“There is a time for daring and there is a time for prudence, 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 five major principles: the importance of nature, self-reliance, self-confidence, simplicity, and nonconformity. Ralph Waldo Emerson and David Henry Thoreau were both leading figures in the movement, firmly believing in and expounding the ideals of Transcendentalism. Additionally, the film Dead Poets Society contains many examples of transcendentalism, 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 boys, including one of the main characters Neil Perry, are very intrigued by Mr. Keating, because he teaches like no other teacher and encourages the boys to be free-thinking individuals. He then inspires the boys to live in a more transcendental way. Throughout the film, many transcendental actions show how living transcendentally can have both beneficial and harmful consequences. Overall, by following the principles of nonconformity, self-confidence, and simplicity, Mr. 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 should not be banned”?Get the original essayMr. Keating is a character who shows how living transcendentally, especially through the principle of nonconformity, is more harmful than beneficial, as he teaches boys to also live according to transcendental ideals and free thought, which which causes him to lose his beloved job as an entrepreneur. teacher. Since Welton Academy is a school that bases its teachings on traditional beliefs: discipline, honor, excellence and tradition. Considering that Mr. Keating teaches boys to think for themselves and not let others control their actions, he goes against the beliefs that the school and other teachers try to impose on students. Mr. Keating exclaims that boys “must strive to find their own voice. Because the longer they wait to start, the less likely they are to find it” (DPS). Mr. Keating emphasizes ideas of individualism and nonconformity to the boys and therefore opposes the normal teaching style at Welton Academy. This ultimately led school officials to become skeptical of Mr. Keating's lesson and then fire him from his beloved teaching venue. Although the boys learning to become their own unique person was not harmful, Mr. Keating teaching them these ideals in a very strict school that highly valued uniformity and tradition, proved harmful, as it caused them to lose their job to Mr. Keating. really appreciated. Another character who shows how the consequences of transcendentalist living are not so much beneficial as harmful is Neil Perry. Neil applied the transcendental principle of self-confidence when he decided to continue acting despite his father's strong beliefs against it, which ultimately led him to commit suicide. Neil begins expressing his newfound love for 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's going to do it. Whether his father likes it or not.” By becoming what he truly wanted to be and opposing his father, it ultimately led him to.