Transcendentalism

Thinking Activity : Transcendentalism 

Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Megha Ma'am Department of English, MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss Transcendentalism and its related movies.

Transcendentalism - An American Philosophy 

Meaning of Transcendentalism:-

Transcendentalism is a very formal word that describes a very simple idea. People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that "transcends" or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel.

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the New England region of the United States. Transcendentalists saw divine experiences inherent in the everyday, rather than believing in a distant heaven. Transcendentalists saw physical and spiritual phenomena as part of dynamic processes rather than discrete entities.

Transcendentalist is a person who accepts these ideas not as religious beliefs but as a way of understanding life relationships. The individuals most closely associated with this new way of thinking were connected loosely through a group known  as The Transcendental Club, which met in the Boston home of George Ripley. Their chief publication was a periodical called "The Dail", edited by Margaret Fuller, a political radical and feminist whose book "Women of the Nineteenth century" was among the most famous of its time. The club had many extraordinary thinkers, but accorded the leadership positions to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Three major Transcendentalist are as below.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• David Thoreau and
• Margaret Fuller

Ralph Waldo Emerson:- 

Born: 1803

Died: 1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American Essayist, Lecturer, Philosopher, abolitionist, and poet. He led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid 19th century. He is recognised as our first truly 'American Thinker'. Emerson is also well known as a mentor and friend of Henry David Thoreau, a fellow Transcendentalist. Emerson wrote most of his important essays as lectures first and then revised them for print. 

He also considered the spiritual voice of his generation. Graduated from Harvard Divinity School. In 1836 Emerson met his best friend, Henry David Thoreau. Later that year he founded the Transcendental club along with Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. His Notable works are as below.

• Nature
• Self reliance
• The over soul
• Compensation
• The poet
• The conduct of life
• Society and Solitude
• Divinity school Address

Some themes of Ralph Waldo Emerson's writing include individualism, self reliance, nature, and the power of the human mind and spirit. He often wrote about the importance of following one's own inner voice and not conforming to societal expectations, and he believed in the innate goodness and divinity of each person. He also wrote extensively about the beauty and wisdom of nature, and how it can serve as a source of inspiration and guidance.

Additionally, he emphasised the importance of using one's own intellect and intuition to understand and interpret the world, rather than relying solely on tradition and authority. Some notable quotes are as below.

• "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
• "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
• "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
• "Make your own Bible select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your reading have been to you like the blast of a trumpet."

Movies based on Transcendentalism:-

Movies based on Transcendentalism are as below.

• Eat, Pray, Love
• Into the Wild 
• Dead Poet Society
• Wild
• A Walk in the Woods
• The Tree of Life
• The Way

Eat, Pray, Love 

Eat, Pray, Love is a 2010 American Biographical romantic drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert, based on Gilbert's 2006 Memoir of the same name. Ryan Murphy co-wrote and directed the film, which was released in the United States on August 13, 2010. 

The film, which is based on the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, follows the journey of a woman who embarks on a year- long journey of self discovery and personal growth, travelling to Italy, Indian and Indonesia. The film explores themes of self-reliance, individualism, and the search for inner peace and fulfilment, which align with Transcendentalist ideas. The film also included elements of spirituality, which is also a central aspect of Transcendentalism.

She tried to maintain spiritual discipline and balance between her, God and the world. Throughout the Journey and thoughts considered her to be a Transcendentalist. I want to say one line about this movie, which is as below.

'Trust in one's own heart and thoughts and listen to your inner voice.'

Into the Wild:

Into the Wild is a 2007 American Biographical adventure drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name written by Jon Mccandless, a man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan Wilderness in the early 1990s. The film stars 

• Emile Hirsch as Mccandless
• Marcia Gay Harden as his mother
• William Hurt as his father
• Jena Malone
• Catherine keener
• Brian Dierker
• Vince Vaughn
• Kristen Stewart and
• Hal Holbrook

In the movie, the main character, Chris Mccandless, embodies the ideals of Transcendentalism as he embarks on a journey into the wilderness in search of self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the world. His rejection of material possessions and societal convention, as well as his desire to live in harmony with nature, align with the Transcendentalist belief in the power of the individual and the importance of nature in spiritual growth. Overall, the movie "into the Wild" is a portrayal of a man's journey to transcend society and find his own path in the wild. 

Wild :-

Wild is a 2014 American Biographical adventure drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallee. It is about a solo backpacking trip strayed undertook on the trail in 1995 after numerous personal issues had left her life in shambles.

In the movie, the main character, Cheryl Strayed, embarks on a solo hike of the Pacific crest trail as a means of coping with her past traumas and finding self-discovery. Her journey into the wilderness can be seen as an embodiment of Transcendentalist ideals, as she seeks to connect with nature and find inner peace and understanding through her experience on the trail. The film depicts the transformative power of nature and the individualism, which are central to the Transcendentalist philosophy. Additionally, the themes of self-discovery inner exploration and personal growth also align with the Transcendentalist and meaning can be found through an meaning can be found through an individual's intuition and connection with nature. 

Overall, the movie "Wild" explores the concept of Transcendentalism through the story of one woman's journey to find herself and come to terms with her past through her experience in the wilderness. 

Dead Poet Society:-

Dead Poet Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir, written by Tom Schulman, and starring Robin Williams. Set in 1959 at the fictional elite conservative boarding school Welton Academy, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry. 

In the movie, the main character, John Keating, is an English teacher who encourages his students to think for themselves, to question authority and to find their own voice. He emphasises the importance of individualism and self expression, which are central to the Transcendentalist philosophy. Keating also encourages his students to see the beauty and value in nature and to appreciate the present moment, which aligns with the Transcendentalist belief in the spiritual significance of nature. Additionally, Keating's emphasis on power of poetry, imagination and self-expression aligns with the Transcendentalist emphasis on intuition and the individual's unique perspective as a means of understanding the world. 

Overall, the movie "Dead Poet Society" explores the concept of Transcendentalism by depicting a teacher who encourages his students to think for themselves, to question authority and to find their own voice through the appreciation of poetry, imagination and self-expression.

Conclusion:-

Thus, we can say that the main message of Transcendentalism is the belief in the inherent goodness of individuals and the natural world. It believed in individual freedom and self-reliance, and rejected the idea of blind obedience to authority. And the purpose of Transcendentalism is to think for themselves and to strive for spiritual and intellectual growth.

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