Society follows the lives of seven high schoolers and their English teacher, Mr. Keating, while they battle the social conformity expected within their prestigious school, versus expressing their individuality and true feelings. With the help of their teacher, Knox and Neil learn to think differently and for themselves for the first time in their lives. In Peter Weir’s Dead Poet society transcendentalist values are depicted through the thoughts, actions and words of Mr. Keating, Charles Dalton, and Knox Overstreet. Mr. Keating once told his†¦show more content†¦She claims, â€Å"How dreary to be somebody! How public like a frog† (Dickinson). Shunning away from the blind conformity of the masses and focusing on oneself a transcendentalist idea that Dickinson values. Bot h Emily Dickinson and Mr. Keating believe that individuality trumps conformity, and they both inspire others to view life in the same light. Like Mr. Keating, Neil Perry lived by transcendentalist values.The idea that intuition and impromptu feelings are superior to rationality is a strong characteristic belonging to transcendentalism. Perry’s ethics are similar. Through the teachings of Mr. Keating, Perry displays characteristics of the ISM when he decides to follow his dreams, even though they defy his fathers wishes. Regardless of his father’s disapproval and with the catalytic hand of Mr. Keating, Perry decided to pursue his greatest dreams and perform in the school play. Coming from a strict family with unwavering expectations for their children, Perry feels extreme pressure from his father to be the perfect child and live up to his father’s expectations. However, the persistent gravitation he feels to pursue acting leads him to do just that. As seen later in the movie, Neil would rather die than be denied the right to live the life he has dreamed for himself. Holding that similar belief is Henry Thoreau, he said, â€Å"I went to the woods to live deliberately...and see if I could not learn what it has to teach, and not when I came to die, discover that I had